Public Interest 2014: Thoughts, Anxieties, Experiences... Forum

[BlueLotus]

Dang at all the folks starting their jerbs when I'm still slogging thru finals.

I'll be starting on May 29. Legal Aid (focusing on family law). Really stoked!

I'm still there too (finals). Starting the day after Memorial Day and would love nothing more than to jump in already.

And ZOMG THE CAT in your avatar!! Yours?

Yes! That was my cat, Minky. She passed away a couple months ago at the age of ~16.

Very pretty cat. Agreed on HB's condolences.

And congrats on the $$$!

Thanks H_B and sd. Home is certainly not the same without her.

Really need to get a new professional bag before my summer jerb. Any suggestions?

[worldtraveler]

Just chiming in to tell everyone good luck.

And if you are thinking of applying to fellowships, watch this summer and see what kinds of issues are really not addressed and a good focus for a fellowship. If you're a rising 3L you should talk to your summer job about it fairly soon or be reaching out to other places if they wouldn't make a good host.

[ash0117]

I'm in! I'll be working at PDS this summer. I start Monday and I'm beyond excited.

[kay2016]

wore a suit today.... was insanely overdressed.

oh well. no one cared.

[rinkrat19]

wore a suit today.... was insanely overdressed.

oh well. no one cared.

Always better to be overdressed than underdressed, especially when you are the least senior in the office. Also, especially if you're female, overdressing cuts down on your chances of being mistaken for a secretary or paralegal. You are not support staff.

[sd5289]

wore a suit today.... was insanely overdressed.

oh well. no one cared.

I'm impressed. I was at a local DA's office my 1L summer and we had to wear a suit every day (especially since we could get pulled into court any day). Though, may be a regional difference. I was in NYC, and there's pretty much always something going on where you could get pulled into court.

I'm suspecting it won't be any different for the Feds this summer (though holding off on buying that 3rd suit until I know for sure. NYC summers simply wreck nice clothes).

[BlueLotus]

I'm suiting up the first day and then going with the flow. From what I've heard, Legal Aid is pretty casual (except for court appearances).

[sd5289]

I'm suiting up the first day and then going with the flow. From what I've heard, Legal Aid is pretty casual (except for court appearances).

Wouldn't know that from some of the PD's that strolled into arraignments...

I kid, I kid (well, there actually were some interesting clothing choices from time to time)

[Anonymous User]

I'm in! I'll be working at PDS this summer. I start Monday and I'm beyond excited.

PDS starts the 27th not next monday

[desiballa21]

1L here starting at a DA's office on June 2nd.. excited/terrified since this is the office i would love to work at full time post-grad

[Druid]

Rising 3L PI checking in. Should be low-key.

[volp]

how many of you are certified students for your 1L pd/da internship?

[moonman157]

Checking in. Is anyone else planning on going the biglaw route? I'm actually kinda worried that my resume is heaving focused on PI (including this 1L summer job), so I'm already trying to find ways to explain it to OCI interviewers lol

[Lavitz]

Rising 2L checking in. Starting June 2nd.

Checking in. Is anyone else planning on going the biglaw route? I'm actually kinda worried that my resume is heaving focused on PI (including this 1L summer job), so I'm already trying to find ways to explain it to OCI interviewers lol

Yeah, but my resume isn't PI-heavy otherwise. I expect to stay in biglaw for a while. I've just always really wanted to work for this particular PI org I'm working for this summer.

[Ded Precedent]

Rising 3L working in PD office handling my own case load. Already did some bond reviews and have a suppression hearing next week. Let's do this! *high fives entire thread*

[FlanAl]

Checking in. Is anyone else planning on going the biglaw route? I'm actually kinda worried that my resume is heaving focused on PI (including this 1L summer job), so I'm already trying to find ways to explain it to OCI interviewers lol

depends on the PI you are doing but use it to come up with a legit answer to the lit/corp questions, or at least thats what I was told.

Also wanted to wish all of you good luck and second the advice of world traveler.

[lawman4]

Checking in as a rising 2L.

5/19 is my first day

Nervous and excited as all hell.

[BlueLotus]

will anyone else be immersed in the postgrad fellowship app process this summer?

[Nebby]

will anyone else be immersed in the postgrad fellowship app process this summer?

Nope! That's next summer for me.

[sd5289]

will anyone else be immersed in the postgrad fellowship app process this summer?

*raises hand*

That's on my to do list this summer: go back to the old agencies I worked for and/or with to figure out some kind of proposal to submit.

[Anonymous User]

Had one Fed. Gov't position (unpaid)...just got offered a paid gig today for a different department.

Start date second week of June...afraid of reneging though with the original position...don't want to be screwed out of any future ops.

[crumpetsandtea]

will anyone else be immersed in the postgrad fellowship app process this summer?

*raises hand*

That's on my to do list this summer: go back to the old agencies I worked for and/or with to figure out some kind of proposal to submit.

Me too, me too! I can't wait to come here and complain with all y'all about the process.

Had one Fed. Gov't position (unpaid)...just got offered a paid gig today for a different department.

Start date second week of June...afraid of reneging though with the original position...don't want to be screwed out of any future ops.

Ask if you can split your summer (7 weeks at each place, or 6/6 or something). They might be open to it, esp because it's unpaid. Not sure how the paid one will feel though...

ETA: also, offer to start early and work as many weeks as possible. I'm splitting my summer between 2 fed agencies and that's what I did.

[sd5289]

Might as well get the fellowship ball rolling with these helpful linkies:

Skadden Fellows - deadline is 10/6/14

EJW - deadline is 9/17/14

Feel free to add on. Those are just the two obvious ones.

[BlueLotus]

Might as well get the fellowship ball rolling with these helpful linkies:

Skadden Fellows - deadline is 10/6/14

EJW - deadline is 9/17/14

Feel free to add on. Those are just the two obvious ones.

I might as well throw a hail mary app to Skadden even though I'm probably too lowly and un-prestigious for them.

Also, see WT's stickied thread for lesser-known fellowships:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=229469

Glad I didn't take the RA position in addition to my jerb, cuz these apps are gonna be a painnnnn...

[worldtraveler]

Might as well get the fellowship ball rolling with these helpful linkies:

Skadden Fellows - deadline is 10/6/14

EJW - deadline is 9/17/14

Feel free to add on. Those are just the two obvious ones.

I might as well throw a hail mary app to Skadden even though I'm probably too lowly and un-prestigious for them.

Also, see WT's stickied thread for lesser-known fellowships:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=229469

Glad I didn't take the RA position in addition to my jerb, cuz these apps are gonna be a painnnnn...

I would suggest just prioritizing the EJW or other fellowship apps and skipping Skadden. They are a ton of time and it's better to do a fantastic job on a few apps than submit hail mary apps that take away time from the ones that you really have a shot at.