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USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:14 pm
by Anonymous User
I was offered an internship with the USAO and with an associate judge. Not sure which to choose!
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:16 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here--sorry, forgot to say i'm a 1L.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:21 pm
by 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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:23 pm
by Elston Gunn
Whichever you'll enjoy more. Or, if your school will Fund the USAO but not the judge like mine, then USAO.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:24 pm
by 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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:28 pm
by Anonymous User
Associate Judge w/DC Superior Court. My school will fund both. Not sure yet exactly what the work will consist of.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:29 pm
by 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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:38 pm
by musicfor18
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:16 pm
by 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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:29 pm
by pat4redick
How would it change the situation if it is District Court Judge? Is the prestige about equal then?
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:30 pm
by stillwater
neither of these positions are prestigious nor would it change with a dist judge
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:38 pm
by pat4redick
stillwater wrote:neither of these positions are prestigious nor would it change with a dist judge
Thanks.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:39 pm
by stillwater
.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:25 pm
by pat4redick
stillwater wrote:pat4redick wrote:stillwater wrote: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.
Re: USAO or Judicial Internship??
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:38 pm
by stillwater
.