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Need to decide in the next few days where to work for 2L summer. My main focus is clerking after graduation but, from what I understand, none of these options will provide any boost for that process. Right now everything on my resume is from my home (secondary) market so I wouldn't mind creating ties to other areas (or just living somewhere interesting for the summer); I get funding through the school to reimburse expenses so cost is not too much of an issue here.

Options:
1) USAO in home secondary market. I like home and have no problem with this option but I wouldn't mind living somewhere else for the summer just to gain ties to another area and/or experience living in a different city
2) USAO in prestigious district (SDNY, EDNY, CDCA, etc.). I get to live in a different city but finding housing is my main concern. I have no family in this city and I have only one (uncertain) option right now. I don't want to choose this internship then be stuck with no housing or with a super long commute.
3) DOJ agency in DC. Really cool division of DOJ but I only get exposure to this one area of the law and I don't get to see any court proceedings (which I really like to do). Easier to find housing in DC than the prestigious USAO above.

Interesting poll so far. Anyone care to share their rationale?

I'm confused about #2. How is it uncertain? Do you actually have an offer?

Why don't you work in the local one during the semester and somewhere else during the summer?


On a side note, why don't you just work for a firm so you can snag a job for when you graduate?

The DOJ and USAOs are not going to be hiring baby attorneys anytime soon (except through the honors program) given a look at their budget.

OP-- curious what division you're considering. I'm working at DOJ this summer as a 1L in an interesting division such as you describe. PM.

OP here

traehekat wrote:I'm confused about #2. How is it uncertain? Do you actually have an offer?

Sorry about the confusion, I meant the housing option is uncertain. I have the job offer.

Sequoia90 wrote:Why don't you work in the local one during the semester and somewhere else during the summer?

I was unclear about this as well. I don't go to school in my home district so i would not be working at that USAO during the semester. However I may have the opportunity to work at the USAO near my school during the semester and I'm looking into this right now.

Sequoia90 wrote:On a side note, why don't you just work for a firm so you can snag a job for when you graduate?

Struck out at OCI. No smaller firms have responded yet (and won't before I have to make a decision on these options).

Need to make a decision tomorrow so any/all comments are welcome.

Sequoia90 wrote:Why don't you work in the local one during the semester and somewhere else during the summer?

Yup. DOJ for the summer, local for semester.