Cook County ASA Class of 2013 Forum

[Anonymous User]

This thread is for the new Assistant State's Attorneys Class of 2013 to discuss anything and everything related to the office and Chicago as a whole.

[Anonymous User]

Hey thanks for starting this thread. I will ask my previous question again: Has anyone received their formal offer yet? Any thoughts on what section you want to start in? I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

[Anonymous User]

Hey thanks for starting this thread. I will ask my previous question again: Has anyone received their formal offer yet? Any thoughts on what section you want to start in? I am looking forward to meeting everyone.

I think that starting off, you either work in muni doing misdemeanors or the appeals unit, but I would love to start working in muni with the goal of making it to the special prosecutions bureau. They just enacted a street gang RICO law, so they would handle stuff like that.

As for the formal offer, I'm still waiting on it. I live in Louisiana, so I'm guessing that I will probably be one of the last people to receive it when all is said and done. Hell, I'm still waiting on the professors to finish submitting their grades, and graduation isn't until next week.

[Anonymous User]

The three divisions starting out are misdemeanors, appeals, and child support. I think I would prefer misdemeanors because you get to try cases, then appeals and child support in that order.

Here's an interesting article from a couple years ago from Chicago Lawyer Magazine:
Starting the Journey in These Offices

[Anonymous User]

The three divisions starting out are misdemeanors, appeals, and child support. I think I would prefer misdemeanors because you get to try cases, then appeals and child support in that order.

Here's an interesting article from a couple years ago from Chicago Lawyer Magazine:
Starting the Journey in These Offices

I read that article a few days ago. It's really good.

[Anonymous User]

I also haven't received my paper offer. I live in VA so it might be later than local offers. Even though everyone would prefer to start in misdemeanors, I wouldn't mind starting in appeals. I did appellate work during law school, and it taught me so much about being a good lawyer. Regardless, it would only be temporary because I assume everyone rotates to a different place eventually.

Does anyone know about what kind of employment opportunities the office offers before November. I heard that there are paid law clerk positions. Does anyone know when those positions would start?

[Anonymous User]

I am from Indiana and I also have not yet received the formal offer, but I am sure it is coming soon. Does anyone know if we rotate through all thee divisions? I did not get the impression that we rotate, but I really do not know. I want muni, however, I agree you can learn a tremendous amount form the appellate section. I have not heard anything about law clerk opportunities for September and October. Maybe the formal offers will say something about it. Good luck with bar prep. I am doing barbri and it is a lot!!!

[Anonymous User]

Just got the paper offer but it doesn't have much information. Just says to write back to accept.

[Anonymous User]

That is too bad. I was hoping for more information. Hopefully, mine will come tomorrow. thanks for posting.

[Anonymous User]

Just got the paper offer but it doesn't have much information. Just says to write back to accept.

Are you local, or are you in another state, if you don't mind me asking.

[Anonymous User]

Just got the paper offer but it doesn't have much information. Just says to write back to accept.

Are you local, or are you in another state, if you don't mind me asking.

In state. Postmarked yesterday.

[Anonymous User]

The three divisions starting out are misdemeanors, appeals, and child support. I think I would prefer misdemeanors because you get to try cases, then appeals and child support in that order.

Here's an interesting article from a couple years ago from Chicago Lawyer Magazine:
Starting the Journey in These Offices

I hate appellate advocacy; it's not as dangerous or sexy as a trial.

[Anonymous User]

The three divisions starting out are misdemeanors, appeals, and child support. I think I would prefer misdemeanors because you get to try cases, then appeals and child support in that order.

Here's an interesting article from a couple years ago from Chicago Lawyer Magazine:
Starting the Journey in These Offices

I hate appellate advocacy; it's not as dangerous or sexy as a trial.

Ha, not sure misdemeanors is particularly dangerous or sexy.

I'm trying not to get too married to the idea of misdemeanors. My understanding is we don't get a choice of where we get assigned, and misdemeanors takes the fewest newbies.

Appeals might be boring, but I'm sure it would be very useful down the road to have a good grasp of the law. I'm not sure what good things to say about child support...maybe it's the easiest?

[Anonymous User]

The three divisions starting out are misdemeanors, appeals, and child support. I think I would prefer misdemeanors because you get to try cases, then appeals and child support in that order.

Here's an interesting article from a couple years ago from Chicago Lawyer Magazine:
Starting the Journey in These Offices

I hate appellate advocacy; it's not as dangerous or sexy as a trial.

Ha, not sure misdemeanors is particularly dangerous or sexy.

I'm trying not to get too married to the idea of misdemeanors. My understanding is we don't get a choice of where we get assigned, and misdemeanors takes the fewest newbies.

Appeals might be boring, but I'm sure it would be very useful down the road to have a good grasp of the law. I'm not sure what good things to say about child support...maybe it's the easiest?

It is, and that's one area I would hate to work in; I purposely avoided all the family law courses at my law school because of a case that I saw during an appellate argument. I couldn't do that work for a long period of time.

[Anonymous User]

It is, and that's one area I would hate to work in; I purposely avoided all the family law courses at my law school because of a case that I saw during an appellate argument. I couldn't do that work for a long period of time.

So what happens if you get assigned there, like a good portion of us will be?

[Anonymous User]

I think we are stuck in appeals until we get the opportunity to transfer out. I remember that one of my interviewers said she spent two years in appeals before she was able to transfer out.

[Anonymous User]

There's been a lot higher turnover lately. I think 6 mos - 1 year has been the average for first assignment. And appeals is only 1 of 3 possibilities.

[Anonymous User]

It is, and that's one area I would hate to work in; I purposely avoided all the family law courses at my law school because of a case that I saw during an appellate argument. I couldn't do that work for a long period of time.

So what happens if you get assigned there, like a good portion of us will be?

I believe that the correct course of conduct would be to throw a temper tantrum, possibly knock over a chair for effect. That should do the trick.

[Anonymous User]

Just received my formal offer in the mail. I typed a written acceptance and mailed it as fast as possible! Unfortunately, there is very little information. By the way did everyone see the badges we get? Check it out!

http://www.stonerconnection.com/PAGE%20 ... BADGES.htm

[Anonymous User]

Just received my formal offer in the mail. I typed a written acceptance and mailed it as fast as possible! Unfortunately, there is very little information. By the way did everyone see the badges we get? Check it out!

http://www.stonerconnection.com/PAGE%20 ... BADGES.htm

Are you in-state?

[Anonymous User]

Also just got my offer in the mail. In state. Basically the same info I was told over the phone, plus the addition that they sometimes offer law clerk positions after the bar but are unsure of the situation this year because of the budget.

[Anonymous User]

Just received my formal offer in the mail. I typed a written acceptance and mailed it as fast as possible! Unfortunately, there is very little information. By the way did everyone see the badges we get? Check it out!

http://www.stonerconnection.com/PAGE%20 ... BADGES.htm

Are you in-state?

No I am not in State, but in an adjacent state.

[Anonymous User]

Just received my formal offer in the mail. I typed a written acceptance and mailed it as fast as possible! Unfortunately, there is very little information. By the way did everyone see the badges we get? Check it out!

http://www.stonerconnection.com/PAGE%20 ... BADGES.htm

Badges are pretty sweet!

[Anonymous User]

I just got my first graded exam back from BarBri, and I feel like the grader is full of shit.

[Anonymous User]

I failed my first Barbri essay. It is total crap. I am just going to keep studying and not worry about it.