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Currently in year one of a two-year district court clerkship in a large city (not NYC or Chicago). The more I think about it, the more I think I don't want to go the big-firm route after the clerkship. I also got no-offered at my 2L firm (as did 1/3 of my summer class) so I don't have anything lined up anyway. I think I might eventually want to go to the USAO but I know how crazy competitive that is. What are some options for me that aren't a big firm but that are prestigious enough that they could lead to USAO eventually? I attended CCN and graduated in top 1/3 but no honors or journal. Are the government hiring freezes really going to screw me over? Pretty much everyone has been telling me that if i want USAO I have to go to a firm for at least 3-4 years, which sounds absolutely miserable to me.

TIA

How did you get a d. ct. clerkship with top 1/3 grades? Connections?

Yeah, a family friend is friends with the judge. Are you implying though that top 1/3 at CCN is under-qualified for d. ct? Guess I got really lucky

Probably best for you to just "suck it up" and work at a big law firm for a few years. Most AUSA positions I have seen are not open to non-Department of Justice employees, but it depends on the office.