How to be a Prosecution/PD Gunner? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer to 2L intern with Brooklyn Defender Services via phone today.

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer to 2L intern with Brooklyn Defender Services via phone today.

Nice congrats! How did you apply?

[Anonymous User]

Palm Beach, FL has sent out 2nd round invites (3Ls from EJW)

[robin600]

Just out of curiosity what offices have 3Ls applied to that weren't attending EJW? Anyone having success with these offices? Are they hiring pre bar?

[Anonymous User]

For those who are working NYC pd offices does working at one agency in NYC help or hurt you if you decide to apply to others? I keep fielding questions like why x and not us.

[Anonymous User]

For those who are working NYC pd offices does working at one agency in NYC help or hurt you if you decide to apply to others? I keep fielding questions like why x and not us.

I think this is mostly because each organization was like a splinter from Legal Aid and sort of wants to be unique. Anyone have any thoughts on where the best place to be a 2L intern would be out of these three public defender offices: Brooklyn, NJ state or NY federal. Mainly looking for the office that will give me the best opportunities when I'm looking for a job after graduation.

Thanks

[hopin10]

Just out of curiosity what offices have 3Ls applied to that weren't attending EJW? Anyone having success with these offices? Are they hiring pre bar?

Which offices would this include? The only I can think of either aren't hiring or only hire post-bar. Plus the Prettyman Fellowship.

[hopin10]

For those who are working NYC pd offices does working at one agency in NYC help or hurt you if you decide to apply to others? I keep fielding questions like why x and not us.

I think this is mostly because each organization was like a splinter from Legal Aid and sort of wants to be unique. Anyone have any thoughts on where the best place to be a 2L intern would be out of these three public defender offices: Brooklyn, NJ state or NY federal. Mainly looking for the office that will give me the best opportunities when I'm looking for a job after graduation.

Thanks

I would think you'd be least well-served by the federal gig. At a federal office, you likely wouldn't get to argue much in court, which is a skill that defender orgs want to see in entry-level applicants. Between Brooklyn and NJ state, I would try to figure out which offers the best summer experience for interns. I'm not familiar with what they do and don't allow their summer interns to do (e.g., appear in court).

[robin600]

For those who are working NYC pd offices does working at one agency in NYC help or hurt you if you decide to apply to others? I keep fielding questions like why x and not us.

I think this is mostly because each organization was like a splinter from Legal Aid and sort of wants to be unique. Anyone have any thoughts on where the best place to be a 2L intern would be out of these three public defender offices: Brooklyn, NJ state or NY federal. Mainly looking for the office that will give me the best opportunities when I'm looking for a job after graduation.

Thanks

I would think you'd be least well-served by the federal gig. At a federal office, you likely wouldn't get to argue much in court, which is a skill that defender orgs want to see in entry-level applicants. Between Brooklyn and NJ state, I would try to figure out which offers the best summer experience for interns. I'm not familiar with that they do and don't allow their summer interns to do (e.g., appear in court).

I would second this but federal would be ok if you had another opportunity to practice like in a school clinic. That's what I did 2 non practicing but very good internships and fall 3L take an actual student practice defense clinic.

[hopin10]

For those who are working NYC pd offices does working at one agency in NYC help or hurt you if you decide to apply to others? I keep fielding questions like why x and not us.

I think this is mostly because each organization was like a splinter from Legal Aid and sort of wants to be unique. Anyone have any thoughts on where the best place to be a 2L intern would be out of these three public defender offices: Brooklyn, NJ state or NY federal. Mainly looking for the office that will give me the best opportunities when I'm looking for a job after graduation.

Thanks

I would think you'd be least well-served by the federal gig. At a federal office, you likely wouldn't get to argue much in court, which is a skill that defender orgs want to see in entry-level applicants. Between Brooklyn and NJ state, I would try to figure out which offers the best summer experience for interns. I'm not familiar with that they do and don't allow their summer interns to do (e.g., appear in court).

I would second this but federal would be ok if you had another opportunity to practice like in a school clinic. That's what I did 2 non practicing but very good internships and fall 3L take an actual student practice defense clinic.

Fair point, definitely. One concern I'd have with clinics and externships is that you can't commit your entire working time to the job, while during the summer you can.

But this is very organization- and school-specific. I'd encourage entering your 3L having appeared in court as much as possible, be it through through a school-year internship, summer internship, or clinic--or ideally, all!

[Anonymous User]

whats the best way to figure out if a summer placement will give you the most court time? Everywhere I interviewed with said they "do their best to let interns go to court" so I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go.

[Anonymous User]

3L dinged from Contra Costa without even an interview

[robin600]

3L dinged from Contra Costa without even an interview

Gross sorry to hear. DA or PD?

[Anonymous User]

3L dinged from Contra Costa without even an interview

Gross sorry to hear. DA or PD?

PD via email

[Anonymous User]

3L dinged from Contra Costa without even an interview

Gross sorry to hear. DA or PD?

PD via email

Was this a post-grad clerk position?

