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What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:59 pm
by jdhopeful11
Which looks better?
It basically comes down to interning for the government vs a firm in the private sector. I am well aware that it depends on what the person and law school is interested in, but let's assume that I am still undecided.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:17 am
by jdhopeful11
andyman wrote:Which looks better?
It basically comes down to interning for the government vs a firm in the private sector. I am well aware that it depends on what the person and law school is interested in, but let's assume that I am still undecided.
apparently the lamest poll ever posted
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:19 am
by MF248
is this a state AG or fed?
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:20 am
by Vincent Vega
Is it AN attorney general, or THE attorney general? A position where you actually have actual conversations and influence with the Attorney General of the United States is probably the best law internship you can get. A sucky, paper trail internship with North Dakota's atty gen would probably be the worst way you could spend a summer.
Assuming you're talking about the former rather than the latter, I chose atty gen.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:21 am
by Vincent Vega
MF248 wrote:is this a state AG or fed?
Beat me to it. Mine took longer to type.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:21 am
by iShotFirst
Which looks better? The question is which looks better to who. If you are going for a firm job firm probably looks better. Government job Attorneys office would probably look better. You have to make the decision to be in line with your career goals.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:22 am
by nycparalegal
I don't understand these posts. Why are you looking for what "looks" better on your resume? Wouldn't it be better if you said: "Which position will challenge me more, and will give me more practical experience?"
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:37 am
by Unemployed
nycparalegal wrote:I don't understand these posts. Why are you looking for what "looks" better on your resume? Wouldn't it be better if you said: "Which position will challenge me more, and will give me more practical experience?"

Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:47 am
by jdhopeful11
MF248 wrote:is this a state AG or fed?
State
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:49 am
by jdhopeful11
iShotFirst wrote:Which looks better? The question is which looks better to who. If you are going for a firm job firm probably looks better. Government job Attorneys office would probably look better. You have to make the decision to be in line with your career goals.
Like I said, Dick, I'm not sure yet.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:50 am
by jdhopeful11
nycparalegal wrote:I don't understand these posts. Why are you looking for what "looks" better on your resume? Wouldn't it be better if you said: "Which position will challenge me more, and will give me more practical experience?"
However way you wish to interpret my post is up to you. I could have posted the same question in a million different ways. If I didn't think the majority of the able-minded people on this board would understand the question, then I wouldn't have posted it.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:57 am
by Unemployed
If this is a 1L summer internship, neither is prestigious enough to matter (very few posts are). The choice doesn't matter one bit, unless you want to show commitment to government work.
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:03 am
by jdhopeful11
Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:03 am
by Unemployed
andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me.
Nope.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:05 am
by jdhopeful11
andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:09 am
by Unemployed
andyman wrote:andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
I understood your question perfectly. Your admissions decisions will not hinge on the difference between the two. Do one or the other - it doesn't matter.
Actually, "significance of work" will matter as far as exposing you to different areas of the law. But that wasn't your question.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:10 am
by nycparalegal
andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
You're fucking with us right? This shit is about what is going to looking good for a law school application?
Here it is:
LSAT
GPA
Rhodes Scholar
Fulbright
Peace Corps, Teach for America
That's about it. Nothing else will make an impact on your application.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:11 am
by JazzOne
andyman wrote:andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
Basicly none
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:15 am
by iShotFirst
andyman wrote:iShotFirst wrote:Which looks better? The question is which looks better to who. If you are going for a firm job firm probably looks better. Government job Attorneys office would probably look better. You have to make the decision to be in line with your career goals.
Like I said, Dick, I'm not sure yet.
Hah I thought you what it looks like for a future employer. What looks better for a law school? More eloquent people than me have described it above - neither.
nycparalegal wrote:
Your fucking with us right? This shit is about what is going to looking good for a law school application?
Here it is:
LSAT
GPA
Rhodes Scholar
Fulbright
Peace Corps, Teach for America
That's about it. Nothing else will make an impact on your application.
Memorize this.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:26 am
by Vincent Vega
nycparalegal wrote:andyman wrote:Unemployed wrote:
If this is a 0L internship, then it really doesn't matter.
You're kidding me. I am not talking about the significance of the work done, I am talking about the impact it will have when seen on a law school application.
You're fucking with us right? This shit is about what is going to looking good for a law school application?
Here it is:
LSAT
GPA
Rhodes Scholar
Fulbright
Peace Corps, Teach for America
That's about it. Nothing else will make an impact on your application.
This.
I didn't know you were talking about a 0L internship. Those are a dime a dozen; literally thousands of fellow applicants will have similar experience.
Re: What looks better- Intern at an Attorney General or law firm
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:59 am
by dynomite
Andyman:
I think the Atty General internship will be a much better opportunity, especially to network. Best case scenario, you'll get to know your state Attorney General, which will be incredibly useful to you in your career in state -- by definition, this person knows most of the lawyers in the state.
My arguments for the AG job are twofold:
1) You need to set yourself apart from other applicants with similar GPA and LSAT scores -- this could help you get extra financial assistance, as well as getting you in over another similarly qualified applicant.
2) Especially if you plan to apply in-state, having this on your resume (and a recommendation/phone call from this AG) could be a boost to your chances.
3) Especially if you plan to practice/work in-state afterward, this will be a good place to meet people who have connections with most of the firms and lawyers in your state.