Accept a CA app externship or try to get a paid job? (1L) Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:21 pm

1L at UCLA. Just offered a CA appellate externship but it's unpaid. (No grades yet)

Anybody familiar with the 1L hiring market? Should I just accept the offer and be happy with it or try my luck for some $$? My only worry is that I find out I got shitty grades in January and have no job opportunities.

Cupidity · Post by **Cupidity** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:26 pm

I was told that a COA internship was a priceless line on your resume when it comes to firm hiring. I wish someone would have told my OCI interviewers, still trying to find a job in December.

Go for money if you can, however, most schools do not permit you to turn down a judge. So, if you have an offer from a judge already, this thread may be moot.

Cupidity · Post by **Cupidity** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:27 pm

Actually, I see that this is just CA App and not even COA. In that case, what I said X 1,000.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:35 pm

So you mean keep looking for jobs? Do you mean COA = California Supreme Court or 9th Circuit?

The offer was pretty informal, so I could reject it if I wanted to. The judge said I could accept another offer if it came up before Feb. I guess my main concern is that a state externship won't look as good as a paid internship at a firm for OCIs next fall.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:37 pm

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:43 pm

Anonymous User wrote:So you mean keep looking for jobs? Do you mean COA = California Supreme Court or 9th Circuit?

The offer was pretty informal, so I could reject it if I wanted to. The judge said I could accept another offer if it came up before Feb. I guess my main concern is that a state externship won't look as good as a paid internship at a firm for OCIs next fall.

1L shit is all basically the same.

Haymarket · Post by **Haymarket** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:46 pm

Anonymous User wrote:So you mean keep looking for jobs? Do you mean COA = California Supreme Court or 9th Circuit?

The offer was pretty informal, so I could reject it if I wanted to. The judge said I could accept another offer if it came up before Feb. I guess my main concern is that a state externship won't look as good as a paid internship at a firm for OCIs next fall.

COA = Court of Appeals.

Also I lol'd at the bolded. We all want paid firm jobs, but that just isn't reality for most 1Ls, and firms understand that.

sundance95 · Post by **sundance95** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:30 pm

Cupidity wrote:most schools do not permit you to turn down a judge.

What does this mean?

Haymarket · Post by **Haymarket** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:44 pm

sundance95 wrote:
Cupidity wrote:most schools do not permit you to turn down a judge.
What does this mean?

I'm not sure about what they mean by 'schools do not permit' but my understanding is that it is very, very poor form to turn down an offer from a judge. If they make you a job offer, you take it. Might need others to confirm this.

ETA: A quick search brings these threads

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=103636

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=108166

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:48 pm

Haymarket wrote: Also I lol'd at the bolded. We all want paid firm jobs, but that just isn't reality for most 1Ls, and firms understand that.

word. but that doesn't mean I can't get one.

I get what you're saying though. I'll take what I've got and avoid the hassle of looking for other jobs, especially if it doesn't affect my chances of getting an SA next summer.

thesealocust · Post by **thesealocust** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:40 pm

Take the judicial position then work towards splitting with a firm if you can swing it. The market is way to tough not to take the bird in hand, and what you do 1L summer has minimal impact on your job prospects afterward so it's really just down to small differences in $$$ and experience at this point. but 1L firm jobs are rare enough that you'd know already if you were a serious contender for one (connection / URM / small market ties / hopefully all three)

zomginternets · Post by **zomginternets** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:52 am

Take the externship and be done with job hunting for summer. Sending out apps, researching and interviewing is a pain in the ass and will take up way too much time for the marginal benefit (if even any benefit at all) that getting a paid job will give you for OCI. That time is wayyy better spent on studying during second seemster.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:59 am

Take the job unless you're hunting for something else - USAO/CoA/D.Ct - take the Cal App court and enjoy the rest of break.

traehekat · Post by **traehekat** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:59 pm

Anonymous User wrote:1L at UCLA. Just offered a CA appellate externship but it's unpaid. (No grades yet)

Anybody familiar with the 1L hiring market? Should I just accept the offer and be happy with it or try my luck for some $$? My only worry is that I find out I got shitty grades in January and have no job opportunities.

Although you should feel free to turn down the offer since the judge gave you explicit permission to do so, I would just take it. Good chance it will be a beneficial (and enjoyable!) experience and give you something to talk about during 2L OCI, which is ultimately all you need your 1L job/internship to do.

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