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1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:26 pm
by Mirrored
This post is a sincere attempt to get the community's thoughts on what the most prestigious positions to obtain for a 1L Summer. These positions must be actually attainable, though it is fine if it is limited to the top 10% or so of all applicants.
I understand that some soft factors heavily influence the prestige of a position (Summer RA for T3 Professor v. Summer RA for Harvard Prof.) I also understand that certain positions are more suited to certain career tracks. Please try to delineate any critical soft factors and place them as best you can.
1. Biglaw Summer Associate, Judicial Internship - COA,
2. Judicial Internship -FED District, State Supreme
3. Judicial Internship - Fed Magistrate, State COA
4. DOJ - AG's Office. DOJ - USAO. DA's Office. Legal Department (Entertainment Law)
5. Judicial Internship - State District Court, Mid Sized
law firm summer associate
6. High Tier Public Interest Work - ACLU etc. Professor Research Assistant. Legal Department (General)
7. Public Defenders Office. Small Law Firm. Mid Tier Public Interest Work.
8. Low Tier Public Interest Work. Job Related to the Legal Profession. Solo Practitioner's Associate.
9. Job Unrelated to the Legal Profession.
I will edit and revise when needed & if the forum allows.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:27 pm
by mallard
This is both wrong and inherently misguided.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:37 pm
by 98234872348
Pretty sure as long as you have experience working SOMEWHERE legally related it really doesn't make that much of a difference to firms...
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:40 pm
by D Brooks
Ran here?
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:00 pm
by Mirrored
I disagree strongly with both the sentiment and the accuracy of the previous posts. Further, even if you take those positions, you have yet to contribute to the actual topic and for that reason should delete your posts.
I employed two summer interns in our legal department. What they did on their 1L Summers mattered right behind GPA and Personality.
I noticed several students with the same Public Interest job and when I asked, found it was not competitive.
I am not going to law school to play the "Awww, we're all special in our own way!" game. I am going there because I am sincerely passionate about the practice of law and want to make it to the pinnacle of the profession.
That starts with the 1L Summer. And believe me, it does matter whether you spend the summer helping a nice solo practitioner or whether you spend it with a nationally renowned judge.
If you failed to plan your 1L Summer, this is not the thread to cry in. If you want to "follow your dreams!" enjoy that and go to some inspirational poetry forum.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:01 pm
by mallard
Mirrored wrote:I disagree strongly with both the sentiment and the accuracy of the previous posts. Further, even if you take those positions, you have yet to contribute to the actual topic and for that reason should delete your posts.
I employed two summer interns in our legal department. What they did on their 1L Summers mattered right behind GPA and Personality.
I noticed several students with the same Public Interest job and when I asked, found it was not competitive.
I am not going to law school to play the "Awww, we're all special in our own way!" game. I am going there because I am sincerely passionate about the practice of law and want to make it to the pinnacle of the profession.
That starts with the 1L Summer. And believe me, it does matter whether you spend the summer helping a nice solo practitioner or whether you spend it with a nationally renowned judge.
If you failed to plan your 1L Summer, this is not the thread to cry in. If you want to "follow your dreams!" enjoy that and go to some inspirational poetry forum.
LOL! Keep posting.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:08 pm
by Veyron
I approve of your endevor even if the "right" answer will be situational.
I would suggest the following hiarchy (not mutualy exclusive of yours)
Paid by employer
Paid by school
Unpaid
Also, just how difficult is it to get an internship with a COA judge as a 1L? Are these positions any good to have as a 2L?
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:09 pm
by 98234872348
0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:11 pm
by Veyron
mistergoft wrote:0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.
The right time to start gunning for a 1L job ITE is now. WE LIVE IN A NEW ECONOMIC REALITY! We come on here to ask questions of those who have gone before us. God, I hate people with no buisness experience who lack hustle.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:12 pm
by b1ue
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Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:12 pm
by D Brooks
mistergoft wrote:0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:13 pm
by b1ue
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Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:14 pm
by Veyron
b1ue wrote:Veyron wrote:I approve of your endevor even if the "right" answer will be situational.
