U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

A year as a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk is a priceless ticket to the upper echelons of the legal profession. Former clerks have their pick of top-tier job offers and can command $350,000 hiring bonuses at law firms.

Exclusive Report: SCOTUS Clerks This article is part of a series examining the professional pathways and diversity of Supreme Court law clerks. • A Look Inside the Elite World of Supreme Court Law Clerks

Four current justices were formerly clerks at the court—a record number—and three U.S. senators are former clerks. The general counsels of both Apple and Facebook once clerked at the high court. For aspiring appellate litigators and academics, a Supreme Court clerkship opens the creakiest doors.