Thoughts on: Federal Clerkship vs Intelligence Agency? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Recently interviewed with a federal judge and with an intelligence agency. Obv the former would set me up for a litigation path - more so due to his mostly criminal docket - while the intelligence role would be more as an in house counsel with a mission-oriented focus, and non-lit, with the agency.

I have an interest with the judge because of the advantages clerkships provide, especially for AUSA routes, but the intelligence agency seems interesting and may provide an outlet to exit the law into a managerial capacity at the agency sometime down the line.

Which path to choose and why?

[Anonymous User]

Bump

[clerk1251]

Recently interviewed with a federal judge and with an intelligence agency. Obv the former would set me up for a litigation path - more so due to his mostly criminal docket - while the intelligence role would be more as an in house counsel with a mission-oriented focus, and non-lit, with the agency.

I have an interest with the judge because of the advantages clerkships provide, especially for AUSA routes, but the intelligence agency seems interesting and may provide an outlet to exit the law into a managerial capacity at the agency sometime down the line.

Which path to choose and why?

This is a question you are going to have to answer for yourself. It's not really the type of question someone can choose for you.

You've identified what each one offers in terms of the experience and future job prospects. Figure out what you'd like to do with your career, and which one can help you accomplish that goal. Also, probably best to wait and see which, if any, gives you an offer.

[mjb447]

Recently interviewed with a federal judge and with an intelligence agency. Obv the former would set me up for a litigation path - more so due to his mostly criminal docket - while the intelligence role would be more as an in house counsel with a mission-oriented focus, and non-lit, with the agency.

I have an interest with the judge because of the advantages clerkships provide, especially for AUSA routes, but the intelligence agency seems interesting and may provide an outlet to exit the law into a managerial capacity at the agency sometime down the line.

Which path to choose and why?

This is a question you are going to have to answer for yourself. It's not really the type of question someone can choose for you.

You've identified what each one offers in terms of the experience and future job prospects. Figure out what you'd like to do with your career, and which one can help you accomplish that goal. Also, probably best to wait and see which, if any, gives you an offer.

+1. It sounds like each job will put you on a different track, and you recognize that. After that, based on your descriptions, it's basically just whether you want to be a litigator or whether you're more likely to enjoy a more nonlegal gov managerial role. (I also assume that you've done some research about common outcomes from the intelligence agency position and there's nothing significant in the way of your chosen career path there.)

[elendinel]

Recently interviewed with a federal judge and with an intelligence agency. Obv the former would set me up for a litigation path - more so due to his mostly criminal docket - while the intelligence role would be more as an in house counsel with a mission-oriented focus, and non-lit, with the agency.

I have an interest with the judge because of the advantages clerkships provide, especially for AUSA routes, but the intelligence agency seems interesting and may provide an outlet to exit the law into a managerial capacity at the agency sometime down the line.

Which path to choose and why?

This is a question you are going to have to answer for yourself. It's not really the type of question someone can choose for you.

You've identified what each one offers in terms of the experience and future job prospects. Figure out what you'd like to do with your career, and which one can help you accomplish that goal. Also, probably best to wait and see which, if any, gives you an offer.

+1

If your question is "Which one is more likely to get me _____," then someone can help you answer that. But none of us can tell you which career would be better for you; you have to figure out what you want and where you'd rather go. Especially when the choices are as different as these are.

[Anonymous User]

Recently interviewed with a federal judge and with an intelligence agency. Obv the former would set me up for a litigation path - more so due to his mostly criminal docket - while the intelligence role would be more as an in house counsel with a mission-oriented focus, and non-lit, with the agency.

I have an interest with the judge because of the advantages clerkships provide, especially for AUSA routes, but the intelligence agency seems interesting and may provide an outlet to exit the law into a managerial capacity at the agency sometime down the line.

Which path to choose and why?

FWIW - there are litigators at each of the intelligence agencies, but they are usually in a support role for other (DOJ, AUSA) attorneys, or doing more routine agency defense type work.

You could always clerk and then re-apply to the agencies if you are still interested. Without going into detail, I can tell you from personal experience that they value clerkships.

[foregetaboutdre]

This is a decision for yourself.

The way I look at it, I would choose the intelligence agency (if you're interested in it). I am sure intelligence agencies value federal clerkships, but the problem is, when your clerkship is over - they might not be hiring. If you decide to work at the intelligence agency, and really don't like it, you could probably secure a clerkship in a fly-over. You also have the benefit of starting a lasting career if you choose the intelligence agency.

If your ambitions are feeder COAs/SCOTUS etc..., then I'd pick the clerkship.

[Alive97]

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[Anonymous User]

bump

[clerk1251]

bump

Lol.

Are you really bumping this? Dude, no one can make this decision for you. Rather than bumping this, why not just flip a coin if you are that hard-pressed for someone else to make a decision for you about the future direction of your life.

[clerk1251]

bump

Lol.

Are you really bumping this? Dude, no one can make this decision for you. Rather than bumping this, why not just flip a coin if you are that hard-pressed for someone else to make a decision for you about the future direction of your life.

Standby, I'll even do it for you.

Heads - clerkship
Tails - intelligence

I'll post results as soon as I find a coin...

[clerk1251]

bump

Lol.

Are you really bumping this? Dude, no one can make this decision for you. Rather than bumping this, why not just flip a coin if you are that hard-pressed for someone else to make a decision for you about the future direction of your life.

Standby, I'll even do it for you.

Heads - clerkship
Tails - intelligence

I'll post results as soon as I find a coin...

Tails. Enjoy the intelligence agency! If you were hoping for a clerkship, let me know and we can try for best two out of three!

[Anonymous User]

I was hoping for different analyses from viewpoints other than my own on potential positives and negatives of the two very different paths.

[mjb447]

bump

Lol.

Are you really bumping this? Dude, no one can make this decision for you. Rather than bumping this, why not just flip a coin if you are that hard-pressed for someone else to make a decision for you about the future direction of your life.

Standby, I'll even do it for you.

Heads - clerkship
Tails - intelligence

I'll post results as soon as I find a coin...

Tails. Enjoy the intelligence agency! If you were hoping for a clerkship, let me know and we can try for best two out of three!

I got heads. I think OP should clerk.

[clerk1251]

bump

Lol.

Are you really bumping this? Dude, no one can make this decision for you. Rather than bumping this, why not just flip a coin if you are that hard-pressed for someone else to make a decision for you about the future direction of your life.

Standby, I'll even do it for you.

Heads - clerkship
Tails - intelligence

I'll post results as soon as I find a coin...

Tails. Enjoy the intelligence agency! If you were hoping for a clerkship, let me know and we can try for best two out of three!

I got heads. I think OP should clerk.

I did it again and got heads also. OP, best 2 out of 3 says to clerk. Enjoy the judiciary!

[FascinatedWanderer]

With this sort of decisiveness perhaps the intelligence community is not the best place for OP. Judiciary it is!

[clerk1251]

With this sort of decisiveness perhaps the intelligence community is not the best place for OP. Judiciary it is!

Ha, I was thinking the same thing. Except, on behalf of the judiciary, I'd rather he didn't join us.

[elendinel]

I was hoping for different analyses from viewpoints other than my own on potential positives and negatives of the two very different paths.

This is still incredibly vague. As with any choices, the pros and construction will depend on what you ultimately want. You need to decide what you want. You can then ask specific questions if you're wondering about some particular aspect of either position.