District Attorney's Offices 2015 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Kings - had my third round interview, expect a fourth.
Bronx - have my third round interview with the DA in a few weeks.
Nassau - had my second round interview, expect a third (DA Rice just won congressional seat, and will likely not be the one extending job offers to many applicants).
Manhattan - have my first round interview in a few weeks.
Queens - I contacted the office (as have several of my classmates) and they have a backlog.

Most of these offices are still interviewing from what I understand.

[Anonymous User]

Bronx - completed third round. No Response from Bronx DA as of yet (keeping fingers crossed)
Manhattan - 2nd and potential 3rd round (if successful at 2nd round) scheduled next week
Queens - No initial interview??? (seriously, I was raised in Queens, that was a little heartbreaking)
Brooklyn - No initial interview


Any advice for the hypos on the 2nd and 3rd round of the Manhattan DA?

Recently had my 2nd round at DANY. I'd say just avoid any "supervisor" talk, I was pushed hard on it, even though I gave an answer, discussed issues I saw, I just added at the end something like "and I'd address my resolution with a supervisor to confirm/see what steps I might have missed" and the interviewer said "there are no supervisors at the DA's office." Granted she said it with a firm smile, she was playing a bit of a bad cop, but she didn't let me get away with it.

also, indict the lying cop for perjury. Just be decisive about it. Mention things like "i'll have to work with him/her/other cops again" etc., but indict for his egregious lies in front of the GJ/trial. But don't forget the underlying crime isn't excused because a cop lied or covered for a missing partner. You disclose to defense counsel the lie and reassess the charge to see if you can prove it with truthful testimony.

Have a good answer for "why DANY?"

Be prepared to divulge where you have applied. Know what you'd pick if you got an offer everywhere. Know what you'd pick and have an answer for why you'd choose a certain office if you got an offer everywhere BUT DANY.

Mostly, be decisive. They want good judgment too, but being decisive and slightly wrong can be corrected. Waffling is hard to fix.

[Anonymous User]

Queens - ??? no initial interview
BX - final round interview completed
BK - final round scheduled
DANY - 3rd round completed in nov

can i ask what your BK timeline was (regard to hearing back from 3rd rd). I had my 3rd about 3 weeks ago - how long did it take for them to call you about receiving a final?

I would like to know this as well. Brooklyn time between 3rd and 4th round?

[Anonymous User]

Those of you who got offers from Bronx or know people who have, how long after the 3rd round did they hear?

[Anonymous User]

Anon who was hired this cycle by one of these offices.

Re. Bronx: I heard a few days after my 3rd round.

Re. DANY hypos: agreed on the supervisor front. They're testing you on what you would do and think about, so it's almost pointless to even mention a supervisor. I also agree on the decisiveness front. They know you're still a law student with zero prosecutorial experience (real experience, not internship experience). As someone who was certain they might have made a mistake in their 3rd round on the stance taken, it seemed to me they were reacting better to the fact that I was taking a stand as they pushed rather than move with them wherever they went. That said, be careful about sticking with it into the absurd. If they switch a fact on you that makes your stance just patently wrong, be prepared to say "well in that case..."

Use your best judgment on the hypos (and of course, err on the side of disclosure), and most importantly, show them your work. They can't know what your thought process is and how you got to a conclusion if you don't show them.

Re. Bk: call them and check in, and let them know where you are with the other offices and if you're moving quickly to the end stage with other offices. I managed to get both my 2nd and 3rd rounds scheduled with them by telling them I'd moved to the 3rd (or final) round at another office. However, be prepared to get grilled on why them and whether you'd choose them over one of the other offices (read: DANY). They know they're operating at a disadvantage with the $52K salary, and I think they're wary of being used as a negotiating stick with the other offices.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone who had a Third Round with the Bronx DA - how long did the interview last?

[Anonymous User]

Mine lasted 7 or 8 minutes. Did you already have yours?

