Public interest job for international students? Forum

[Tiny123]

This might be random, but does anyone know if international students can get public interest job?

My goal was to become a prosecutor, only recently someone told me this might not happen because I am an international student. (Not a permanent resident either)

thanks

[Tls2016]

This is an interesting question. You need a visa to work here and I don't think government agencies can hire or sponsor you.

[DownUnder]

This might be random, but does anyone know if international students can get public interest job?

My goal was to become a prosecutor, only recently someone told me this might not happen because I am an international student. (Not a permanent resident either)

thanks

0L, so please take this advice with a pinch of salt and feel free to correct me if I am inaccurate in any way.

I am an international student who is going to be matriculating at a US law school in this Fall and I have done some research on this. No citizenship or Green Card either.

My goal is also to become a prosecutor in the states and to the best of my knowledge, the quickest way to this for internationals like us is as follows:

Go to a T-14 ---> Biglaw litigation ----> acquire green card (employment based or through marriage etc) -----> 5 years of relevant practice -----> get the citizenship (you can get citizenship 5 years after getting GC) -----> then apply for DA or AUSA positions.

It is a long shot to say the least but this is probably the only way for the likes of you and me.

Other public interest jobs at NGOs or not-for-profit organizations maybe more tangible. The visa costs associated with H1b visas are not cheap but they are not especially exorbitant either (<10k). So these organizations maybe more willing than expected to sponsor internationals.

In short, go to the best possible school you can get in to and get a job that will lead to a green card down the line (biglaw, F500 in-house or consulting) if you ever want to work for the state or federal agencies.

Hope this helps.

[Auxilio]

Another very important consideration we have to factor in, is that for most schools you are not eligible for any kind of loan forgiveness.