District Attorney Offices 2017 Forum

[Anonymous User]

^This is incorrect for the BX DA's Office, offer acceptance date does not affect when your start date will be. I know for certain a number of my friend accepted their offers the same date as I did, but they're start in October while my start date remains Sept. 5th.

This could still be consistent with what the other user said. It would just mean that they reached the 60 point on the day you got your offer and the split was there. Presumably if you and your friends received offers around the same time so did several other people. Right?

[Anonymous User]

^This is incorrect for the BX DA's Office, offer acceptance date does not affect when your start date will be. I know for certain a number of my friend accepted their offers the same date as I did, but they're start in October while my start date remains Sept. 5th.

This could still be consistent with what the other user said. It would just mean that they reached the 60 point on the day you got your offer and the split was there. Presumably if you and your friends received offers around the same time so did several other people. Right?

How were you notified about the start date?

[Anonymous User]

^This is incorrect for the BX DA's Office, offer acceptance date does not affect when your start date will be. I know for certain a number of my friend accepted their offers the same date as I did, but they're start in October while my start date remains Sept. 5th.

This could still be consistent with what the other user said. It would just mean that they reached the 60 point on the day you got your offer and the split was there. Presumably if you and your friends received offers around the same time so did several other people. Right?

I'm the anon that posted about it being based on start dates. I received that info from the head of legal recruitment so I trust its veracity.

[Anonymous User]

^This is incorrect for the BX DA's Office, offer acceptance date does not affect when your start date will be. I know for certain a number of my friend accepted their offers the same date as I did, but they're start in October while my start date remains Sept. 5th.

This could still be consistent with what the other user said. It would just mean that they reached the 60 point on the day you got your offer and the split was there. Presumably if you and your friends received offers around the same time so did several other people. Right?

How were you notified about the start date?

Email

[Anonymous User]

^This is incorrect for the BX DA's Office, offer acceptance date does not affect when your start date will be. I know for certain a number of my friend accepted their offers the same date as I did, but they're start in October while my start date remains Sept. 5th.

This could still be consistent with what the other user said. It would just mean that they reached the 60 point on the day you got your offer and the split was there. Presumably if you and your friends received offers around the same time so did several other people. Right?

I'm the anon that posted about it being based on start dates. I received that info from the head of legal recruitment so I trust its veracity.

^actually, you're probably right, two of my friends accepted their offers hours after i accepted mine, so perhaps my acceptance was the cut off for the first class.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear anything from Queens...I'll be honest.. I am desperate... if I get rejected from this office... then its all over....

[Anonymous User]

I had my first round last week, but it was not the screener, it was a panel. Very confused... No word yet.

That happened with my first Bronx interview too. They must be in a rush to hire.

Just got a call today for final round. Recap:

First interview was on 3/22/2017, which was the panel NOT the screener.

Next interview is on 4/13, the final interview. Any tips?

[Anonymous User]

Current Bronx ADA. DA Clark just announced among other things that 1) we're looking to hire ~120 ADAs for the fall of 2017, 2) we're getting our DA badges back, along with these new challenge coins to trade among LEAs, and 3) she's looking to really clean up, revamp, and expand our facilities.

120 is nuts, right? I don't think I've ever seen numbers for classes higher than the 60's. Can someone shed some light onto that?

It's now 125. Had an interview last week, and that was the number they told me.

Do you know how many offers they have given already? Also, do you know how long it normally takes to hear back after the panel?

I don't think they have many spots left. My panel was on 3/22, got a call for the final interview today (4/3/17).

[Anonymous User]

Current Bronx ADA. DA Clark just announced among other things that 1) we're looking to hire ~120 ADAs for the fall of 2017, 2) we're getting our DA badges back, along with these new challenge coins to trade among LEAs, and 3) she's looking to really clean up, revamp, and expand our facilities.

120 is nuts, right? I don't think I've ever seen numbers for classes higher than the 60's. Can someone shed some light onto that?

It's now 125. Had an interview last week, and that was the number they told me.

Do you know how many offers they have given already? Also, do you know how long it normally takes to hear back after the panel?

I don't think they have many spots left. My panel was on 3/22, got a call for the final interview today (4/3/17).

Congrats. Why do you believe there aren't many spots left?