[hopin10]

whats the best way to figure out if a summer placement will give you the most court time? Everywhere I interviewed with said they "do their best to let interns go to court" so I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go.

Talk to past interns. Figure out how the jurisdiction handles probable cause determinations: grand jury or hearing (the latter is better). Ask if the office has rules on what they allow students to do. Some California offices, for example, let interns handle preliminary hearings, where the defense cross examines a cop and / or CW. Other offices only let interns argue motions. Still others don't let interns appear on the record at all.

[the lantern]

whats the best way to figure out if a summer placement will give you the most court time? Everywhere I interviewed with said they "do their best to let interns go to court" so I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go.

Talk to past interns. Figure out how the jurisdiction handles probable cause determinations: grand jury or hearing (the latter is better). Ask if the office has rules on what they allow students to do. Some California offices, for example, let interns handle preliminary hearings, where the defense cross examines a cop and / or CW. Other offices only let interns argue motions. Still others don't let interns appear on the record at all.

and some offices will give you an entire caseload and let you do everything. but yes, talking to former interns is helpful. Not sure if you're working really far from your school or in a really small agency or something, but I just picked up all the knowledge I needed organically from like-minded friends.

[hopin10]

whats the best way to figure out if a summer placement will give you the most court time? Everywhere I interviewed with said they "do their best to let interns go to court" so I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go.

Talk to past interns. Figure out how the jurisdiction handles probable cause determinations: grand jury or hearing (the latter is better). Ask if the office has rules on what they allow students to do. Some California offices, for example, let interns handle preliminary hearings, where the defense cross examines a cop and / or CW. Other offices only let interns argue motions. Still others don't let interns appear on the record at all.

and some offices will give you an entire caseload and let you do everything. but yes, talking to former interns is helpful. Not sure if you're working really far from your school or in a really small agency or something, but I just picked up all the knowledge I needed organically from like-minded friends.

Off the top of my head:
- CO gives you a case load
- SF lets you do preliminary hearings
- LA doesn't let you appear on the record
- PDS (D.C.) doesn't let you appear on the record

[Anonymous User]

3L dinged from Contra Costa without even an interview

Gross sorry to hear. DA or PD?

PD via email

Was this a post-grad clerk position?

yep

[Anonymous User]

And I also think that you should pick the office that has the best training. Some agencies are well known and provide grea opportunities even if you can't go on the record. Like having legal aid or PDS on your résumé will take you far even though you're not appearing before the court.

Also anyone know how to handle the why x and not us question? This one gets me every time.

[hopin10]

And I also think that you should pick the office that has the best training. Some agencies are well known and provide grea opportunities even if you can't go on the record. Like having legal aid or PDS on your résumé will take you far even though you're not appearing before the court.

Also anyone know how to handle the why x and not us question? This one gets me every time.

Pretty sure that Legal Aid lets students appear on the record. I see the point, though.

I might worry about spending too much time at an office that doesn't let you argue in court. A fancy name is great, but you may be in rough shape when you can't point to a time you actually represented a client in court come 3L interviews.

I haven't run up against the "Why did you work with another defender org and not us?" question. I would think answers about school connections, proximity to home, timing of offers would all suffice here.

[Anonymous User]

3L email ding from Bronx Defenders (non-EJW application). Heard nothing back from Colorado after EJW so I'm assuming a ding there as well.

[Anonymous User]

So far, invitations for second rounds for 3Ls from EJW have gone out from CPCS, Palm Beach, Miami, CO. Any others?

[Anonymous User]

And I also think that you should pick the office that has the best training. Some agencies are well known and provide grea opportunities even if you can't go on the record. Like having legal aid or PDS on your résumé will take you far even though you're not appearing before the court.

Also anyone know how to handle the why x and not us question? This one gets me every time.

Pretty sure that Legal Aid lets students appear on the record. I see the point, though.

I might worry about spending too much time at an office that doesn't let you argue in court. A fancy name is great, but you may be in rough shape when you can't point to a time you actually represented a client in court come 3L interviews.

I haven't run up against the "Why did you work with another defender org and not us?" question. I would think answers about school connections, proximity to home, timing of offers would all suffice here.

So I can totally dig this but I'm at a loss when it comes to knowing people who could give me insight. Anyone know anything about BDS or NJ defenders?

[Anonymous User]

And I also think that you should pick the office that has the best training. Some agencies are well known and provide grea opportunities even if you can't go on the record. Like having legal aid or PDS on your résumé will take you far even though you're not appearing before the court.

Also anyone know how to handle the why x and not us question? This one gets me every time.

Pretty sure that Legal Aid lets students appear on the record. I see the point, though.

I might worry about spending too much time at an office that doesn't let you argue in court. A fancy name is great, but you may be in rough shape when you can't point to a time you actually represented a client in court come 3L interviews.

I haven't run up against the "Why did you work with another defender org and not us?" question. I would think answers about school connections, proximity to home, timing of offers would all suffice here.

Right but I think if you could get practice elsewhere like through a clinic an internship with great training and no in court time would carry far too.