LA or San Diego PI? Forum

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LA or SD PI?

LA County Public Defender
1
14%
SD County Public Defender
6
86%
 
Total votes: 7

JOThompson

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Posts: 1391
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LA or San Diego PI?

Post by JOThompson » Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:53 pm

Hey TLSers,

I'm trying to decide between PI offers (public defenders) in San Diego and Los Angeles. I'd have the opportunity to try cases in San Diego but LA would relegate me to research/writing.

I'd ultimately like to practice criminal law in LA long-term but getting immediate courtroom experience is also important to me. For the latter reason, I'm leaning toward San Diego. My question is this--if I go to San Diego this summer, do you think I'll still be able to break into the LA market after graduation? Note that I'm attending a midwest T30 and have only moderate family connections to California.

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NoleinNY

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Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:58 pm

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by NoleinNY » Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:02 pm

JOThompson wrote:Hey TLSers,

I'm trying to decide between PI offers (public defenders) in San Diego and Los Angeles. I'd have the opportunity to try cases in San Diego but LA would relegate me to research/writing.

I'd ultimately like to practice criminal law in LA long-term but getting immediate courtroom experience is also important to me. For the latter reason, I'm leaning toward San Diego. My question is this--if I go to San Diego this summer, do you think I'll still be able to break into the LA market after graduation? Note that I'm attending a midwest T30 and have only moderate family connections to California.
San Diego for two reasons:
1. Courtroom experience is worth its weight in gold.
2. San Diego is paradise.

JOThompson

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Posts: 1391
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:16 am

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by JOThompson » Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:12 pm

NoleinNY wrote:
JOThompson wrote:Hey TLSers,

I'm trying to decide between PI offers (public defenders) in San Diego and Los Angeles. I'd have the opportunity to try cases in San Diego but LA would relegate me to research/writing.

I'd ultimately like to practice criminal law in LA long-term but getting immediate courtroom experience is also important to me. For the latter reason, I'm leaning toward San Diego. My question is this--if I go to San Diego this summer, do you think I'll still be able to break into the LA market after graduation? Note that I'm attending a midwest T30 and have only moderate family connections to California.
San Diego for two reasons:
1. Courtroom experience is worth its weight in gold.
2. San Diego is paradise.
1. I've always heard this to be true too.
2. I haven't been yet, but I'm excited.

Thanks for the input. I'm getting ready to accept the offer.

dreakol

Silver
Posts: 568
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:56 pm

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by dreakol » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:05 pm

NoleinNY wrote:
JOThompson wrote:Hey TLSers,

I'm trying to decide between PI offers (public defenders) in San Diego and Los Angeles. I'd have the opportunity to try cases in San Diego but LA would relegate me to research/writing.

I'd ultimately like to practice criminal law in LA long-term but getting immediate courtroom experience is also important to me. For the latter reason, I'm leaning toward San Diego. My question is this--if I go to San Diego this summer, do you think I'll still be able to break into the LA market after graduation? Note that I'm attending a midwest T30 and have only moderate family connections to California.
San Diego for two reasons:
1. Courtroom experience is worth its weight in gold.
2. San Diego is paradise.
ti, oc, tcr

Anonymous User
Posts: 432458
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:29 am

I have had a number of friends spend a summer at the SDPD and have absolutely loved it. Get great experience, great bosses, etc.

And SD is called America's Finest City for a reason. Get an apt. in Banker's Hill, enjoy life.

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Birdman

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Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by Birdman » Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:14 am

SDPD is an amazing experience. I'm currently in my second internship there, and I'll be staying on for the rest of law school. I'm a 2L at USD. If you have any questions about the office PM me.

Edit: Don't count on being hired by either office. The post-bar clerkships are extremely competitive to get, and being hired from that afterwards is even more competitive (only 4 people were hired by the SDPD from the past cycle).

Borhas

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Posts: 6244
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:09 pm

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by Borhas » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:49 am

I did san diego in 1L it was awesome. It's a terrific office.
Last edited by Borhas on Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

seatown12

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Posts: 614
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:16 pm

Re: LA or San Diego PI?

Post by seatown12 » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:25 pm

If you're from the Midwest and haven't really been to CA then San Diego is probably what you're looking for anyway, BUT:
Birdman wrote:Edit: Don't count on being hired by either office. The post-bar clerkships are extremely competitive to get, and being hired from that afterwards is even more competitive (only 4 people were hired by the SDPD from the past cycle).

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