Big city prosecutor, taking questions Forum

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2012, currently working in a big city (NYC/LA/MIA/CHI) prosecutor's office. Graduated top 1/3 from an unimpressive T2 that's in the same region that I'm working in.

Happy to answer questions about the hiring process or life as a first-year prosecutor.

[eav1277]

If you want DA/PD, what do you view as most important to obtaining a full time paid position? How would you rank in order of importance prestige/ranking of school, dedication to the field, grades, experience, moot court, and alumni network (please include any other factors I'm missing if important)?

sorry for the million questions. Is the hiring market as bad as everyone says? Thanks for doing this

[Anonymous User]

If you want DA/PD, what do you view as most important to securing a position? How would you rank in order of importance prestige/ranking of school, dedication to the field, grades, experience, moot court (please include any other factors I'm missing if important, alumni network?

sorry the the million questions. Is the hiring market as bad as everyone says? Thanks for doing this

OP

I know this answer isn't very helpful, but it really depends a lot on the office. Most offices don't care much about prestige/rank, but DANY is beginning to consider that as a pretty strong factor the last few years. If I had to generally rank the factors they consider in hiring it would be:

Dedication to public service (not just to prosecution)
Prosecution internships/externships/clinics
Other work experience (public service/volunteer work/clinics)
Ability to communicate quickly, concisely, and thoroughly
Grades
School

The problem with ranking the above factors is that they're completely fluid. Someone who had no experience working in a prosecution office but had a ton of volunteer experience and a clear dedication to public service might have just as good a shot as someone who interned at a prosecutor's office and was on moot court. Overall, I think you're a package and you need to have a clear reason for wanting to be a prosecutor, and a proven track record displaying that reason.

In terms of the hiring market, it is certainly competitive, but my office is hiring pre-2008 numbers again, so things are looking up.

[eav1277]

I am currently set to do TFA. Would that be seen as dedication to public service? I am doing it regardless of any boost I might receive but just curious.

How are the hours? do you get a lot of responsibility from the get go or do they start you on the smaller/more menial work?

Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous User]

Are you eyeballing what exit options are a viable? Primarily with the DOJ or other, more lucrative careers? Where do you hear about your colleagues going?

[Anonymous User]

Interesting.

[eav1277]

So what's the alternative? Eliminating government. Rewriting a constitution. Telling everyone to play nice? How do you propose we fix it? Be part of the solution if it's so easy.

[Anonymous User]

So what's the alternative? Eliminating government. Rewriting a constitution. Telling everyone to play nice? How do you propose we fix it? Be part of the solution if it's so easy.

You falsely assume I have no policy alternatives and then propose absurd ones. This is not the place for me to outline my agenda. What a waste of time, especially considering 90% of the users here already know and have weighed those alternatives. The problem is in the population and the governments that support the draconian drug policies in place.

And yes, it actually is pretty easy. No "elimination of government" necessary (rolling eyes).

[hallbd16]

I am currently set to do TFA. Would that be seen as dedication to public service? I am doing it regardless of any boost I might receive but just curious.

How are the hours? do you get a lot of responsibility from the get go or do they start you on the smaller/more menial work?

Thanks for the info.

+1 to these questions.

Thanks for coming in here to take questions. Can you let us know at the start of your post when it is the original anonymous user again?

Also an anonymous tag! Self-defeats the purpose.

[sportsaholic763]

While in law school, or even beforehand, what did you do to secure the internships/WE you refer to? Did your career services office help a lot with that?

[rad lulz]

They start you on misdemeanors? Juveniles?

[Another]

.

[gdane]

Can you please be more specific about what office you're working at? I'm interested in both Manhattan DA and Miami SAO.

In terms of hiring, did you have a few offers or was it just one? Thanks.

[dailygrind]

How do you feel knowing you are complicit in the war on drugs, a terroristic assault on the liberties and livelihoods of non-violent offenders, especially in light of the way law enforcement only fight it against certain unfavorable subsets of the population, despite evidence showing other subsets engage in the activity law enforcement claims to be fighting at a far higher rate?

Have fun raping liberty.

This is not how the anon function is to be used. Outed and banned.

[Anonymous User]

Do you find that your office is prejudicial to schools that are not in your region? Or does it not matter where you school is if you meet the criteria you stated in the post above.

[adonai]

If you had the choice between a DA internship which will let certified students do trials, and a DA internship with the office you ultimately want to be employed in but doesn't let students do trials (only prelims/motions, and SOMETIMES at that), which one would you choose and which one would ultimately be best for employment with the desired office? I guess I'm asking whether trial experience (small county, less interns to compete for work, more substantive experience overall) will trump actually interning in the office you want to work for (large county, too many interns to give everyone work, reputation of making externs make copies/binders as a result).

[Anonymous User]

Can you please be more specific about what office you're working at? I'm interested in both Manhattan DA and Miami SAO.

In terms of hiring, did you have a few offers or was it just one? Thanks.

I'm a 3L going to the Miami SAO over the Manhattan DA. Interviewed and did the round grind at both. I felt like Miami had their stuff together more so than Manhattan and they progress new ASAs through the ranks to felonies faster than Manhattan did (at least, according to the responses I got from my interviewers). I chose Miami in the end. Great weather, better QoL and what sounds like a better overall experience.

Both offices seemed very competitive. You'll have a wide range of new attorneys from various schools ranging from Harvard to TTTs like NYLS and Nova, respectively.

