How to be a Prosecution/PD Gunner? Forum

[BlueLotus]

I have never lived or worked in VT or ME but have outdoorsy/nature activities on my resume. Is that convincing?

[Anonymous User]

I have never lived or worked in VT or ME but have outdoorsy/nature activities on my resume. Is that convincing?

Instead of muddling your resume with irrelevant lines, why not just say in your cover letter that you are interested in something about that office's practice? Their training program, the opportunities to get felony work early, etc. I'm just spitballing, but knowing something about the office seems a lot more genuine than saying you enjoy hiking. Then if asked emphasize that you just want to do this work in the right office and you have no problem moving to a place you haven't lived before. I mentioned the fact that I grew up in MA, went to college in CA, and law school in DC as a way to say I have no problem with moving around. I guess in my opinion (which is just my opinion) I think they can see through bullshit and its better to be honest.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I have used the "willing to move to get the experience I want" successfully in the past, too, with places where I had no ties (and got asked about the lack of ties). But I also can point to lots of stuff on my resume that backs this up. Still, I think if you can explain why that job, which just happens to be located [wherever], you can satisfy most concerns about ties.

[Tanicius]

I have never lived or worked in VT or ME but have outdoorsy/nature activities on my resume. Is that convincing?

Instead of muddling your resume with irrelevant lines, why not just say in your cover letter that you are interested in something about that office's practice? Their training program, the opportunities to get felony work early, etc. I'm just spitballing, but knowing something about the office seems a lot more genuine than saying you enjoy hiking. Then if asked emphasize that you just want to do this work in the right office and you have no problem moving to a place you haven't lived before. I mentioned the fact that I grew up in MA, went to college in CA, and law school in DC as a way to say I have no problem with moving around. I guess in my opinion (which is just my opinion) I think they can see through bullshit and its better to be honest.

Agreed. I would not spend space on RA experience or outdoor hobbies, BlueLotus. You could maybe have one line about enjoying camping and mountain biking on the last line of your resume, but you're not going to have luck emphasizing that stuff in a cover letter.

[BlueLotus]

I have never lived or worked in VT or ME but have outdoorsy/nature activities on my resume. Is that convincing?

Instead of muddling your resume with irrelevant lines, why not just say in your cover letter that you are interested in something about that office's practice? Their training program, the opportunities to get felony work early, etc. I'm just spitballing, but knowing something about the office seems a lot more genuine than saying you enjoy hiking. Then if asked emphasize that you just want to do this work in the right office and you have no problem moving to a place you haven't lived before. I mentioned the fact that I grew up in MA, went to college in CA, and law school in DC as a way to say I have no problem with moving around. I guess in my opinion (which is just my opinion) I think they can see through bullshit and its better to be honest.

But I thought that the TLS conventional wisdom was to have an Interests section?

[Anonymous User]

I have never lived or worked in VT or ME but have outdoorsy/nature activities on my resume. Is that convincing?

Instead of muddling your resume with irrelevant lines, why not just say in your cover letter that you are interested in something about that office's practice? Their training program, the opportunities to get felony work early, etc. I'm just spitballing, but knowing something about the office seems a lot more genuine than saying you enjoy hiking. Then if asked emphasize that you just want to do this work in the right office and you have no problem moving to a place you haven't lived before. I mentioned the fact that I grew up in MA, went to college in CA, and law school in DC as a way to say I have no problem with moving around. I guess in my opinion (which is just my opinion) I think they can see through bullshit and its better to be honest.

But I thought that the TLS conventional wisdom was to have an Interests section?

Maybe that's true for TLS, I don't know. I was taught your resume should be extremely relevant and that you want it to scream PD clear as day without distractions. The only time I was asked about other interests was by a judge for a clerkship. I got a few offers and am going to my top choice office so it worked for me. There is a lot of advice out there, do what feels right to you. But I'm not sure that it sounds totally believable to say you want to move somewhere because of an interest in outdoor activities. Just my opinion, I encourage you to talk to resources available at your school.

[rpcb]

Does anybody know anything about Hennepin County Public Defenders' Office? Its the one PD office I haven't really found out anything about. Anybody know if they got a good reputation for training new attorneys and interns?

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody know anything about Hennepin County Public Defenders' Office? Its the one PD office I haven't really found out anything about. Anybody know if they got a good reputation for training new attorneys and interns?

