USAO or Judicial Internship?? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I was offered an internship with the USAO and with an associate judge. Not sure which to choose!

[Anonymous User]

OP here--sorry, forgot to say i'm a 1L.

[LawIdiot86]

Define "associate judge" in the normal terms (SSC, COA, DC, Mag., Trial, Intermediate, etc.) and indicate if either is in a particularly elite jurisdiction or where you want to eventually settle.

[Elston Gunn]

Whichever you'll enjoy more. Or, if your school will Fund the USAO but not the judge like mine, then USAO.

[musicfor18]

These are both great options, and you can't go wrong either way. Is it a federal judge? If not, I'd lean toward USAO for the prestige factor, but I'd also consider the nature of the work I'd be doing. Do you have an idea of what each option would put you up to? For example, I chose a judicial internship because I was told that, in addition to conducting research, I would also have the opportunity to draft an opinion.

[Anonymous User]

Associate Judge w/DC Superior Court. My school will fund both. Not sure yet exactly what the work will consist of.

[musicfor18]

Also, if it's a magistrate judge, that may impact how interesting you'll find the work to be, as you'd be working mostly on pre-trial matters.

[musicfor18]

Associate Judge w/DC Superior Court. My school will fund both. Not sure yet exactly what the work will consist of.

Ok. And which USAO office is it? DC? The USAO for DC is unusual in that it handles local prosecutions (but not civil cases in which the DC govt is a party) in addition to federal prosecutions. DC Superior Court handles a lot of family law and run-of-the-mill criminal cases (although there is the occasional interesting case).

I have experience as a law firm intern with DCSC, and am familiar with several of the judges. Which judge is it? And which division? PM me if you'd rather not post it to the board.

I think I'd lean toward USAO if for no reason other than the prestige factor.

[LawIdiot86]

I would lean USAO. If it was an associate judge of a SSC or a major intermediate court, that might be different, but given the weird way DC divides jurisdiction (DCAG/USAO and DCT/DCSC) you're far more likely to get non-routine stuff at the USAO (unless you end up in the Superior Court Division) when you are certain to get mostly routine stuff in DCSC.

[pat4redick]

How would it change the situation if it is District Court Judge? Is the prestige about equal then?

[stillwater]

neither of these positions are prestigious nor would it change with a dist judge

[pat4redick]

neither of these positions are prestigious nor would it change with a dist judge

Thanks.

[stillwater]

.

[pat4redick]

neither of these positions are prestigious nor would it change with a dist judge

Thanks.

im doing the dist. judge thing so im not insulting the gig or like gigs. 1L jobs are just not prestigious.

Lol. I didn't take it that ways no worries. I'm just trying to see which of my options would look better on a resume (outside of these two options as well), but it doesn't really seem to matter.

[stillwater]

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