[gdane]

I'm a 3L going to the Miami SAO over the Manhattan DA. Interviewed and did the round grind at both. I felt like Miami had their stuff together more so than Manhattan and they progress new ASAs through the ranks to felonies faster than Manhattan did (at least, according to the responses I got from my interviewers). I chose Miami in the end. Great weather, better QoL and what sounds like a better overall experience.

Both offices seemed very competitive. You'll have a wide range of new attorneys from various schools ranging from Harvard to TTTs like NYLS and Nova, respectively.

Thanks for the information. I don't mind working at the Miami SAO, but I'm currently in Miami and would prefer to go to the northeast.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L going to the Miami SAO over the Manhattan DA. Interviewed and did the round grind at both. I felt like Miami had their stuff together more so than Manhattan and they progress new ASAs through the ranks to felonies faster than Manhattan did (at least, according to the responses I got from my interviewers). I chose Miami in the end. Great weather, better QoL and what sounds like a better overall experience.

Both offices seemed very competitive. You'll have a wide range of new attorneys from various schools ranging from Harvard to TTTs like NYLS and Nova, respectively.

Thanks for the information. I don't mind working at the Miami SAO, but I'm currently in Miami and would prefer to go to the northeast.

I'm the 3L. I think you'll be happy at either office if you want to be a prosecutor. As far as how difficult it is to land the job, I'd say they are equally challenging. Ms. Rundle seems more old school than Vance, however, and isn't going to care as much about your school rank. I'm not from New York or Miami, and while is personal preference for sure, aside from liking the office in Miami better, New York just smells bad.

[gdane]

I'm the 3L. I think you'll be happy at either office if you want to be a prosecutor. As far as how difficult it is to land the job, I'd say they are equally challenging. Ms. Rundle seems more old school than Vance, however, and isn't going to care as much about your school rank. I'm not from New York or Miami, and while is personal preference for sure, aside from liking the office in Miami better, New York just smells bad.

Haha. Thanks.

I'm also interested in the Suffolk County (MA) DA. Did you interview with them?

[dextermorgan]

Regarding clinics, would it be advisable to do a criminal defense clinic if your ultimate goal is prosecution?

[Band A Long]

Thanks a lot for answering questions!

Can you speak to how some of your peers have done in looking for similar jobs? You mentioned that hiring is up a bit; do you think you were more successful than them in finding a prosecution job, and if so, why? Any idea what they're doing now?

[Anonymous User]

While in law school, or even beforehand, what did you do to secure the internships/WE you refer to? Did your career services office help a lot with that?

OP here.

I worked with low income individuals in my city, primarily in civil matters. Career services wasn't much of a help except for lining up my employer for OCI.

[Anonymous User]

They start you on misdemeanors? Juveniles?

OP here.

Misdemeanors, with some Juveniles mixed in. Pretty significant caseload and some serious cases right from the beginning.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Can you please be more specific about what office you're working at? I'm interested in both Manhattan DA and Miami SAO.

In terms of hiring, did you have a few offers or was it just one? Thanks.

Both are great offices and you should be happy to work at either one. I'm not going to get into which office I work at, as I'd prefer to remain anon.

I had one offer and I accepted immediately. I was in the process of interviewing at a few other offices, but never had a final round at any office other than the one I accepted/work at.

If you had the choice between a DA internship which will let certified students do trials, and a DA internship with the office you ultimately want to be employed in but doesn't let students do trials (only prelims/motions, and SOMETIMES at that), which one would you choose and which one would ultimately be best for employment with the desired office? I guess I'm asking whether trial experience (small county, less interns to compete for work, more substantive experience overall) will trump actually interning in the office you want to work for (large county, too many interns to give everyone work, reputation of making externs make copies/binders as a result).

At the end of the day, you have to go with your gut. That being said, trial experience will be a significant boost to your resume, even if you don't end up at a prosecutor's office. IMO, you should intern at the office that will give you the best shot at being hired. If that office is the one that will only let you do motions/preliminary hearings, and might even make you do office work, take it and don't look back. Part of being a line assistant is doing almost all of your own grunt work. You're the one making copies, keeping your files in order, bringing in police officers, ordering surveillance videos, etc., so you might as well get used to it now. Plus, if you do a good job and impress someone, they might take you under their wing and help you get hired. A willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done is a common trait amongst my class, and our office in general.

You could also try to work at both offices, one during the summer, and the other during the semester.

Regarding clinics, would it be advisable to do a criminal defense clinic if your ultimate goal is prosecution?

If you can't get into a pros. clinic or extern at a prosecutor's office that might end up hiring you full time, a criminal defense clinic is not a bad route. A bunch of people I know who did the criminal defense clinic at my school are currently working as prosecutors.

Thanks a lot for answering questions!

Can you speak to how some of your peers have done in looking for similar jobs? You mentioned that hiring is up a bit; do you think you were more successful than them in finding a prosecution job, and if so, why? Any idea what they're doing now?

The people that wanted prosecution but didn't get it are mostly working at small firms doing criminal defense. As I stated earlier, being a successful candidate isn't just a "do x, y and z and you're hired" type of thing, the way that BigLaw seems to be. Have a compelling story, a reason for wanting to be a prosecutor, and experience and training to back that up.

Do you find that your office is prejudicial to schools that are not in your region? Or does it not matter where you school is if you meet the criteria you stated in the post above.

Nope, my office hired grads from around the country.