USAO 1L Interview Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have an interview tomorrow. I know to expect the standard: why law school? why school x? etc I am also sure that this will vary by USAO. but does anyone have any other insight or tips for this interviews? how I should sell past experience? This is luckily (or unluckily) my first interview and my top choice so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Voyager]

I have an interview tomorrow. I know to expect the standard: why law school? why school x? etc I am also sure that this will vary by USAO. but does anyone have any other insight or tips for this interviews? how I should sell past experience? This is luckily (or unluckily) my first interview and my top choice so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You need to sell them on your commitment to public service and to criminal prosecution. Some thoughts:

1) Prosecutors (particularly Federal) do NOT see themselves as simply out to punish criminals. They want to see JUSTICE done, even if that means NOT prosecuting someone.

2) In light of (1), make sure your explanantion of why you are interested in prosecution talks about ensuring justice is done. Doing the right thing, etc...

3) Talk up the sort of work USAO do. Make sure you know what the specific office you are interviewing for does. Hint: SDNY does all of the terrorism prosecutions... not ND Ca.

4) Desire to serve the country. What examples from your background to you have to show this?

Also, they want people that they could see as AUSAs. This means showing confidence during the interview. Staying sharp. Asking questions. Etc..

[Anonymous User]

I have an interview tomorrow. I know to expect the standard: why law school? why school x? etc I am also sure that this will vary by USAO. but does anyone have any other insight or tips for this interviews? how I should sell past experience? This is luckily (or unluckily) my first interview and my top choice so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You need to sell them on your commitment to public service and to criminal prosecution. Some thoughts:

1) Prosecutors (particularly Federal) do NOT see themselves as simply out to punish criminals. They want to see JUSTICE done, even if that means NOT prosecuting someone.

2) In light of (1), make sure your explanantion of why you are interested in prosecution talks about ensuring justice is done. Doing the right thing, etc...

3) Talk up the sort of work USAO do. Make sure you know what the specific office you are interviewing for does. Hint: SDNY does all of the terrorism prosecutions... not ND Ca.

4) Desire to serve the country. What examples from your background to you have to show this?

Also, they want people that they could see as AUSAs. This means showing confidence during the interview. Staying sharp. Asking questions. Etc..

ROFL @ #3. SDNY barely does terrorism prosecutions. In fact, they merged their terrorism section with narcotics because they do so few. EDNY is where the terrorism action is. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/nyreg ... cutor.html

[Voyager]

I have an interview tomorrow. I know to expect the standard: why law school? why school x? etc I am also sure that this will vary by USAO. but does anyone have any other insight or tips for this interviews? how I should sell past experience? This is luckily (or unluckily) my first interview and my top choice so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You need to sell them on your commitment to public service and to criminal prosecution. Some thoughts:

1) Prosecutors (particularly Federal) do NOT see themselves as simply out to punish criminals. They want to see JUSTICE done, even if that means NOT prosecuting someone.

2) In light of (1), make sure your explanantion of why you are interested in prosecution talks about ensuring justice is done. Doing the right thing, etc...

3) Talk up the sort of work USAO do. Make sure you know what the specific office you are interviewing for does. Hint: SDNY does all of the terrorism prosecutions... not ND Ca.

4) Desire to serve the country. What examples from your background to you have to show this?

Also, they want people that they could see as AUSAs. This means showing confidence during the interview. Staying sharp. Asking questions. Etc..

ROFL @ #3. SDNY barely does terrorism prosecutions. In fact, they merged their terrorism section with narcotics because they do so few. EDNY is where the terrorism action is. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/nyreg ... cutor.html

SDNY did all of the initial terrorism cases as of 2008. Maybe that has changed. BUt what i am saying is true as of 2008/2009.

Also, for my own "ROFL": http://www.google.com/#hl=en&expIds=172 ... 2a61b59af3

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the help Voyager. Anyone else got anything?

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with the USAO local to my law school (not a major one like SDNY, but still an urban one) my 1L year. I did get an offer. I remember them primarily being focused on my pre-law school experiences (I only took one year off but had done a range of internships domestically and abroad). The interviewer also commented that top 10% grades first semester (like mine) were a shoe-in for the position. He was interested in my public interest ambitions, whether or not I was applying to firms (I was and did end up going to one as a 1L), etc. The strangest question I was asked was geared at my ability to see all sides of an issue. It was something like imagine this is a federal defender interview--how would you sell yourself them? Why would you want to work for them? It really threw me off, but I spoke about justice, everyone's right to adequate counsel, system only works when the best lawyers are committed to criminal defense, etc. Hope this helps.