25 Dec How Much Do Law Clerks Make
Law clerks are an indispensable part of the legal system, providing critical research, writing, and analytical support to judges, attorneys, law professors, and government agencies. Yet despite their importance, few outside of the legal profession understand what law clerks do or how much do law clerks make.
This article takes an in-depth look at law clerk salaries – from federal clerkships to state clerk positions, from big law firms to public interest organizations. Whether you’re considering a career in law and wondering how lucrative clerking might be, or simply curious about how the engine of the judicial system gets fueled, read on to find out how much law clerks really make.
Federal Law Clerk Salaries
Federal clerkships with the Supreme Court, federal circuit courts, district courts, and specialty courts like the Tax Court and Bankruptcy Court are highly prestigious positions, albeit temporary ones (most federal clerkships last for just one or two years). Still, federal law clerks can expect generous compensation to go along with the resume-boosting opportunity.
Supreme Court of the United States
The pinnacle clerkship for any law grad is with a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The number of spots is extremely limited – as a group, the nine Justices only take on around 36-40 clerks each year. Yet the compensation reflects the unmatched resume value of having SCOTUS on a law clerk’s CV.
The current Supreme Court law clerk salary is $118,400 as of 2022, up from $113,900 the previous year. Not too shabby for a year or two straight out of law school!
U.S. Courts of Appeals
For those unable to nab the hypercompetitive Supreme Court clerkship, a spot with one of the 13 federal Courts of Appeals is still a huge accomplishment. Court of Appeals law clerks manage the huge number of cases appealing lower court rulings, preparing memos and analysis to help the judicial panel decide which cases to accept.
The base salary for U.S. Court of Appeals clerks is $73,100 as of 2022. However, most circuit courts have adjusted those salaries based on legal cost of living in that area. For example, DC Appeals Court clerks make $86,900 to account for higher living expenses.
District and Specialty Court Clerk Salaries
Law clerks in the 94 U.S. District Courts, as well as the specialty court system, bring in around $66,100 per year as a base salary as of 2022. That notably lags the SCOTUS and Appeals courts, but the work often affords clerks a front row seat into major bankruptcy disputes, high-stakes patent and intellection property clashes, and fascinating areas of tax and international trade law.
State Court Salaries
While federal clerkships may pay the most, comparable positions in state Supreme Courts, Appeals Courts, and lower courts similarly afford priceless experiential training. How much do state court clerks make? It largely depends on the state and court:
California Supreme
Court clerks make around $86,000 a year. By contrast, Florida Supreme Court clerks earn under $60,000. On the lower courts, compensation ranges from $65,000 in Connecticut to under $50,000 for trial court clerks in Texas.
Some states like Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan pay law clerks for their highest courts over $100,000 annually – even surpassing some federal salaries. However, state level salaries can vary much more than their federal counterparts depending on local budgets and cost of living.
Big Law Firm Salaries
Top law school graduates debating high-profile clerkships versus private sector opportunities like landing a job in a large law firm want to know one thing: just how do those six-figure BigLaw associate salaries compare when stacking up law clerk pay?
Massive commercial law firms try to woo clerks away from the relatively low-paying clerkship track after a year or two in chambers with incredibly lucrative offers. Pay scales for first year law firm associates now exceed $215,000 at market leaders like Cravath and Davis Polk in New York City – nearly double what even federal SCOTUS clerks earn.
Why would anyone pass up the chance at seven-figure law partner money down the road for a $60,00 – $90,000/year clerkship? For most, it comes down to doors that only a clerkship can open, both for the short and long-term career.
As a judicial clerk, doors open to future U.S. Supreme Court clerkships, judicial appointments, teaching positions at elite law schools, and post-clerkship offers from the top law firms currently paying $400,000 – $500,000 for newly minted SCOTUS fellows. While BigLaw seems to always win out on the compensation side, clerkships provide fast-track positioning into career options only available to the legal elite.
Public Interest/Public Sector Salaries
Not everyone is cut out for the grind of big firm life or laser-focused on power and money. For public interest minded law students passionate about social justice, civil rights, conservation, and similar areas, a clerkship can be a way to gain skills while networking and identifying a cause aligned government, non-profit, or advocacy role.
But can you really afford to clerk on a public interest budget? Salaries here are undoubtedly below most other legal career tracks – with federal and state government work paying on average under $70,000 for entry level attorneys. The upside, however, includes reasonable hours, good benefits, and eligibility for government student loan forgiveness over time. Passion and purpose also drive many into lower-paying public interest gigs.
Clerkship Salaries Over Time
The earnings advantage doesn’t all go to BigLaw and other private sector opportunities. Law clerks earn more both immediately and over their careers compared to similar judges and lawyers of the same age. Per analysis by McKinsey, the lifetime earnings boost averages 20-26% over already high legal profession returns.
