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Hey,

I may soon be in the position of considering offers from USAO offices in Los Angeles and San Diego. I have already been offered a job with the LA office and am scheduled to interview with the San Diego office. Both jobs would be with the Civil Division. The jobs are unpaid but I would receive just over $4000 from my university for doing a public interest job over the summer. My parents live in San Diego, so I could live at home for the summer and have minimal expenses if I worked with the San Diego office (thus allowing me to pay down a little bit of interest on my loans). If I had to relocate to LA, however, I would probably spend almost all of my stipend. I expect the jobs are roughly similar, but the Central District of California (LA) is much larger and covers a broader range of cases than the Southern District of California (San Diego). In short, I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are in terms of choosing an office, considering both expenses as well as "intangibles" such as prestige/impact for OCI (assuming I want to go to a big firm 2nd year).

I know the question is somewhat broad, but any feedback would be appreciated. I have until the 15th to accept the LA offer. Thanks!

I'd go with the SDCA office. LA isn't cheap to live in, and whatever extra prestige the CDCA office may have I think it is outweighed by the convenience of being able to live at home. I would think that the USAO in any district in California will be seen as a positive on your resume. Congrats on the offers btw.

Where are you aiming to end up city-wise out of OCI? LA, SD, or elsewhere? Also, are you currently attending LS in Southern California?

I originally voted for the CDCA office, but glossed over the part where you discussed living for free in San Diego. Hang on to the LA offer, but if you get the San Diego offer, go there. Not blowing through the stipend is TCR. No one will care if you went to SDCA instead of CDCA.

mightyaphrodite wrote:I originally voted for the CDCA office, but glossed over the part where you discussed living for free in San Diego. Hang on to the LA offer, but if you get the San Diego offer, go there. Not blowing through the stipend is TCR. No one will care if you went to SDCA instead of CDCA.

^ this

I worked at the USAO CDCA last year. It was a good summer gig.

USAO CDCA is probably second to only USAO SDNY in terms of prestige. Nevertheless, for your 1L/2L summer, it doesn't make any difference. Working at a USAO is more than enough. Just make sure that you have a handful of interesting stories to tell from your time at the USAO.

If you want to be a AUSA in the future, it definitely helps to have worked in a USAO office previously. You definitely hear of stories of former interns ending up at the same office. However, one of the AUSAs at CDCA I worked with had interned at the San Diego office while he was in school. It doesn't seem like they held it against him.

Thanks to everybody for the feedback so far. Also, as for the person that asked about my career goals/where I attend law school. In terms of legal markets, I expect I'd like to return to Southern California (LA or SD would be fine) but would be just as happy in the SF market (I applied to the NDCA office but never heard back and probably couldn't afford housing up there this summer anyway). Regarding my law school, I attend a t5 east coast school but went to UG in CA and was born and raised in San Diego.

Shameless bump for any additional feedback/votes

Envious of your position.

I'd do San Diego. Living at home, while sometimes annoying, really is clutch.

Plus it's San Diego. It was awesome where I was there and saw Shampoo the whale when I was 8.

Thanks again to everybody. It was a tough choice for me, but I went with the majority on this one.