hopingtogo wrote:From the OP's post it sounds like she(?) is interested in law enforcement issues more than intelligence related issues. My uncle is a special agent and a large number of the new agents he trains are former attorneys. The FBI has a special agent entry program for lawyers. You must have three years of professional work experience before you can apply for a position as a special agent, so you could probably work for a few years at a firm, clerk for a judge, etc. while you prepare for the other entry requirements (i.e. physical fitness test).
I want to work for the FBI myself (POSSIBLY CIA), likely as an analyst, and preferably in counter-terror. I had the opportunity to go in and speak with an agent a few weeks ago. I inquried about a number of things and, I just wanted to say that I was told the FBI now wants 5 years of work experience for special agent. However, individuals with law degrees have a number of options outside of special agent within the CIA. A JD is one of the best, if not the best, grad degree to have for the FBI. If you're not applying for special counsel, then I got the impression you don't need to be in or even near the T-14. The first thing you have to consider is how many people with law degrees even want to work for the FBI as, say, an analyst? Since a JD is a preferred degree in that area, you're already at an advantage. I was also told that grades are not an overly important aspect for these types of positions. That's not to say that someone who comes in with a 2.7 is going to have difficulties, but if you're above the 3.0 range, you should be fine.
Once thing that is very valuable, however, is work experience. Luckily, I have 3 years already, and will have an internship this summer. Even with positions like analysts, I got the impression that having at least a year or two of work experience is an important element of the application process. These types of government agencies really value maturity and life experience. That's not to say that a 25 year old graduating law school can't be mature, but there are certain elements of maturity that really do usually only come with work experience. I can't tell you how much more mature I was after 3 years at an office than I was before, so there really is something to it. Work experience is also important for the pay-scaling, if you want to start making more than, say 45-50k coming out of school. Although 45-50k in the FBI can turn into six figures relatively quickly, so I would certainly encourage you to take such a salary if it was offered. Another great thing about the FBI is the flexibility it offers. If you sign up as, say, a research analyst and don't like your job, there are plenty of other jobs within the FBI that you can probably work your way in to, all while increasing your pay scale and contributing to your pension (which is amazing,btw).
To be honest, I'm really surprised more people in the law school field aren't like you in me in their interest here. I think the FBI offers so much more than BigLaw and still offers financial security for the rest of your life. That doesn't mean I won't still be tempted by BigLaw, but I'm confident I'd end up in the FBI if it comes down to one or the other.
Being in DC definitely helps, but it's certainly not a requirement. Working somewhere like Boston or NY or Chicago or anywhere near a big city gives you plenty of opportunities to get your foot in the door, which is really all you need to do. My best advice is to get into the best school you can and to go there, unless you get into a school that's not too much better than somewhere like American. Good luck!
I think this presents more of a problem for the FBI than the CIA. The FBI is very strict when it comes to those things. I know a guy who applied for a position as a special agent and he was rejected because he smoked pot back when he was in high school (like seven years ago!). But as far as the CIA my impression is as long as you don't have any felonies and things of that nature, you should be okay. Things from your past like smoking pot, illegally downloading music, buying bootlegged DVDs is on the small end of the spectrum to them, as long as it wasn't done in large amounts or if you aren't still doing it. The best policy is to be totally honest in your disclosure, because being dishonest, even about something small, will make you look worse.
Are you sure he was rejected only because he smoked pot once? It's possible, but I do wonder if that was part of a larger problem. Also, don't be worried about stuff like underaged drinking. Just be honest and you're fine on that, as long as you didn't do something incredibly stupid. Illegally downloading music is probably in the same category. Who didn't do these two things in college, you know? Just be honest, and you should be fine. Pot is different, though. If you've done your share of this (especially recently), you'll have problems.
