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I've been on the boards for a while, but have been outed by my classmates/friends so I want to do this anonymously for now.

I'm a median student at a T30 and have 2 offers - one at a major city's US Attorney's Office, and one in the GC office of a national medical-care company. I have by the end of the week to commit. I'm unsure of what I want to do after law school (leaning towards federal work, but want to keep options open). Both are unpaid.

Which looks better on a resume? I would think the USAO, but at the GC's office I'll be the only intern and I'll probably get to really connect with the bosses, etc. because I won't be competing for attention or just be another intern (the USAO division I'd work in takes about 25 interns each summer).

Any non-0Ls have any thoughts? Or is it just a 1L job and therefore doesn't matter?

edit: never mind

doesn't matter

-underdawg

Congrats on two good options! If you haven't already, ask what your day-to-day responsibilities would be with the GC. Being the only intern could be great, but it could also be terrible. As the only intern, you could get interesting assignments and great substantive experience working with employees, or you could get stuck doing tons of crap that no one else ever wants to do.

I'm curious. For those who were offered unpaid interships, does your school provide a stipend? At YLS, we get a generous stipend if working as an unpaid intern.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm curious. For those who were offered unpaid interships, does your school provide a stipend? At YLS, we get a generous stipend if working as an unpaid intern.

Your definition of "generous" is humbling.

I'm in the same position ironically, also at a T30, deciding between a health related GC position and a USAO position. I'm leaning towards the GC, in part being health related and in part being the only intern. My advice would be the similar if both are in the same city.

This wouldn't be a question for me. USAO all the way.

Of course, I am not you.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm in the same position ironically, also at a T30, deciding between a health related GC position and a USAO position. I'm leaning towards the GC, in part being health related and in part being the only intern. My advice would be the similar if both are in the same city.

OP here, I actually just accepted the USAO job. I spoke with a partner at a local biglaw firm who said take the USAO and don't look back. This was echoed by my career development office. Of the 3 people that did the USAO their first summer from my school who are now third years, 2 are working at top biglaw firms, and 1 is at a pretty prestigious nonprofit. That did it for me.

As for a stipend, my school provides them, but you sort of have to fight for it. Its really annoying.

edit: never mind

thesealocust wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:This was echoed by my career development office. Of the 3 people that did the USAO their first summer from my school who are now third years, 2 are working at top biglaw firms, and 1 is at a pretty prestigious nonprofit.

I guaran-fucking-tee you it's because they got good grades in law school and not because of their 1L summer job. That being said, the USAO will probably still be a great experience, and congrats - just don't expect it throw open the doors to biglaw.

I know, I completely agree with you. I have no desire to do biglaw at all, and my grades aren't good enough for it anyway.

I'd go with the USAO for your 1L summer. It's more likely that they will know what to do with you. That is, they already have a systemic program of taking a large number of interns. It's probably more well-organized than the company taking zero or one unpaid intern. But if you're still considering the company, then be sure you confirm what your duties will be over the summer before accepting. If this will be a "new" experience for the GC, you never know what you could end up doing. You want to be sure that you will be able to create decent non-school writing sample.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'm curious. For those who were offered unpaid interships, does your school provide a stipend? At YLS, we get a generous stipend if working as an unpaid intern.

Your definition of "generous" is humbling.

Other schools do these stipends, as well. But let's remember that schools pay for those stipends by charging higher tuition. Money in, money out.

Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

I'd take the USAO's office.

edgarderby wrote:Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

OP here, its in one of the top 10 largest legal markets. So not NYC or DC, but still large. My school has a really good hold on the city where I got the job. Another 1L and a 2L got a job there for the summer (there may be more, but thats all I know of). The USAO comes and actively recruits at my school which helps I assume.

Anonymous User wrote:

edgarderby wrote:Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

OP here, its in one of the top 10 largest legal markets. So not NYC or DC, but still large. My school has a really good hold on the city where I got the job. Another 1L and a 2L got a job there for the summer (there may be more, but thats all I know of). The USAO comes and actively recruits at my school which helps I assume.

Uh...can I transfer mid-semester?

Anonymous User wrote:

edgarderby wrote:Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

OP here, its in one of the top 10 largest legal markets. So not NYC or DC, but still large. My school has a really good hold on the city where I got the job. Another 1L and a 2L got a job there for the summer (there may be more, but thats all I know of). The USAO comes and actively recruits at my school which helps I assume.

You tell me north or south of the Mason-Dixon line, and I'll tell you where you go to school.

Renzo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

edgarderby wrote:Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

OP here, its in one of the top 10 largest legal markets. So not NYC or DC, but still large. My school has a really good hold on the city where I got the job. Another 1L and a 2L got a job there for the summer (there may be more, but thats all I know of). The USAO comes and actively recruits at my school which helps I assume.

You tell me north or south of the Mason-Dixon line, and I'll tell you where you go to school.

That would make it too easy. I also just got offered a state gov. job through a fellowship program that pays 7k for the summer. I want the USAO job, but 7k would be really nice.

Anonymous User wrote:

Renzo wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

edgarderby wrote:Just wondering, where are the USAOs? I applied to 4, all in small cities, and got nothing. One of the cities only took a 2L member of our law review. Is ND really this bad in the eyes of government lawyers?

OP here, its in one of the top 10 largest legal markets. So not NYC or DC, but still large. My school has a really good hold on the city where I got the job. Another 1L and a 2L got a job there for the summer (there may be more, but thats all I know of). The USAO comes and actively recruits at my school which helps I assume.

You tell me north or south of the Mason-Dixon line, and I'll tell you where you go to school.

That would make it too easy. I also just got offered a state gov. job through a fellowship program that pays 7k for the summer. I want the USAO job, but 7k would be really nice.

Ah, Emory.

Good guess, but its not Emory.

How's Boston College treating you, OP?

Bankhead wrote:How's Boston College treating you, OP?

Lets be fair, it could be BU.

Renzo wrote:

Bankhead wrote:How's Boston College treating you, OP?

Lets be fair, it could be BU.

Is BC even in the T30 still? Zing! - OP