Should I take this US attorney summer internship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I need some advice. 1L here at a top 10 school.

This week, I was offered a US attorney job in state that is not my top choice, but the job sounds really fun. I also applied to US attorney jobs in NYC and CA, as well as DOJ jobs. Funding is not an issue, as I am on financial aid and my school has funding for summer public interest work (if I worked for a firm, they would take everything I made).

Some of the Department of Justice jobs to which I applied I might prefer to the US attorney job I was offered (especially because they are in D.C., which would be fun), but I like the practical experience of the US attorney work. The state is not as prestigious as, say, working for the US Attorney in NYC, but I think I would enjoy it more.

Basically, I think I would really like this job working for this US attorney in this non-prestigious state, but would it be better for my career to hold out for one of these other jobs (like the DOJ in Washington)? I have sort of a highly academic background, so I think it might actually be an asset to have some practice experience working for at US attorney. And I think working for a smaller state (smaller office) could have some advantages: more freedom, fewer clerks, less likely to get loss in a bit organization.

I still haven't applied to a bunch of places that I am interested in working, and this job offer came as a surprise.

If I want to pursue other job opportunities, how long can I realistically ask them to wait for my answer?

Thanks for you help.

[Titus]

Well, I do think waiting 24 - 48 hours would be reasonable, but maybe they would wait a week. Career services might know better. In your shoes, I would call the employers you have applied to and let them know of your predicament. If they cannot make a decision within a week, then go for the offer you have. The state might not be the best, but the experience is what you make of it. Plus, that would give you another market to break into considering NYC/DC have been hit pretty hard.

I realize you are at a Top 10 school and you could still get hired by BigLaw in NYC/DC or BigGovernment (the competitive government jobs), but having another market up your sleeve is a good idea considering $$$$ go further in other cities.

[Corsair]

..

[Anonymous User]

It's the OP. Thank you both for your replies.

I'll give some more information. I'm from one of the New England T5s: HYCN. But I don't really want to work in NYC (definitely not this summer). I was sort of hoping for a job in California, because I would love to work there in the future. And I think working in DC would be fun (if I could get a DOJ job). This US attorney job I was offered is West but not California (I don't want to say exactly, but it's one of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico). The cases at this US Attorneys office are different than some other places in a way that matches my interests quite well.

Is it silly to hold out for a job in DC or Cali if I can see myself liking this job at the US Attorney's office?

I had one other interview so far, but they said they would not be able to get back to me until the beginning of February.

I don't want to keep the people at this US attorneys office hanging for so long.

What do you all think?

[vanwinkle]

Turn it down so I can have it.

[Titus]

Ok, please do not take this as aggressive but do you have a specific area in Cali in mind? or is it just Cali generally for the atmosphere? If so, you might find the benefits in the nearby state without dealing with the economic crisis that has befallen Cali. When I went (ok only for a few days) I found that the "Cali" attitude generally applied to most of the west. If I had more contacts out there, I would be searching there for my job. Yet I don't. Your job, if close enough, could allow you to drive across the border and network.

If the only reason you're holding out is the location, visit or otherwise find out more about the location you were offered. Why do you want to work in the other places and not the state you were offered? Is it what you want or are you wanting it because it is prestigious?

If I was in your place, I would accept the offer. I'm not though. Classmates might want the offer and would jump before you could accept.

You're welcome OP.

[legends159]

did you apply for USAO in SF? And is it civil division b/c I'd imagine that if you didn't get an interview yet then you're not going to get SF.

I interviewed with the SF office last week and was told that they're making final decisions soon. I was also told they had over 200 applications for 4 slots and a lot of 2Ls. I really hope I get it but I'm not going to hold my breath because I know how competitive it is this year.

If I were you, I'd take the job and run. From what I have researched about the program, you will have an amazing summer and have a ton of responsibilities.

[Anonymous User]

I have similar stats to you T5, w/ the opposite offer to choose from: I have the DOJ and am holding out for USAO opportunities.

My office of career services said that both are "prestigious" and will look great to firms hiring for 2L summer, but that the DOJ work is a lot less trial oriented. They don't do as much litigation as the USAO and a lot of summer interns end up doing a lot of policy work. Ultimately, I think it's about even and it'll be up to whether you want to do real trial work v. high level policy work.

Also, to echo other people's sentiments, I wouldn't lose a great opportunity like the USAO by banking on something as competitive as the DOJ or another more popular USAO office... my DOJ interviewer said they had 2x the number of applicants from last yr, and the group I'm in only hires 2-3 interns from a pool of several hundred. So I would grab the USAO job if I was in your shoes.

And for me, I think I am allowed to hold out right up until the deadline. Did they give you a deadline?

[Renzo]

I'd take it, but I'd turn down anything for a US att'y job this summer. I don't think they'll wait longer than a week-ish, because I'm sure they had a ton of applicants, even if it isn't one of the more prestigious offices.

[Doodsmack]

Good thing you mentioned that you go to a top 10 school - otherwise, we would think poorly of you.

[Anonymous User]

Good thing you mentioned that you go to a top 10 school - otherwise, we would think poorly of you.

OP prob included it to help us determine his chances at the other places he applied?

[heyguys]

Considering how arbitrary/guided by caprice the whole process seems to be, I would just take the job--sounds like a good fit, and it doesn't matter what you do your 1L summer anyway. What firms give you offers will be dependent upon the quality of your school, your class rank, and your background. What you do this summer will fit into the latter category, but as long as its law-related it really shouldn't matter.

[legends159]

Considering how arbitrary/guided by caprice the whole process seems to be, I would just take the job--sounds like a good fit, and it doesn't matter what you do your 1L summer anyway. What firms give you offers will be dependent upon the quality of your school, your class rank, and your background. What you do this summer will fit into the latter category, but as long as its law-related it really shouldn't matter.

true, but I'd rather spend a summer doing something highly interesting and gain a lot of experience than boring.

I would be very wary about just going for the prestige over the substantive work involved/responsibilities expected.

[Anonymous User]

It's the OP again. Thank you all for your responses.

I'm leaning towards this US attorney job for sure now. I think I will like it, and it will be nice to decide about jobs now so I can stop worrying about it.

I think I will call a couple of other places that I applied just for peace of mind. But I will not wait too long, as I think this is great opportunity that I would not want to let slip away.

[imchuckbass58]

Take the US attorney's office job. The prestige of the state matters little to not at all during your 1L summer. It sounds like you'd be happy with the work, and that you could stand the location. I don't want to doubt your abilities, but big government jobs are hyper-competitive for 1Ls.

Bird in the hand.