Summer Dilemma: Firm Internship v. DA Internship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a bit of dilemma and would like some help.

I have two offers (somehow, 2L slightly over median at a T50).

One at a midsize firm in the middle of nowhere. This firm will pay decently and offers a very good shot at full time employment. They have offered me a half summer or a full summer internship. They made it clear that a job was very likely if I accepted for the whole summer and that it was probably about 50-60% likely if I accepted for half of the summer.

I also got an offer from an awesome metropolitan DA's office. I always figured I would do DA work when I graduated since my grades aren't good and it is something I enjoy. I would get to try some minor cases essentially on my own here and would get great experience. This is unpaid and is for half the summer.

I'm torn between surefire paid employment in the middle of nowhere for the full summer or splitting between the two and getting more experience/having a more enjoyable summer. Please advise.

[Anonymous User]

I have a bit of dilemma and would like some help.

I have two offers (somehow, at slightly over median at a T50).

One at a midsize firm in the middle of nowhere. This firm will pay decently and offers a very good shot at full time employment. They have offered me a half summer or a full summer internship. They made it clear that a job was very likely if I accepted for the whole summer and that it was probably about 50-60% likely if I accepted for half of the summer.

I also got an offer from an awesome metropolitan DA's office. I always figured I would do DA work when I graduated since my grades aren't good and it is something I enjoy. I would get to try some minor cases essentially on my own here and would get great experience. This is unpaid and is for half the summer.

I'm torn between surefire paid employment in the middle of nowhere for the full summer or splitting between the two and getting more experience/having a more enjoyable summer. Please advise.

As someone who went through something similar last year (I was told outright that the firm job would not lead to an offer until at least February of 2012), take the law firm gig and run with it. I got tons of courtroom experience at my summer job in a DA's office and while its made me more marketable, I would trade all that shit for an offer.

Also, I may get some negative feedback on this, but honestly you can probably work at the firm for a few years, then go to the DA's office. A lot of people on here will talk all this shit about how they want lifers and you're either in or out, but the pattern I've noticed from everywhere I've interviewed has been that a significant minority of people who went firm--->DA's office.

Note: The above is void if your DA's office gives offers at the end of the summer.

[ran12]

Go with the firm offer. You'll have so many more options out of it and will probably be happier. DA is way overrated and people have a over-fantasized vision of DA being some heroic figure but that's bs. Most DA offices have a very large attrition rate for good reason. Being a DA is not about finding justice and the truth; it's about screwing people over to get ahead.

[thederangedwang]

firm

[AlexanderSupertramp]

I'd say firm too and I desperately want to work in a DA's office.

[Gecko of Doom]

Firm. Bird in the hand and all that.

[dood]

DA duh

[thesealocust]

DA duh

Back when we were young and naive you sometimes rubbed me the wrong way, but over the past few days I have come to realize that I love you. Deeply. Please never change.

Re: the original question - if you've never done DA work before splitting might be smart to sort out your own desires. It doesn't sound like you are really sold on this firm job and I doubt splitting would hurt you that much in terms of odds of getting an offer, so it might be the best bet from a personal development angle.

[Grizz]

firm

Shut up, 0L.

[thederangedwang]

firm

Shut up, 0L.

firm

[dood]

DA duh

Back when we were young and naive you sometimes rubbed me the wrong way, but over the past few days I have come to realize that I love you. Deeply. Please never change.

i admit i have a tendency to do that. sometimes it is on purpose and for those i apologize.

ty; i will not change,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exXe-2t6vbU

[vamedic03]

Firm, unless you actually want to be an ADA. Becoming an ADA without any DA's office experience is extraordinarily difficult. If that was just your "fallback", then definitely the firm job.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

Being an ADA sounds like the most interesting job, but I do like this firm and I'm not sure how public service hiring in the state is going (read: it's not going well and there is alot of competition). I have some PD experience from last summer so I am at least familiar with the system.