Things are a mess for the law school class of 2020. Their last semester of law school was online, to call the bar exam situation a snafu is an understatement, and most have found their Biglaw start dates pushed back. So to find out there’s more delays, well, it isn’t surprising.
A few days ago, we started hearing rumors swirling about what was going on with incoming associates who planned on taking clerkships at Munger Tolles & Olson. Some claimed offers were rescinded, others that the dates were pushed back and the clerk-associates would be given pro bono jobs rather than start at the firm. So Above the Law reached out to the firm to find out exactly what is going on. A spokesperson for MTO said:
Like many firms, we’ve made the difficult decision to delay the start date for our incoming class of associates until January 2021 as a result of the pandemic. We are exploring the possibility of pro bono secondments for a small number of incoming associates (four total) who are only able to join the firm for a short period before leaving for clerkships beginning in 2021. This opportunity would allow these young attorneys to gain valuable experiences during this timeframe and to make an impact on their communities. These plans are still being developed and we will continue to keep our future colleagues apprised of updates.
So, the fate of the clerk-associates is up in the air as the firm “explor[es]” options. But at least, as of now, the clerk-associates aren’t left out in the cold.
As always, our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. If you have any additional information about new associate start dates, or how clerks are being dealt with at other firms please let us know. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477).
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).