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[Edited. Decision made. Thanks.]

Do you ultimately want to work for DOJ? In that component? If so, I would take it, in part because I've heard that if you turn them down they're really unlikely to consider you in future. A COA clerkship would be a great experience, true, but if you were able to get one, you probably have the stats to get you where you want to go in future. But if you ever/ultimately want Biglaw, from what I've seen people here say, you might be better off doing the clerkship, finding a Biglaw job out of the clerkship, then lateraling into DOJ for a while in a few years. (I doubt the same component would take you, but I don't really know). Honestly, it seems to me a lot depends on what you want to do. I would take DOJ in a heartbeat, but then, fedgov is what I want to do. I don't know what you want to do. What are your main concerns? Money? Having something permanent lined up? Exit options? Location? I would think your decision depends to a large extent on how you answer those questions.

Anonymous User wrote:Do you ultimately want to work for DOJ? In that component? If so, I would take it, in part because I've heard that if you turn them down they're really unlikely to consider you in future. A COA clerkship would be a great experience, true, but if you were able to get one, you probably have the stats to get you where you want to go in future. But if you ever/ultimately want Biglaw, from what I've seen people here say, you might be better off doing the clerkship, finding a Biglaw job out of the clerkship, then lateraling into DOJ for a while in a few years. (I doubt the same component would take you, but I don't really know). Honestly, it seems to me a lot depends on what you want to do. I would take DOJ in a heartbeat, but then, fedgov is what I want to do. I don't know what you want to do. What are your main concerns? Money? Having something permanent lined up? Exit options? Location? I would think your decision depends to a large extent on how you answer those questions.

(Sorry, didn't mean to post anon.)

[Edited. Decision made. Thanks.]

OP: what was your decision?

OP here.

Went with DOJ Honors. Realized the only reason I originally applied for the COAs clerkship was because I thought it was a pre-req for the DOJ Honors component.

OP, unless you are someone I've already PMed with, would you mind PMing me to privately answer some questions about your experience?