[Anonymous User]

Current Bronx ADA. DA Clark just announced among other things that 1) we're looking to hire ~120 ADAs for the fall of 2017, 2) we're getting our DA badges back, along with these new challenge coins to trade among LEAs, and 3) she's looking to really clean up, revamp, and expand our facilities.

120 is nuts, right? I don't think I've ever seen numbers for classes higher than the 60's. Can someone shed some light onto that?

It's now 125. Had an interview last week, and that was the number they told me.

Do you know how many offers they have given already? Also, do you know how long it normally takes to hear back after the panel?

I don't think they have many spots left. My panel was on 3/22, got a call for the final interview today (4/3/17).

Congrats. Why do you believe there aren't many spots left?

I was told that they already hired a little over a 100 ADAs.

[Anonymous User]

I'm going to be interning with Manhattan DA's office. Does anyone have any suggestions for preferences for bureaus? We have the options of investigation, appellate, special narcotics, and general trial. I originally thought investigation because I'd like to work my way into major economic crimes but had a professor point out to me that I should try to see court as much as possible to make myself a more competitive hire.

So... any general advice?

Anyone know if where you intern impacts where you wind up or if you get hired?

Your professor is right. Go to a trial bureau (general, DV, sex crimes, or vehicle, etc.). As an intern, the experience you'd get at investigations, special narcotics, appeals wouldn't be worth it. Investigations are long term, and interns are short term, so the work you'd get would be listening to tape, or collating data. Plus they wouldn't be too comfortable talking to an uncleared intern about the investigations. Not too much actual legal stuff, maybe a memo. Appeals would have legal research, but all youd be doing is writing about appeal waivers or excessive sentences.

Trial bureaus are great because you can come out of the internship confident that you can calculate 30.30 time, argue facial insufficiency, know the standards for all the Huntley/Dunaway/Wade/etc. hearings. Plus you'll likely get to go on the record for some calendar calls.

Disagree. I interned in Appeals over a summer (Queens, not Manhattan) and yes, although I wrote an appeal waiver and excessive sentence brief, I also wrote a 4th Amendment brief. Along with those, I also wrote a brief regarding sufficiency of accusatory instruments which, maybe not as sexy as other topics, requires your ability to analyze statutes and case law. You'd be surprised how many experienced ADAs don't know the standards governing the sufficiency of a complaint/information/indictment and use those terms interchangeably instead. Just like how some ADAs don't know how little it actually takes to be "ready" for 30.30 purposes.

As an intern, if you get to work on a substantive brief, even as assistance for one issue, you'll get your name in a reported decision. I got a kick out of searching my name in Westlaw and seeing results before I even graduated. To me, that's more impressive than being on the record on calendar call. I think student interns can argue cases in the Appellate Term if it gets scheduled fast enough. You'd also come out with 3-4 writing samples; its almost a 3-month lesson on effective legal writing.

I preferred Appeals because you come out of it with quantifiable work ("I wrote x briefs/motions that discussed __, ___, and/or ___.") that shows up on a resume and you can have a discussion about it, as opposed to saying "I know how to calculate 30.30."

OTOH, I also know interns that only did excessive sentence, appeal waivers, and FOIL, but those interns were the ones that had little interest in actually becoming a prosecutor. What you get out of it will depend on what you put into it. If you want to learn and do substantive work, it's definitely there for the taking, but you have to be pro-active about it.

This is very helpful. I know for at least NY County ADA that a more limited number of people are chosen for the Appeals Bureau (personally know an ADA who worked there for over 10 years who advised me of same). Because it's more substantive legal research and writing, they usually place people with stronger legal writing skills into the Appeals Bureau (this is where Law review/Journal, RA positions, and solid Legal writing grades may tend to work towards the intern favor). In the end, I would recommend asking around and choose based on what may interest you most.

Personally, I chose Appeals because I could definitely attain solid writing sample out of it, and the potential work seemed to interest me more. And coming out with "quantifiable work" seemed more appealing for me. In sum, there's not the "best" bureau. You should come out with some meaningful work experience not just merely listed on a resume, but which you could articulate to demonstrate interest for future employment purposes.

[Anonymous User]

To those of you who got their start dates from the BX DA, who emailed you? I got an email the other day asking for my address but nothing in the mail yet and nothing about a start date. Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any updates from the Queens office? I know of 5 confirmed people... I am still on hold since November... this is really scary.

[Anonymous User]

does anyone have any info on brooklyn? specifically start date, starting salary, class size, etc.

