Summer RA or DA's Office? Forum

[McBean]

Still waiting to hear back from a few, but I won't be surprised if it comes down to these two. Assuming I want to do firm work, which would look better on the resume come OCI?

A note on the DA's office: It's a large DA's office just outside of a large city. Good rep in the area...pretty much all of the state AG's have come out of this office.

[270910]

No real difference for OCI. DA will probably be a better experience professionally, though.

[smalltown]

Can you split it? Is the DA paid? I know a lot of people do a work study RA position and a DA position/PD position/PI something. I'd see if the DA or your prof would let you split it.

[McBean]

Can you split it? Is the DA paid? I know a lot of people do a work study RA position and a DA position/PD position/PI something. I'd see if the DA or your prof would let you split it.

Prof. wants a full summer's work, so that's a no-go.

[A'nold]

A few related questions:

1. If you intern at a PD office, are you looked down upon for prosecutor positions in the future?
2. How does a PD's office look for firms?

[dbt]

if you just have firm goals, I don't see why you'd want to RA. The DA's Office will probably be better experience, and RA is only really critical if you want to clerk/teach down the line. (also keeping in mind you may be able to talk prof into letting you RA during the school year instead).

[McBean]

A few related questions:

1. If you intern at a PD office, are you looked down upon for prosecutor positions in the future?
2. How does a PD's office look for firms?

I'm not sure of the exact answer, but I have the answer to the reverse question. The head of the Bronx Defenders, one of the most well regarded PDs in the country came to speak at our school. Someone asked her how she viewed prosecutor experience, internship or otherwise, on resumes. She said it is a virtual instant dis-qualifier. Thinking she might be an out-lier, I asked a similar question at the Suffolk County (Boston) PDs office when I interviewed there. Same response.

Something about two different mindsets.

Not sure how firms or DA's offices look at PD experience though. Probably not as harshly, since you can't get much more harsh.

[McBean]

(also keeping in mind you may be able to talk prof into letting you RA during the school year instead).

Yeah, this part has me leaning heavily toward the DA's office.

[Blindmelon]

A few related questions:

1. If you intern at a PD office, are you looked down upon for prosecutor positions in the future?
2. How does a PD's office look for firms?

I'm not sure of the exact answer, but I have the answer to the reverse question. The head of the Bronx Defenders, one of the most well regarded PDs in the country came to speak at our school. Someone asked her how she viewed prosecutor experience, internship or otherwise, on resumes. She said it is a virtual instant dis-qualifier. Thinking she might be an out-lier, I asked a similar question at the Suffolk County (Boston) PDs office when I interviewed there. Same response.

Something about two different mindsets.

Not sure how firms or DA's offices look at PD experience though. Probably not as harshly, since you can't get much more harsh.

Yea... that was a good talk she gave - I'm guessing you're at BU too.

From what the CDO told me here, RAing isn't really great at it isn't legal experience... its research. It'll help you get a good rec, etc. but thats about it. Then again, if you want to work for a big firm, its all your grades. If you want gov/PI, its more about work experience.

[A'nold]

Interesting, so...........clerkship for the luke warm FTW?