3L Public Defender Applications Forum

abogadesq · Post by **abogadesq** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:49 pm

(not a 3L but a graduate)

Had a PD interview recently. I thought it went very well and it seemed like I was a sure hire. Found out I struck out. Competition is truly fierce even with a strong PI background. You really have to have one foot already in the door (internship + CLI + trial background + local school) to have much of a chance no matter where it is.

On the bright side the defendants in the waiting room can give you good advice on alternative ways to scrape a living.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:02 pm

abogadesq wrote:(not a 3L but a graduate)

Had a PD interview recently. I thought it went very well and it seemed like I was a sure hire. Found out I struck out.

Which office?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:06 pm

Has anyone heard from LAS yet this week?

NickiDrea · Post by **NickiDrea** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 5:05 pm

psu2016 wrote:Hey guys,

Not sure if this is the right place for this - I'd be happy to move it if it isn't - but I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on (rising) 3L PD applications. What's the time line? Do PDs hire "classes" the way that firms do? Long story short, I'm top 5% at a TT looking to go cross-coast (yeah, I know, poor planning at the start of law school, but I took the free ride). Anybody have any luck doing this? My resume is exclusively PD experience including Philly and (hopefully) PDS next year.

Has anyone had success breaking into the PD market from out of state/no connections? What ECs are they looking for?

This is what I'm truly passionate about but I don't want to stay where it snows for the rest of my life...

Thanks for your help!

Yes, PD's offices have classes. Our office usually has a Fall and a Spring class. The Spring classes tend to be smaller.

I broke into the PD's office in Philly- which was EXTREMELY competitive then and is now almost impossible to get into- without any connections. I did not come from any local schools. We look for good schools (not necessarily local), good grades and a strong commitment to public interest, preferably shown through criminal clinicals in law school and internships at our office; however, clinical experience and an internship will in no way guarantee getting an offer.

Philly PD has a screening interview, a panel and a final panel with the Chief Defender. We do not give out the problem in advance and it is a difficult problem and a very intense interview. Lasts about 1.5-2 hours. Be warned! But it is worth it. Philly is considered to have one of the best PD's offices in the US for a reason. Love this job and the people.

abogadesq · Post by **abogadesq** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:29 pm

Question: when you do not get an offer but are told that they will consider you in the future, do they really mean that or is it only out of politeness? Should I restart the whole application process if there is another opening to really be reconsidered?

Anonymous User wrote:
abogadesq wrote:(not a 3L but a graduate)

Had a PD interview recently. I thought it went very well and it seemed like I was a sure hire. Found out I struck out.
Which office?

It was a small office so I'd rather not say. Really nice and professional people; I hope I get the chance to work in a PD office like that some day.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:49 pm

Anyone have information about the Los Angeles PD process that is underway right now?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:39 pm

What's the starting salary at the Philly PD's office? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:51 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Has anyone heard from LAS yet this week?

I wasn't naive enough to expect them to call last week, but this is getting ridiculous.

TekkaTekka · Post by **TekkaTekka** » Mon Jun 15, 2015 12:55 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Anyone have information about the Los Angeles PD process that is underway right now?

No idea. Finished my second round interview a little over two weeks ago. I was told they could call as early as next week, or take up to six months depending on the budget.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Jun 15, 2015 1:01 pm

Does anyone know if Maryland OPD has made offers for the Fall '15 class?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:08 am

Update on AK PD: they sent an email for "availability of hiring" to see who they will interview for two offices in the next few months.

roctaz · Post by **roctaz** » Tue Jun 16, 2015 12:39 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Update on AK PD: they sent an email for "availability of hiring" to see who they will interview for two offices in the next few months.

Thanks for the update! I received the same email. I hope we both get a second interview. Good luck!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 10:55 am

Hi everyone,

Was wondering whether anyone has heard updates from Toni or Tina about their LAS applications. I haven't heard anything.

Thanks!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 2:24 pm

I know that at least some calls were made this week. I have no idea how many.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 4:54 pm

Got a waitlist email from LAS at around 4:00pm. Congratulations to everyone who got offers!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 4:04 pm

Got the wait list e-mail as well from LAS, congrats to those who got offers!

Does anyone know of anyone who got an eventual offer while wait listed at LAS?

roctaz · Post by **roctaz** » Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:35 pm

RE: AK Public Defender:

Has anybody heard anything since emails were sent out on 6/15/2015? Thank you!

xChiTowNx · Post by **xChiTowNx** » Tue Jun 30, 2015 4:43 pm

roctaz wrote:RE: AK Public Defender:

Has anybody heard anything since emails were sent out on 6/15/2015? Thank you!

Hey I'm the other AK person in this thread. I turned down the interview request so unfortunately I can't be your "update buddy" anymore

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the process was taking longer than expected. Good luck I hope you get that second interview !

roctaz · Post by **roctaz** » Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:56 pm

xChiTowNx wrote:
roctaz wrote:RE: AK Public Defender:

Has anybody heard anything since emails were sent out on 6/15/2015? Thank you!
Hey I'm the other AK person in this thread. I turned down the interview request so unfortunately I can't be your "update buddy" anymore

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the process was taking longer than expected. Good luck I hope you get that second interview !

Thanks for the reply! This has been quite a long process.

Wolfingl · Post by **Wolfingl** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:00 am

Hi all,

Accepted my offer with LAS JRP! Any potential NYC roommates please message me!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:26 pm

bumping this as I have a screener with NHPD in a few weeks. Anyone have info on their screeners i.e. hypos or just "why PD?"

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:27 pm

Any word on CPCS hiring?

abogadesq · Post by **abogadesq** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 2:56 pm

Update on FL PD: after several rounds of interviews I obtained a PD position. If you continue to strike out but really want a PD position, keep trying. Experienced PDs are retiring and state budgets are frozen, so vacancies are sporadic. Even in smaller cities it's ridiculously competitive, but PDs will take note of your persistence and continued enthusiasm for the field. Do pro bono work alongside any paid job you are taking in the interim. Take every PD opportunity that pops up.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:43 pm

Holy moly! You already have a screener as a rising 3L? Wow I am all of a sudden feeling way behind!

BlueLotus · Post by **BlueLotus** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 5:12 pm

Any point in throwing an app to the crim division of PDs offices when your experience is largely civil (SS disability, public benefits, family, immigration, etc.)

I did volunteer for the Innocence Project, so there's that.

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