[Anonymous User]

does anyone have any info on brooklyn? specifically start date, starting salary, class size, etc.

No official word yet on start date, although historically its been in mid-late September. Starting salary stayed at $60k for the incoming class. Back in November they told me the class would be around 40-60 people, but I don't know how much that has changed since then.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone whose interviewed with BX DA recently heard anything back? If not, should we be worried?

[Anonymous User]

does anyone have any info on brooklyn? specifically start date, starting salary, class size, etc.

No official word yet on start date, although historically its been in mid-late September. Starting salary stayed at $60k for the incoming class. Back in November they told me the class would be around 40-60 people, but I don't know how much that has changed since then.

great thanks for the info!

anyone have any thoughts on what the impact if any there could be on first years in brooklyn based on the election coming up? i know there was some type of issue with continuity of offers when the last da came into office.

[Anonymous User]

To those of you who got their start dates from the BX DA, who emailed you? I got an email the other day asking for my address but nothing in the mail yet and nothing about a start date. Thanks!

Start date email came from Jessica Roberts.

A day or two earlier I got an email from Evangeline Vargas asking for mailing address, phone number etc. for paperwork. I think that may be the email you've received.

[Anonymous User]

I'm going to be interning with Manhattan DA's office. Does anyone have any suggestions for preferences for bureaus? We have the options of investigation, appellate, special narcotics, and general trial. I originally thought investigation because I'd like to work my way into major economic crimes but had a professor point out to me that I should try to see court as much as possible to make myself a more competitive hire.

So... any general advice?

Anyone know if where you intern impacts where you wind up or if you get hired?

Your professor is right. Go to a trial bureau (general, DV, sex crimes, or vehicle, etc.). As an intern, the experience you'd get at investigations, special narcotics, appeals wouldn't be worth it. Investigations are long term, and interns are short term, so the work you'd get would be listening to tape, or collating data. Plus they wouldn't be too comfortable talking to an uncleared intern about the investigations. Not too much actual legal stuff, maybe a memo. Appeals would have legal research, but all youd be doing is writing about appeal waivers or excessive sentences.

Trial bureaus are great because you can come out of the internship confident that you can calculate 30.30 time, argue facial insufficiency, know the standards for all the Huntley/Dunaway/Wade/etc. hearings. Plus you'll likely get to go on the record for some calendar calls.

Disagree. I interned in Appeals over a summer (Queens, not Manhattan) and yes, although I wrote an appeal waiver and excessive sentence brief, I also wrote a 4th Amendment brief. Along with those, I also wrote a brief regarding sufficiency of accusatory instruments which, maybe not as sexy as other topics, requires your ability to analyze statutes and case law. You'd be surprised how many experienced ADAs don't know the standards governing the sufficiency of a complaint/information/indictment and use those terms interchangeably instead. Just like how some ADAs don't know how little it actually takes to be "ready" for 30.30 purposes.

As an intern, if you get to work on a substantive brief, even as assistance for one issue, you'll get your name in a reported decision. I got a kick out of searching my name in Westlaw and seeing results before I even graduated. To me, that's more impressive than being on the record on calendar call. I think student interns can argue cases in the Appellate Term if it gets scheduled fast enough. You'd also come out with 3-4 writing samples; its almost a 3-month lesson on effective legal writing.

I preferred Appeals because you come out of it with quantifiable work ("I wrote x briefs/motions that discussed __, ___, and/or ___.") that shows up on a resume and you can have a discussion about it, as opposed to saying "I know how to calculate 30.30."

OTOH, I also know interns that only did excessive sentence, appeal waivers, and FOIL, but those interns were the ones that had little interest in actually becoming a prosecutor. What you get out of it will depend on what you put into it. If you want to learn and do substantive work, it's definitely there for the taking, but you have to be pro-active about it.

In the offices I worked in line ADA's got the option to work on their own appeals if they wanted. Do NYC DA offices allow that as well?

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know what the BXDA starting salary will be?

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know what the BXDA starting salary will be?

My letter says 61,200

[Anonymous User]

Anyone get any type of news from Queens?

[encore1101]

In the offices I worked in line ADA's got the option to work on their own appeals if they wanted. Do NYC DA offices allow that as well?

Queens will let line ADAs write and argue their own appeal, but it rarely happens.

[Anonymous User]

does anyone know how many ADAs will be hired in each of the NYC DA's offices?

[Anonymous User]

Any updates for Queens?