ADA vs. AUSA Forum

[A'nold]

Why does everyone target AUSA jobs and not ADA jobs? Prestige? Exit options?

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

[NoleinNY]

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

God, I hope so. Otherwise, what's the point of getting a JD?

Seriously, though, I'd assume the exit options and prestige are probably why. What's better for picking up ladies in a bar? "I just put a pot dealer away for 8 months." or "I just sent Bernie Madoff to prison for the rest of his life."

[motiontodismiss]

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

God, I hope so. Otherwise, what's the point of getting a JD?

Seriously, though, I'd assume the exit options and prestige are probably why. What's better for picking up ladies in a bar? "I just put a pot dealer away for 8 months." or "I just sent Bernie Madoff to prison for the rest of his life."

OK technically the DA or USA doesn't put anyone away for anything. The judge does.

[byunbee]

Why does everyone target AUSA jobs and not ADA jobs? Prestige? Exit options?

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

why do you think? for the ladies.

[TUP]

Why does everyone target AUSA jobs and not ADA jobs? Prestige? Exit options?

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

I've always thought it was the other way around, with ADAs having massive caseloads and working with what the detectives provide, and AUSAs spending more time with the investigative process and working with the FBI, DEA, etc. That's just my impression as a 0L, and I'm also interested in what those with experience have to say.

[byunbee]

Why does everyone target AUSA jobs and not ADA jobs? Prestige? Exit options?

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

if you could actually carry a gun around as an attorney, that would be awesome.

[Thomas Jefferson]

if you could actually carry a gun around as an attorney, that would be awesome.

[Grizz]

ADA - Overworked, underpaid, low prestige, can be an entry level job.

AUSA - prestigious, rarely entry-level, not as overworked, "important" cases (federal), good pay and benefits if you stick with it

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just going to do some thinking aloud here, but from where I sit, both of these paths look like great options. Obviously, the AUSA opportunities are pretty freaking awesome and don't need much selling. But from what I can gather (and please correct me if I'm wrong), an ADA position looks like a great launching pad and, depending on the locale, the salaries are not terrible. Plus, with IBR, while yes, your tax burden is increased somewhat, it seems possible to make this work even with sizeable school loans.

I know my writing sucks right now, so please excuse.

[A'nold]

Some ADA's do carry guns I believe.......confirm?

[whatjusthappened]

Some ADA's do carry guns I believe.......confirm?

I know for a fact that some do. I've read this a couple times on TLS. However, I'm not sure how widespread this practice is.

If you have 'the right to carry law," it really does matter. If I was an ADA, I would definitely carry one in case some bum tried to get revenge.

[Billy Blanks]

Some ADA's do carry guns I believe.......confirm?

I know for a fact that some do. I've read this a couple times on TLS. However, I'm not sure how widespread this practice is.

If you have 'the right to carry law," it really does matter. If I was an ADA, I would definitely carry one in case some bum tried to get revenge.

Why would you be prosecuting bums? Or would they only become bums after you'd prosecuted them?

I'm scared of you.

[A'nold]

I'd rather it be something that comes w/ the job instead of my own gun, for various reasons.

[NayBoer]

I know the cases are different, in that ADAs can get a lot of drug and property crime cases. AUSAs get bigger issues, like white-collar crime, or RICO, or kidnapping. So the caseload is probably more interesting in a lot of ways.

On the flip-side, ADAs get to work on 'real' crimes more often, and may get to help out on murder and assault cases depending on the jurisdiction and their skill level. AUSAs do a ton of boring regulatory infractions, and spend a lot of energy trying to convict business people for relatively petty crimes like failure to properly document prescriptions.

[Grizz]

AUSAs get bigger issues, like white-collar crime, or RICO, or kidnapping. So the caseload is probably more interesting in a lot of ways.

ADAs can get a lot of these things too, as long as the feds don't pick it up, the crime wasn't committed across state lines, etc.

edit: but admitted, the truly big RICO/interstate compact/drug trafficking cases (the best ones) are federal.

[webbylu87]

Pardon the uninformed 0L questions but how competitive are ADA and AUSA jobs normally? Are we talking T14 or strong regional school here?

[NayBoer]

AUSAs get bigger issues, like white-collar crime, or RICO, or kidnapping. So the caseload is probably more interesting in a lot of ways.

