3L Public Defender Applications Forum

[Anonymous User]

just wondering if anyone here has been selected for a second interview with pds?

nope, still waiting...

Did you submit the PDS application? I sent it in anyway, and I hope we both get selected for the second round!

[Anonymous User]

Is anybody else heading to Des Moines this Friday for a Gideon Fellowship final interview?

[Anonymous User]

Saw another forum that states that LAS has done some final round interviews - just wondering if anyone has done the final round yet? I've done the panel interview a few months ago, and haven't heard anything since. But my understanding is that we don't hear from LAS until they've conducted all of the panel interviews.

[Anonymous User]

Saw another forum that states that LAS has done some final round interviews - just wondering if anyone has done the final round yet? I've done the panel interview a few months ago, and haven't heard anything since. But my understanding is that we don't hear from LAS until they've conducted all of the panel interviews.

I had my panel early September and was told that we won't hear about final rounds until November/December..however since the criminal practice isn't going to ejw they may be starting early with last rounds..not sure

[Anonymous User]

Saw another forum that states that LAS has done some final round interviews - just wondering if anyone has done the final round yet? I've done the panel interview a few months ago, and haven't heard anything since. But my understanding is that we don't hear from LAS until they've conducted all of the panel interviews.

I had my panel early September and was told that we won't hear about final rounds until November/December..however since the criminal practice isn't going to ejw they may be starting early with last rounds..not sure

That seems to be the consensus. I think I'm just going to assume that.

[BlueLotus]

Do Hennepin PD and BDS (Immigration Practice) do hypo interviews at the screener stage?

[Anonymous User]

got interview with PDS- though I know its a long shot

[Anonymous User]

got interview with PDS- though I know its a long shot

Same, I'm pretty excited about this!! Does anyone know what the second interview is like?

[Anonymous User]

How long did it take for y'all to hear back from LAS after sending in your application?

[Anonymous User]

i applied back in august and heard back in a little over a week. not sure if thats representative of the timeline now since they might have gotten a flood of applications.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody interview with Bronx/Brooklyn at EJW? Should I expect a hypo? Do they test your knowledge of crimpro/evidence?

[Anonymous User]

In law school I basically lived on 24,000 a year in DC when you factor in how much of my loan went to school.

Did you live under a bridge in southeast DC? I clerked for a year in DC after I graduated and even with a tiny 1 bedroom apartment out in bumblefuck Alexandria (I was less than a mile from Springfield) and a $63k /year salary, I barely managed to save to save anything. DC is really expensive, for what it is.

I'm living in a super nice area of brooklyn on 56k with one roommate in a small 2br. . . . on my 45k-ish take home this year I will start saving. I have no plans for children for at least 7 years, so I'm feeling pretty confident now!

How are you seeing a $45k take-home on a $56k /year salary in NY? That doesn't sounds right, unless you're evading taxes. $56k /year should be around $40k /year take-home in NY after federal, state, local, medicare, medicaid, and social security taxes, assuming your single and one allowance (for yourself). See http://www.paycheckcity.com/calculator/salary/result . Take out health insurance and other various deductions, I'd be surprised if your take-home is over $37k /year, assuming you're not evading taxes. $37k /year is rough in a place as expensive as NYC. How much are you saving from that? (I'm impressed that you're able to save anything, but I guess willingness to live with a roommate, out in Brooklyn, and in a small apartment helps.)

Yeah definitely not evading taxes, and I did the same thing with a calculator and got 44 soooo don't know what to tell you there.

I lived in NW DC all four years, paid less than $1200/mo for rent, and got a stipend for the summers while doing PD work, so its closer to 27,000 per year. It all depends on how you live. I don't have anyone to support but a chubby cat, I had no issues whatsoever.

