Just how much is a former Supreme Court clerk worth? This a question many law firms are currently wrestling with, as Biglaw firms and prestigious boutiques strive to appeal to associates possessing superior intellectual powers and deep-seated knowledge of how the nation’s supreme judicial body operates, including the intellectual manoeuvres of certain justices. Reflecting on figures from the past, we had reported in 2021 that the expected signing bonus rate for former Supreme Court clerks stood at $450,000. As astounding as it may be, these former clerks were receiving nearly twice the salaries of their Supreme Court bosses in bonus payments alone, merely for agreeing to join certain firms, on top of their base salaries and regular bonuses.
Certain heavyweight firms, such as Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis, Gibson Dunn, and Susman Godfrey, who are known for their heavy pursuit of Supreme Court clerks, have previously offered sizeable signing bonuses (in the region of $400,000+) to their targeted SCOUTS clerk recruits. Fast forward to 2024, and these rates have increased significantly. First-year salaries for associates now sit at a comfortable $225,000, making the acquisition of high court clerks a more costly endeavour.
As per a recent report by the Washington Post, law firms are loosening their purse strings to accommodate associates fresh from a high court clerkship. During the recruitment process, elite groups of lawyers are treated to perks such as lavish dinners at top city locations or trips to baseball games or wellness spas. Signing bonuses for Supreme Court law clerks have now reached a new apex, fetching as much as $500,000, according to a spokeswoman for the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
It is almost incomprehensible to imagine that Supreme Court clerks are now commanding half a million dollars in the Biglaw market. However, if the talent delivered matches the sizeable investment, Biglaw firms are eager to meet this market demand.
The Washington Post reported that Jones Day continues to be a frontrunner in hiring choice Supreme Court clerks, having employed 22 clerks since October Term 2020. Close on their heels are Gibson Dunn and Kirkland & Ellis, with 12 clerks and eight clerks each, respectively. These firms are prepared to part with significant amounts of money in order to attract the very best. The big question that remains is whether other firms are willing to follow suit.
Are you privy to any information that your firm is extending $500,000 or more in signing bonuses for SCOTUS clerks? If so, please email us (subject line: “SCOTUS Clerkship Bonuses”) or text us at 646-820-8477, and we will compile a list of every firm that’s paying such substantial amounts for supreme talent.
For more in-depth analysis, please refer to the original article by the Washington Post.