US Attorney's Office or District Attorney's Office Forum

[newyork47]

NY/ Eastern District. Received offers from both.
Which should I do?
I am not sure if I want to work in the public sector or the private sector upon graduation.
Thank you in advance TLS posters.

[newyork47]

This is for a 1L summer internship.

[patrickd139]

Other options? Can you split summers and work for both?

I'd give the tie to USAO, but that's a personal thing. If you're gunning for a prosecutor position, the experience at the DA's office might be key to building relationships necessary to find full-time work down the road.

[newyork47]

Other options? Can you split summers and work for both?

I'd give the tie to USAO, but that's a personal thing. If you're gunning for a prosecutor position, the experience at the DA's office might be key to building relationships necessary to find full-time work down the road.

Thank you. No I can't split summers, it is one or the other. My other options are in couple public interest organizations and one accounting firm. Again, I am not sure if I want to go into prosecution in the future. Without contest these two are my best options. But I am having a difficult time choosing. I may potentially work at a firm in the future. Which of these may be more attractive to a future employer?

[thunderflesh]

They're both great ways to spend a 1L summer, and they'll both look good on your resume.

USAO's function more like law firms (as compared to DA's offices), especially in larger cities. Each attorney has fewer cases, some of which will go on for years, and they might even be civil cases; thus, you can get a really broad range of experience. I believe that 90% or more of the attorneys at EDNY come from firms, too, so I bet it's a good way to make connections to NY Biglaw. I'm sure you're aware of this, but USAOs--especially in big cities--don't typically hire new graduates.

DANY is a lot narrower in terms of what it does (obvi), but if you're set on being an ADA after school, it's almost certainly the better choice. Though it is worth mentioning that 2L interns get to interview for ADA positions at the end of their summer; I'm not sure whether 1L interns are afforded the same opportunity (i.e. an early interview at the end of next summer). I would talk to someone who did DANY their first summer to find out. Also, DANY actually hires new graduates.

TL;DR
USAO is better if you think you'll end up at a firm your 2L summer (and if you're vacillating, you probably will). DANY is better if you're dead set on prosecution. Both are great internships.

[newyork47]

They're both great ways to spend a 1L summer, and they'll both look good on your resume.

USAO's function more like law firms (as compared to DA's offices), especially in larger cities. Each attorney has fewer cases, some of which will go on for years, and they might even be civil cases; thus, you can get a really broad range of experience. I believe that 90% or more of the attorneys at EDNY come from firms, too, so I bet it's a good way to make connections to NY Biglaw. I'm sure you're aware of this, but USAOs--especially in big cities--don't typically hire new graduates.

DANY is a lot narrower in terms of what it does (obvi), but if you're set on being an ADA after school, it's almost certainly the better choice. Though it is worth mentioning that 2L interns get to interview for ADA positions at the end of their summer; I'm not sure whether 1L interns are afforded the same opportunity (i.e. an early interview at the end of next summer). I would talk to someone who did DANY their first summer to find out. Also, DANY actually hires new graduates.

TL;DR
USAO is better if you think you'll end up at a firm your 2L summer (and if you're vacillating, you probably will). DANY is better if you're dead set on prosecution. Both are great internships.

Thank you for the clarification