Cook County SAO Round 1 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Not much talk on TLS about Cook County. Anyone else have a round 1 interview coming up in two weeks? For those of you who've already been through the process, have any advice?

[red shirt guy]

I did it a couple years ago and the first round is very easy, especially if you've worked there in the summer. No hypos, just general questions about stuff on the resume if I recall. I think it lasted like 15 or 20 minutes tops.

[Geist13]

I have one as well. From the phone call I received, it sounded like they're doing the entire first round that first week after thanksgiving.

Anyone know how many rounds there are?

[red shirt guy]

I have one as well. From the phone call I received, it sounded like they're doing the entire first round that first week after thanksgiving.

Anyone know how many rounds there are?

I believe there are 4 rounds. However, if you are an out of state applicant, they will not bring you in for the 2nd round--you have to make it to the 3rd round based on your credentials and your first round. I did my first round at the end of my summer there, and this was a few years ago, so it is possible things are now different.

[Anonymous User]

There are 3 rounds.

If you clerked for the office, get your supervisors to call for you. If you never clerked for the office and you're not a URM. . . good luck.

[Anonymous User]

There are 3 rounds.

If you clerked for the office, get your supervisors to call for you. If you never clerked for the office and you're not a URM. . . good luck.

Any word on the "no second round" for our of staters?

[Anonymous User]

Two rounds for out-of-staters. Your first round is the same time as in-staters' second round . . . which by the way is right around now. The next and last round is in February/March. Offers in early May.

[Anonymous User]

I am an out of state person and I have a second round interview this month. I received a call last week. ??

[Anonymous User]

what is their stance on having a DUI? i know some places are willing to look beyond it and for some it is an automatic ding but because there seems to be an insider itt, i figured i would ask.


i know tcr, is, oc, apply and find out but i figured i would ask.

[Anonymous User]

what is their stance on having a DUI? i know some places are willing to look beyond it and for some it is an automatic ding but because there seems to be an insider itt, i figured i would ask.


i know tcr, is, oc, apply and find out but i figured i would ask.

I'm actually not quite sure about that. They might be willing to look past it if you had significant positive experience with the office and/or were a URM, but even then they have plenty of those types of applicants without DUIs to choose from. So it might be a bit of an uphill battle.


Anyone have their 2nd round yet?

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

Care to share any details? Who interviewed you? What kinds of questions did they ask?

I'm also kinda curious as to why Cook County gets almost no attention on this board even though it's such a huge office.

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

Care to share any details? Who interviewed you? What kinds of questions did they ask?

I'm also kinda curious as to why Cook County gets almost no attention on this board even though it's such a huge office.

None of the other big offices get attention on this board. It's either NYDA or bust. Cook County is definitely considered one of the "premier" offices in the country. I do know that unlike NYDA, other NYC offices and Miami, you do not get real "trial" experience for several years as everyone starts in appeals. That's probably the biggest reason I chose another office over Cook County.

[Anonymous User]

Don't freak out everyone. I know someone who years ago worked for the Cook County office and she graduated from Cooley.

This is nothing to freak out about.

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

Care to share any details? Who interviewed you? What kinds of questions did they ask?

I'm also kinda curious as to why Cook County gets almost no attention on this board even though it's such a huge office.

None of the other big offices get attention on this board. It's either NYDA or bust. Cook County is definitely considered one of the "premier" offices in the country. I do know that unlike NYDA, other NYC offices and Miami, you do not get real "trial" experience for several years as everyone starts in appeals. That's probably the biggest reason I chose another office over Cook County.

Actually, 1st assignment is either Appeals, Child Support, or Misdemeanors. I'm pretty sure the Misdemeanors ASAs get plenty of trial experience, although granted it's misdemeanor stuff.

And FWIW, Chicago has plenty of violent crime to go around. So once you do start trying felony cases, you can try a lot of them.

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

I am interviewing with this office in February, just confirmed the date earlier this week.

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

I am interviewing with this office in February, just confirmed the date earlier this week.

Is this your third round? Are you out of state?

[Anonymous User]

What round are you interviewing for? Are you having a second round interview or third round interview?

[Anonymous User]

Yes. I believe all second round interviews happened last week. I would love to work in Chicago.

I am interviewing with this office in February, just confirmed the date earlier this week.

Is this your third round? Are you out of state?

Second interview, out of state (Massachusetts).

[Anonymous User]

Good Luck. I have my third round interview next week. I am also out of state, but not as far as you are. Good Luck

[Anonymous User]

3rd round was really basic. No hypos or weird questions. Anyone else have theirs? Anyone get a sense of when decisions will be made or how many they're hiring?

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the update. I have my interview this week. I heard from a friend that May is when decisions will go out.

[Anonymous User]

Oh God. I interned there one summer and it was the worst work experience I've ever had.

This, from a person who worked at McDonald's as a 14-year old, is quite an honor.

[Anonymous User]

Why was your internship experience so poor?

[Anonymous User]

I worked on the delinquency side at juvenile. The idea of "balanced and restorative justice" was a farce and the staff really did not seem to care about helping to rehabilitate youth. Rather, they were the typical gunners I didn't expect them to be and certainly hoped they wouldn't be, trying to prove how badass they are for when they moved up to felonies eventually.

Some of the staff was cool but honestly it was a hostile, unfriendly environment overall.