[Anonymous User]

Time between 3rd and 4th at BK - approx. 3 weeks. notified by phone call. offer at the interview.
Time between 2nd and 3rd at BX - approx. 2 weeks. also by phone call. offer a couple hours after interview.

BX 3rd round was 10 minutes, if that. Although be warned that you may not start right on time. BX schedules a group of applicants for same time slot, so you may start at 4:15 instead of 4:00 for example. Same applies to BK.

Having gone through two final rounds my advice is that its an exercise in making a good first impression. Look your most presentable, be ready to answer questions (why law/crim/prosecution/this office), personable. Echo what above anon said about BK - the DA is from BK and wants to know the specific reasons you're committed to the office. (hint: its not just 'do trials')

[Anonymous User]

Time between 3rd and 4th at BK - approx. 3 weeks. notified by phone call. offer at the interview.
Time between 2nd and 3rd at BX - approx. 2 weeks. also by phone call. offer a couple hours after interview.

BX 3rd round was 10 minutes, if that. Although be warned that you may not start right on time. BX schedules a group of applicants for same time slot, so you may start at 4:15 instead of 4:00 for example. Same applies to BK.

Having gone through two final rounds my advice is that its an exercise in making a good first impression. Look your most presentable, be ready to answer questions (why law/crim/prosecution/this office), personable. Echo what above anon said about BK - the DA is from BK and wants to know the specific reasons you're committed to the office. (hint: its not just 'do trials')

When was your BX interiew?

[Anonymous User]

had bx final mid last week and no word yet. beginning to get a nervous w so many people saying they got the offer call hours later.. anyone else in my boat / anyone else get rejected by them or accepted by them days/weeks after final?

[Anonymous User]

had bx final mid last week and no word yet. beginning to get a nervous w so many people saying they got the offer call hours later.. anyone else in my boat / anyone else get rejected by them or accepted by them days/weeks after final?

I had my 3rd round Bronx interview last week. The Interview was 5-6 minutes. I received my offer within 24 hours of the interview. The offer was good for exactly one week.

Based on what I heard from others who are similarly situated, most offers are extended within 24-48 hours.

My guess, and mind you this is an assumption, is that people who are getting their offers a week after their 3rd round are getting offers that other candidates passed on. I think everyone they interview for the 3rd round is part of a pool of the office's first and second choices, and that the real substantive decision about employ-ability was actually made after the second round interview (besides, what can you really tell during a five minute third round interview anyway?). Which is why the turn around is so short, they are really just confirming that their first choice candidates are their first choice, and that their second choice candidates are their second choice. They then extend offers to all their first choices, and if a first choice candidate declines, or the deadline lapses, then they make an offer to a second choice candidate. Again, this is an assumption based off of what was observable to me.

[Anonymous User]

does sounds about right ^^ . Thank you for insight.

[Anonymous User]

BX 3rd round was 10 minutes, if that. Although be warned that you may not start right on time. BX schedules a group of applicants for same time slot, so you may start at 4:15 instead of 4:00 for example. Same applies to BK.

When was your BX interiew?

Last week

[Anonymous User]

had bx final mid last week and no word yet. beginning to get a nervous w so many people saying they got the offer call hours later.. anyone else in my boat / anyone else get rejected by them or accepted by them days/weeks after final?

I had my 3rd round Bronx interview last week. The Interview was 5-6 minutes. I received my offer within 24 hours of the interview. The offer was good for exactly one week.

Based on what I heard from others who are similarly situated, most offers are extended within 24-48 hours.

My guess, and mind you this is an assumption, is that people who are getting their offers a week after their 3rd round are getting offers that other candidates passed on. I think everyone they interview for the 3rd round is part of a pool of the office's first and second choices, and that the real substantive decision about employ-ability was actually made after the second round interview (besides, what can you really tell during a five minute third round interview anyway?). Which is why the turn around is so short, they are really just confirming that their first choice candidates are their first choice, and that their second choice candidates are their second choice. They then extend offers to all their first choices, and if a first choice candidate declines, or the deadline lapses, then they make an offer to a second choice candidate. Again, this is an assumption based off of what was observable to me.