"Out" in Brooklyn....yeah I'm in park slope with one roommate in a 2br. I VASTLY prefer this area to Manhattan, and I'm a 20 minute subway from midtown. It's small but really nice, and my bedroom is actually very large by ny standards. I don't feel the need to live any kind of life of luxury but yeah, I put away a little something every month. Don't know what to tell you....sorry it worked for me and not for you? It's doable with my lifestyle, as I said before it would not be doable if I were supporting a child. and DC was a breeze so I really can't tell you why that was so tough for you. Most of my friend took out fewer loans than I did and lived on way less than that per year, but the lived in group houses so rent was closer to 600-800. I have always had roommates but in apartments with private bathrooms. I plan to have roommates until I move in with my boyfriend. I prefer it and it is affordable.

I make a budget for myself in a spreadsheet and keep track of the money I spend. I encourage other to do the same. My routine expenses now are the gym (70/mo) mani-pedi (30/month) and groceries (150/mo). My utilities are included in my rent. I avoid eating out and don't have pricey binge drinking nights that I had on occasion in law school. I make coffee and tea at home and don't buy it. Maybe its the little things, but it works and I'm very happy!

Just wanted to update on this now that I have a few paychecks under my belt (same anon here.) My take home is most definitely $43 (a little higher right now because I am opted out of health care until I turn 26, but for planning purposes I still budget at 43) and this has been really doable for me. My rent is $1400/ month in a nice area of park slope in a really cute place. My job DOES cover my transit pass, which saves an additional $112 per month that I was not expecting, which is a great bonus. And I did get a raise so my salary is 58, not 56.

I feel very comfortable. I won't save a buttload this year, but I will save a chunk and have room to spare on a vacation. All in all not bad for a 25 year old with no kids. Next year I'll make a little more and be living with my boyfriend so paying only about 1200 in rent for my share of a one bedroom. IT IS VERY DOABLE PEOPLE. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED FROM A JOB YOU CARE ABOUT BECAUSE YOU SEE A SALARY IN THE 50s in NYC. You won't e in that 92 mil penthouse that has gone viral, but you can be a happy camper with a cat in the fancy part of brooklyn

[Anonymous User]

how many years do you guys see yourselves being public defenders? what would be your dream job after?

[BlueLotus]

how many years do you guys see yourselves being public defenders? what would be your dream job after?

My dream jerb IS PD/Legal Aid! Can't see myself doing anything else. Def. interested in a supervisory role after a couple of years in the trenches, tho.

[Anonymous User]

anyone have insight on the NHPD interview process?

[BlueLotus]

anyone have insight on the NHPD interview process?

Not personal experience, but I do know that they will grill you if you have a low grade a relevant course (crim, crim pro, evidence, etc.)

My friend interned there last summer--would you like me to reach out to her and ask about he NH PD interview process?

[Anonymous User]

Applied to PDS and still haven't heard from them about an interview. 3L at a T14 school with PD internships at 4 different offices (semesters and both summers) + clinic. Anybody else who still hasn't heard? Or should I take this as bad news?

[Anonymous User]

Anybody interview with Bronx/Brooklyn at EJW? Should I expect a hypo? Do they test your knowledge of crimpro/evidence?

Also interested in this!

[Anonymous User]

Applied to PDS and still haven't heard from them about an interview. 3L at a T14 school with PD internships at 4 different offices (semesters and both summers) + clinic. Anybody else who still hasn't heard? Or should I take this as bad news?

I know a few folks who had 1st round interviews with PDS ~6 weeks ago and still haven't heard. So who knows...

[Anonymous User]

Anybody interview with Bronx/Brooklyn at EJW? Should I expect a hypo? Do they test your knowledge of crimpro/evidence?

Does anyone have an answer to this?

[Anonymous User]

Whelp, EJW interview all done.

Hope everyone who went had a successful weekend.

Current state of mind:

[ash0117]

Whelp, EJW interview all done.

Hope everyone who went had a successful weekend.

Current state of mind:

100% my feelings.

[Anonymous User]

After ejw, any rule on when to send thank you emails, btw, I hate this part

[Tanicius]

After ejw, any rule on when to send thank you emails, btw, I hate this part

I honestly wouldn't bother.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone who interviewed with Bronx heard about second rounds yet.