Weighing Options
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:33 am
Hi everyone,
I am a 2L at a T100 school, bottom 50%. Through my 1L judicial internship, I was able to work for credit at a PD office during both 2L semesters. The PD's office also offered me a summer internship, which I took. Additionally, I was able to get a post-graduate clerkship through a family connection. In essence, the PD internship and the clerkship are tied because the people involved all know each other.
This is the problem. I have very little interest in criminal law and litigation in general. I thought going into my 2L year that I would relish the external and internal aspects of learning litigation, and put it at the forefront of my career goals. Now, 2 months from my summer internship, I am not excited to work in criminal law. I am more interested in the world of government/legislative policy or what the ABA calls "legislative lawyering." I'm not against being a lawyer (although I'm not really interested in law/don't like law school), so a realistic option would be using my JD to get further into government/policy work. If I could go back, I wouldn't have pursued a JD. I probably would have gone for an MPP/MPA.
There are still summer opportunities working in an area I am interested in; land use/zoning law/government regulations for a redevelopment agency. I was thinking of applying and if accepted, possibly splitting the summer between two internships. The reason I'm afraid of giving up the PD is because I don't want it to jeopardize my post-grad clerkship, which has been formally offered by the judge and accepted by me.
Does anyone have advice in dealing my issue? Should I go the "safe" route and continue with criminal law or should I take the risk and begin to gear my career goals based on my interests (albeit without any job guarantee).
I appreciate any feedback.
I am a 2L at a T100 school, bottom 50%. Through my 1L judicial internship, I was able to work for credit at a PD office during both 2L semesters. The PD's office also offered me a summer internship, which I took. Additionally, I was able to get a post-graduate clerkship through a family connection. In essence, the PD internship and the clerkship are tied because the people involved all know each other.
This is the problem. I have very little interest in criminal law and litigation in general. I thought going into my 2L year that I would relish the external and internal aspects of learning litigation, and put it at the forefront of my career goals. Now, 2 months from my summer internship, I am not excited to work in criminal law. I am more interested in the world of government/legislative policy or what the ABA calls "legislative lawyering." I'm not against being a lawyer (although I'm not really interested in law/don't like law school), so a realistic option would be using my JD to get further into government/policy work. If I could go back, I wouldn't have pursued a JD. I probably would have gone for an MPP/MPA.
There are still summer opportunities working in an area I am interested in; land use/zoning law/government regulations for a redevelopment agency. I was thinking of applying and if accepted, possibly splitting the summer between two internships. The reason I'm afraid of giving up the PD is because I don't want it to jeopardize my post-grad clerkship, which has been formally offered by the judge and accepted by me.
Does anyone have advice in dealing my issue? Should I go the "safe" route and continue with criminal law or should I take the risk and begin to gear my career goals based on my interests (albeit without any job guarantee).
I appreciate any feedback.