Why? The skills honed while clerking – including research, critical thinking, decision making under tight deadlines, high-level writing, and exposure to top legal minds – makes clerks justifiably more attractive on the open market. Government and non-profit employers go all out to incentivize clerkship alums to join their ranks down the road.
So while the pay doesn’t match corporate law, a judicial clerk builds individual competencies and clout that pays dividends across public and private sector career paths. The intense training and networking elevates earnings across the board.
Alternative Clerkship Options
We’ve mainly covered the major tracks towards traditional federal or state court clerk roles. But what about alternative legal clerkships off the beaten path that still provide great experience?
Think tanks and public policy research institutes like Brookings, CATO, and RAND have legal focused clerkship equivalents. The compensation often exceeds state court options, though likely still below BigLaw.
NGOs and nonprofit organizations increasingly have clerkship-like opportunities as well. For instance, the Natural Resources Defense Council runs a year-long Reproductive Justice Legal Fellowship that pays over $70,000.
Finally, legal temp agencies place hundreds of law clerks each year into shorter boutique firm and corporate law department gigs. Hourly pay runs $25-$45/hour normally.
While outside the classical judge/clerk mentor relationship, these roles mimic much of the hands-on legal experience of a traditional clerkship.
Common Clerkship Perks & Benefits
Aside from the salaries outlined above, law clerks also benefit from an exceptional overall employment package:
- 3-4 weeks paid vacation time annually
- choice of competitive health, dental and vision insurance options
- generous retirement savings plan contributions with employer matching
- paid sick days, personal days, and court holiday schedules
- discounted public transit benefits and parking privileges
- eligibility for extensive federal student loan repayment assistance (LRAP)
- discounted insurance, banking, gyms through Federal/State employee programs
- strong professors networks and law school alumni job board access
The non-cash components close much of the direct earnings gap with big firm offers. Of course, the big differentiator remains getting your ticket punched into an exclusive legal circle.
Conclusion & Takeaways
Law clerks sit at the crossroads of practicing law as public service while gainingskills that unlock major career opportunities. The income hits levels well beyond most Americans, though lags the astronomical sums dangled by large law firms.
While big firm and corporate law pay still trumps government clerk salaries overall, when weighed against factors like reasonable hours, networking advantages, and personal fulfillment, clerkships represent appealing choices for top law grads.
The experience, competence building, and resume credentials obtained in a 1-2 year clerkship position boost career mobility and lifetime earnings significantly. Many law students strategically piece together important clerkships early before cashing in down the road.
Ultimately, law clerks earn very healthy base incomes between $60,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the court and jurisdiction. Extra benefits plus deferred career upside combine to make the role quite financially lucrative.
Of course, maximizing law clerk salary means distinguishing yourself enough to get hired to the right federal court. For most who secure these elite clerkships however, the doors that open make up for any immediate income sacrificed versus a law firm.
For an inside look at salaries and experiences of law clerks themselves, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
FAQs
Q: How much do U.S Supreme Court law clerks make per year?
A: Currently, SCOTUS law clerks earn $118,400 annually as base pay set in 2022. Along with the resume value and benefits, it makes a Supreme Court clerkship a highly coveted position.
Q: How much does a law clerk make starting out?
A: Federal law clerk salaries start at $73,100 for Court of Appeals clerks, ranging up to $118,400 for the Supreme Court. State court clerk starting salaries run $50,000 to $60,000 normally. Private firm salaries far exceed this, but comparative openings much rarer.
Q: How much more do Supreme Court clerks make vs other federal clerks?
A: SCOTUS clerks make around a 20-30% salary premium compared to other federal court clerkships – a Supreme Court posting pays about $120,000 vs $65,000 – $90,000 for district and other federal court law clerks presently.
Q: Can you make good money as a career law clerk?
A: Long term “permanent” federal law clerk salaries reach up to $180,000 after several years of experience. State law clerks top out under $150,000 normally. While vastly more than most legal roles, Big Law still pays higher over a career.
Q: What benefits do judicial clerks receive?
A: Alongside good federal employee and bar association benefits, law clerks get excellent healthcare, insurance coverage, 3-4 weeks vacation minimum, retirement contributions, public transit discounts, gym memberships and other regular perks plus substantial student debt repayment help.
The financial prospects, exclusive access, and fast career growth make law clerk positions highly desirable roles – explaining why competition remains so stiff for the limited number of openings annually. While the salaries trail lucrative big firm and in-house attorney pay, clerkships confer advantages in competence, connections, and career opportunities down the road that greatly compensate across public and private sector legal jobs.
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