PM'ed. The short answer is the training so far has been incredible.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW I had an interests section on my resume when I was applying for PD jobs, and my co-workers now half-joke that I only got hired because I said I liked pub trivia and the manager of our office knew that the young staff attorneys played trivia every week.

[BlueLotus]

Are ties to NYC important for BDS, LAS, and Bronx Defenders?

[Tanicius]

Are ties to NYC important for BDS, LAS, and Bronx Defenders?

Not very, I wouldn't say. However, if the hiring people get the sense that you're not cut out for the big city, they will probably shy away. On the whole, a lot of New Yorkers assume that it's natural to want to live in NYC. How do you get across that you're not intimidated by the big city? Not sure TBH. This may have been a reason I was not given a callback at Legal Aid, or it may not have been one of the reasons.

[BlueLotus]

Are ties to NYC important for BDS, LAS, and Bronx Defenders?

Not very, I wouldn't say. However, if the hiring people get the sense that you're not cut out for the big city, they will probably shy away. On the whole, a lot of New Yorkers assume that it's natural to want to live in NYC. How do you get across that you're not intimidated by the big city? Not sure TBH. This may have been a reason I was not given a callback at Legal Aid, or it may not have been one of the reasons.

Have lived in the outskirts of Philly, Atlanta, and Boston, so I suppose I should not have a hard time convincing them!

[The Dark Shepard]

Does anybody know anything about Hennepin County Public Defenders' Office? Its the one PD office I haven't really found out anything about. Anybody know if they got a good reputation for training new attorneys and interns?

PM'ed. The short answer is the training so far has been incredible.

could you PM me as well? Office I'd be most interested in working at, and I'd like to know what I should do throughout my 3 years to ensure my best opportunity at it.

[BlueLotus]

If anyone has experience working at/interviewing with BDS, LAS, or Bronx Defenders, please PM me!

[BlueLotus]

Is $32,500 a good salary for a FTLT JD-required jerb in rural NM/AZ?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I wouldn't say it's a good salary anywhere, but I'd say it's typical/what you'd get for those areas. Rural southwest is pretty darn poor/cheap.

[BlueLotus]

I wouldn't say it's a good salary anywhere, but I'd say it's typical/what you'd get for those areas. Rural southwest is pretty darn poor/cheap.

That's what I figured. The jerb itself is on a Native American reservation.

[rpcb]

Does anybody have any experience interning or working at the Defender Association of Philadelphia? I haven't head too much about it but what I have heard has been largely positive.

[BlueLotus]

Does anybody have any experience interning or working at the Defender Association of Philadelphia? I haven't head too much about it but what I have heard has been largely positive.

Have a good answer for "why Philly". Also, it has a rep on here for being a "true believer" office.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any helpful insight for 2L summer PDS interviewing? Might randomly have an interview tomorrow and I am kinda freaking out.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any helpful insight for 2L summer PDS interviewing? Might randomly have an interview tomorrow and I am kinda freaking out.

I had an interview with them a month ago. If you let your passion for criminal defense, you should be fine! Good luck!!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any helpful insight for 2L summer PDS interviewing? Might randomly have an interview tomorrow and I am kinda freaking out.

I had an interview with them a month ago. If you let your passion for criminal defense, you should be fine! Good luck!!

What types of questions did they ask you?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any helpful insight for 2L summer PDS interviewing? Might randomly have an interview tomorrow and I am kinda freaking out.

I had an interview with them a month ago. If you let your passion for criminal defense, you should be fine! Good luck!!

What types of questions did they ask you?

I am a 3L, but they asked why I want to be a PD, how I became interested in PD work in the first place, and how I handle challenges and why I want to work for PDS specifically. The questions were pretty standard. And the NYU PD Guide has a list of typical questions asked during the screening interview. I think the NYU PD Guide is probably helpful in this context too.

[BlueLotus]

Do Bronx Defenders Family Defense Practice, LAS Juvenile Rights Practice and BDS Immigration Practice do hypos? What are the interviews like in general?

[Anonymous User]

Does anybody have any experience interning or working at the Defender Association of Philadelphia? I haven't head too much about it but what I have heard has been largely positive.

Not sure if you are asking for internship or job reasons, but you must must must have a great answer for why you are okay with horizontal representation.

Its a fun city and a very big office. They don't have too much attrition which is a good sign.