How often do you think they reject applicants after third round?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone receive an offer from Bronx this week?

[gabby831]

Hi all!

Had my Bronx 3rd round last Thursday. No offer yet, and definitely losing hope :/

I have my queens 3rd round next week though! Anyone have any advice? I know I have to do the opening but what is the rest of the interview like? Does anyone know how long it takes them to give offers?!

I also am wondering about when Philly decisions come out.. has anyone heard?!

All advice is appreciated! Good LUCK!

[Anonymous User]

Are all 3rd round interviews the same? Specifically, I'm curious about the 3rd round interview for Brooklyn and DANY.

[Anonymous User]

Any word on offers from Miami? I heard that they would start getting back to people in early December.

[gdane]

Any word on offers from Miami? I heard that they would start getting back to people in early December.

Offers roll out from late November all the way through late May. It appears that out of state people hear earlier than locals though. Dont panic if you're in state because most of the instate people that I know of received their offers in February and March. That includes offers given this past year and the year before.

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone interview at Sacramento?

[kay2016]

If anyone who was successful at any of the Boston area DA offices,
Especially coming from out of region and has any tips for a 2L.. I'd appreciate them! (Feel free to PM if necessary and Id be willing to talk about my stats)

Good luck to everyone still waiting and looking!!

[lisjjen]

So I am mostly a civil law guy, but I have an interview with the El Paso DA this week. Like I said, I've been focusing almost completely on civil but was still applying widely, so the interview kind of surprised me. It would be on their trial team, so I'd get to go to court all the time.

My question is what kinds of things do ADAs go and do after they're ADAs? Would it be worth it to go criminal for a few years? Would it be worth it to move to El Paso? I know this all moot without an offer, but I like to have some idea of how I feel about the job before I do an interview.

[Jimbola]

So I am mostly a civil law guy, but I have an interview with the El Paso DA this week. Like I said, I've been focusing almost completely on civil but was still applying widely, so the interview kind of surprised me. It would be on their trial team, so I'd get to go to court all the time.

My question is what kinds of things do ADAs go and do after they're ADAs? Would it be worth it to go criminal for a few years? Would it be worth it to move to El Paso? I know this all moot without an offer, but I like to have some idea of how I feel about the job before I do an interview.

An ADA's extensive trial experience can be applied to all litigation settings. But I've heard if you stay for too long you will get pigeonholed into only criminal work.

[Anonymous User]

If anyone who was successful at any of the Boston area DA offices,
Especially coming from out of region and has any tips for a 2L.. I'd appreciate them! (Feel free to PM if necessary and Id be willing to talk about my stats)

Good luck to everyone still waiting and looking!!

I'm in Boston, did law school there too.

I have a few friends who went that route. I know people in I think every county in Eastern MA (Suff, Middlesex, Essex, Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk) and they all had some local tie, either law school here or from here, or internship with that office. They're competitive on stats, but not necessarily on pedigree, like they will take top kids from Suffolk Law, Northeastern, over say average kids from BU/BC.

Middlesex I've heard is more professional and less political with a wider array of cases, seeing as it's urban/suburban mix.

I'd say send in the apps, emphasize any local ties you have, and best of luck.

[Anonymous User]

got a first round interview for nassau scheduled in january. Thing is, there is no way I can meet the residency requirement, i have my own place w/wife in manhattan. I plan on being totally honest about this if asked, because I am aware (it says in the application materials) that the DA can waive the residency requirement at her discretion.

Now, is it a bad move on my part to go forward with this interview? Is it unethical? I dont think so, but I dont want to be in a situation at the first interview where I say that I hope the DA can waive residency if I'm lucky enough to get the job and the person freaks out or gets mad or whatever these interviewers do. Thanks guys.