ADAs can get a lot of these things too, as long as the feds don't pick it up, the crime wasn't committed across state lines, etc.

edit: but admitted, the truly big RICO/interstate compact/drug trafficking cases (the best ones) are federal.

Yeah, I'm sure it varies considerably. It probably also matters where you are. I'll bet being ADA in a large, central jurisdiction can bring lots of diversity of cases (like how Spitzer as NY AG was able to sue Wall Street). And there are probably AUSA jurisdictions that are considered much less prestigious. Probably part of the reason Lori Drew got indicted; nothing else as interesting or as headline-grabbing.

[Grizz]

Pardon the uninformed 0L questions but how competitive are ADA and AUSA jobs normally? Are we talking T14 or strong regional school here?

Depends where. There are podunk states and podunk federal jurisdictions.

In my major metro area of FL, Assistant State Attorney (our version of DAs) could be an entry level job for someone from UF, FSU, or Stetson with decent grades. However, with the economy the way it is, the SAs office is not doing very much hiring. Still many of the ASAs pretty much look like kids fresh out of school.

For AUSA positions here, prior experience (firm or govt.) is pretty much a prerequisite, plus the office was bombarded with resumes from experienced people from top schools looking to get a nice govt. job less susceptible to ITE. In general, the people who work at the office here that I've met are from true "top" schools (UVA, Vandy, Emory, and BC are among the ones I know), plus some UF people, too.

[Grizz]

Yeah, I'm sure it varies considerably. It probably also matters where you are.

Agreed. My FL metro area is probably insanely different on the state and federal level than say, Nebraska. Different crimes.

[tram988]

Pardon the uninformed 0L questions but how competitive are ADA and AUSA jobs normally? Are we talking T14 or strong regional school here?

Depends where. There are podunk states and podunk federal jurisdictions.

In my major metro area of FL, Assistant State Attorney (our version of DAs) could be an entry level job for someone from UF, FSU, or Stetson with decent grades. However, with the economy the way it is, the SAs office is not doing very much hiring. Still many of the ASAs pretty much look like kids fresh out of school.

For AUSA positions here, prior experience (firm or govt.) is pretty much a prerequisite, plus the office was bombarded with resumes from experienced people from top schools looking to get a nice govt. job less susceptible to ITE. In general, the people who work at the office here that I've met are from true "top" schools (UVA, Vandy, Emory, and BC are among the ones I know), plus some UF people, too.

Glad to see BC. I'm definitely interested in this.

Any idea on their hours/salary?

[nol607]

You really need to read Convictions by John Kroger. What he said that really stuck with me, aside from the obvious, is that as an ADA you pick up a lot of really bad habits by necessity; you literally will have 300+ "awaiting trial" cases at any given time. As an AUSA you put all of your energy into a particular case and assume a greater ownership over the result.

[NayBoer]

You really need to read Convictions by John Kroger. What he said that really stuck with me, aside from the obvious, is that as an ADA you pick up a lot of really bad habits by necessity; you literally will have 300+ "awaiting trial" cases at any given time. As an AUSA you put all of your energy into a particular case and assume a greater ownership over the result.

I'm still reading Three Felonies A Day, about systemic abuses in the federal prosecution process. By a defense attorney, of course.

[romothesavior]

And the most important thing: don't many ADA's get to carry guns, investigate crime scenes, and get off for speeding when you flash them your "badge" or whatever you get when you are an ADA?

God, I hope so. Otherwise, what's the point of getting a JD?

Seriously, though, I'd assume the exit options and prestige are probably why. What's better for picking up ladies in a bar? "I just put a pot dealer away for 8 months." or "I just sent Bernie Madoff to prison for the rest of his life."

OK technically the DA or USA doesn't put anyone away for anything. The judge does.

Cool dude.

[motiontodismiss]

ADA - Overworked, underpaid, low prestige, can be an entry level job.

AUSA - prestigious, rarely entry-level, not as overworked, "important" cases (federal), good pay and benefits if you stick with it

Well...what lawyer isn't?

[Grizz]

ADA - Overworked, underpaid, low prestige, can be an entry level job.

AUSA - prestigious, rarely entry-level, not as overworked, "important" cases (federal), good pay and benefits if you stick with it

Well...what lawyer isn't?

Overworked such that it may be hard to do a good job in some jurisdictions, aka pleading out tons of people who shouldn't be pled out.