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Has anyone noticed that ADA interviews are ridiculously harder than law firm interviews?

I've been asked for my opinion about California's 3 strike law, the death penalty, and Crawford/Melendez-Diaz problems facing prosecutors (to be fair, I brought up my familiarity with these cases).

I've also been grilled on why I want to be a prosecutor versus a defender (philosophically, what is my take on this).

I've also been asked for my philosophical stance on criminal justice.

Lastly, 2 of the 3 ADA interviews I've had have posed a fact pattern of some sort, and asked me to give analysis.

Anonymous User wrote:Has anyone noticed that ADA interviews are ridiculously harder than law firm interviews?

I've been asked for my opinion about California's 3 strike law, the death penalty, and Crawford/Melendez-Diaz problems facing prosecutors (to be fair, I brought up my familiarity with these cases).

I've also been grilled on why I want to be a prosecutor versus a defender (philosophically, what is my take on this).

I've also been asked for my philosophical stance on criminal justice.

Lastly, 2 of the 3 ADA interviews I've had have posed a fact pattern of some sort, and asked me to give analysis.

I agree that the one I've had so far has been much harder than the interviews I've had with firms. Makes sense though, they want people who really want to be prosecutors. Gotta weed out the people who don't really want it.

Are you talking about a CB interview with those questions? I've only a screener so far.

In an ADA's office you're going to be expected to shoulder a lot more responsibility in a much shorter time, you're going to face less pay, and you're going to also face some morally difficult choices faster than someone at a law firm typically would. Law firms are a lot of work, but a lot of hand-holding and structure compared to most public service jobs. There they have the luxury of worrying about personality, assuming you're there for the money since there's so much money to be there for, and filling in the gaps those first few years. As an ADA they're gonna drop you in the deep end of the pool and they need to know you can swim.

In general my experience has been that public service interviews are tougher, in large part because they want people dedicated enough to put up with the hell the job might turn out to be. You don't go to a job like that for money, so they need to figure out what you are going there for, and fast.

vanwinkle wrote:In an ADA's office you're going to be expected to shoulder a lot more responsibility in a much shorter time, you're going to face less pay, and you're going to also face some morally difficult choices faster than someone at a law firm typically would. Law firms are a lot of work, but a lot of hand-holding and structure compared to most public service jobs. There they have the luxury of worrying about personality, assuming you're there for the money since there's so much money to be there for, and filling in the gaps those first few years. As an ADA they're gonna drop you in the deep end of the pool and they need to know you can swim.

In general my experience has been that public service interviews are tougher, in large part because they want people dedicated enough to put up with the hell the job might turn out to be. You don't go to a job like that for money, so they need to figure out what you are going there for, and fast.

Thanks for the advice. It does make a lot of sense especially since you're throw in there right away. One interview for a internship with a DA's office said that I would be trying a case within the the first week.

Vanwinkle, have you worked in a DA's office? Do you have any advice for a CB interview?

JPeavy44 wrote:Vanwinkle, have you worked in a DA's office? Do you have any advice for a CB interview?

No, I've interned with a couple public defenders, who have similar motives. I've also never interviewed with a public service organization that did callbacks; they tend not to have funding for it.

I'd expect more grilling and testing to make sure you belong there, but if you actually do belong there, I wouldn't sweat it too much. Do what you did before.

Yeah I mean, I've done 3 ADA interviews now (SF, Alameda, Riverside), and each has been rough, rough, rough.

These guys are very, very street smart - and they want someone who's good on his toes. I mean, the questions I got were designed to be traps, I'm not sure what the hell went on during those interviews - but whatever happened happened, and I'm going to sit back and wait.

Anonymous User wrote:Yeah I mean, I've done 3 ADA interviews now (SF, Alameda, Riverside), and each has been rough, rough, rough.

These guys are very, very street smart - and they want someone who's good on his toes. I mean, the questions I got were designed to be traps, I'm not sure what the hell went on during those interviews - but whatever happened happened, and I'm going to sit back and wait.

How were SF and Alameda? CBs? Could you PM any details?

JPeavy44 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Yeah I mean, I've done 3 ADA interviews now (SF, Alameda, Riverside), and each has been rough, rough, rough.

These guys are very, very street smart - and they want someone who's good on his toes. I mean, the questions I got were designed to be traps, I'm not sure what the hell went on during those interviews - but whatever happened happened, and I'm going to sit back and wait.

How were SF and Alameda? CBs? Could you PM any details?

no no, no cbs, im talkin screeners, still want pm?

Anonymous User wrote:

JPeavy44 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Yeah I mean, I've done 3 ADA interviews now (SF, Alameda, Riverside), and each has been rough, rough, rough.

These guys are very, very street smart - and they want someone who's good on his toes. I mean, the questions I got were designed to be traps, I'm not sure what the hell went on during those interviews - but whatever happened happened, and I'm going to sit back and wait.

How were SF and Alameda? CBs? Could you PM any details?

no no, no cbs, im talkin screeners, still want pm?

Yeah if you don't mind. Just general stuff is fine. Thanks.