How is AmeriCorps experience viewed during OCI/EIP? Forum

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Being one year out from UG, my only full time gig thus far has been working as an AmeriCorps service member at a self-help law center helping pro se's file civil actions. The rumor is even at top law schools, firms don't like it when interviewees have too much public interest experience on their resume.

Would it therefore be prudent to defer another year to gain some private sector experience before law school? Additionally, fact of the matter is AmeriCorps isn't exactly legitimate full-time work, it's more of a volunteer experience. How do firms view this during OCI/EIP? Thank you for your responses.

[lsapplicant07]

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[Lovely Ludwig Van]

^ Right. But I think most would agree that TFA/military >>> AmeriCorps.

[guinness1547]

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[shoeshine]

This is just what I have heard from people at my school but the rumor is that it really isn't a positive or a negative.

It won't hurt you and it is better than having a big gap on your resume but it is not treated the same as professional w/e.

[bceagles182]

If the interviewer did something similar, it will help. Beyond that, it will help to the extent that it will give you something to talk about in interviews. This will give you an advantage at the interviewing stage over people who came straight from undergrad with no WE.