I would suggest the following hiarchy (not mutualy exclusive of yours)
Paid by employer
Paid by school
Unpaid
Also, just how difficult is it to get an internship with a COA judge as a 1L? Are these positions any good to have as a 2L?
1L summer doc review > $8/hr RA @ school > fed ct. externship....
What makes a fed ct. externship so unprestigious?
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:15 pm
by Cavalier
This is silly. The correct ranking is:
1. Summer associate
2. Everything else that's law-related
3. Non-legal job/nothing
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:15 pm
by b1ue
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Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:17 pm
by 270910
mallard wrote:This is both wrong and inherently misguided.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:19 pm
by Veyron
b1ue wrote:Veyron wrote:b1ue wrote:Veyron wrote:I approve of your endevor even if the "right" answer will be situational.
I would suggest the following hiarchy (not mutualy exclusive of yours)
Paid by employer
Paid by school
Unpaid
Also, just how difficult is it to get an internship with a COA judge as a 1L? Are these positions any good to have as a 2L?
1L summer doc review > $8/hr RA @ school > fed ct. externship....
Why is a fed ct. externship so unprestigious?
thats what your "rankings" above suggest
? Those are not my rankings?
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:19 pm
by bilbobaggins
Cavalier wrote:This is silly. The correct ranking is:
1. Summer associate
2. Everything else that's law-related
3. Non-legal job/nothing
Unless you want a job in Criminal or PI work. If so, this is incorrect.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:19 pm
by animalcrkrs
Cavalier wrote:This is silly. The correct ranking is:
1. Summer associate
2. Everything else that's law-related
3. Non-legal job/nothing
What is the effect you think of the summer associateship 1L summer ITE? By this I mean, even though the experience might be useful for your 2L summer, do you think some employers would be risk averse to employing a 2L who already had an offer from a 1L summer firm rather than someone who had great grades but did something else their 1L summer and they KNOW will accept their offer since they aren't competing for the person over another firm?
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:22 pm
by b1ue
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Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:24 pm
by 270910
animalcrkrs wrote:Cavalier wrote:This is silly. The correct ranking is:
1. Summer associate
2. Everything else that's law-related
3. Non-legal job/nothing
What is the effect you think of the summer associateship 1L summer ITE? By this I mean, even though the experience might be useful for your 2L summer, do you think some employers would be risk averse to employing a 2L who already had an offer from a 1L summer firm rather than someone who had great grades but did something else their 1L summer and they KNOW will accept their offer since they aren't competing for the person over another firm?
No. Firm work your 1L summer will mean you did it, like it, and have at least gotten your toes wet. It's exclusively a good thing. No employer is going to seriously consider not taking somebody because they might have an offer from their 1L summer. It's just not the way hiring decisions are made. Firms aren't cow-towing to U.S. news (yet) - they all want the best, and they (by and large) also feel like they deserve and can get/win over the best.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:26 pm
by ggocat
I once made a list like this.
I have since come to realize that doing so was asinine.
IMO, temporary employment during law school should either (1) be tailored to your long-term goals, or (2) allow you to experience a field of law that interests you, but you are unsure of.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:26 pm
by 98234872348
D Brooks wrote:mistergoft wrote:0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.
Okay, let me revise that. 0Ls shouldn't be allowed to speak authoritatively on any topic relating to legal employment. I have no problem with 0Ls asking questions about legal employment.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:29 pm
by ggocat
mistergoft wrote:D Brooks wrote:mistergoft wrote:0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.
0Ls shouldn't be allowed to speak authoritatively on any topic relating to legal employment.
Same statement could be made for most
law students people in general.
Re: 1L Summer Jobs - Prestige Ranking
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:34 pm
by rayiner
mistergoft wrote:0Ls shouldn't be allowed in the employment forum.