Moving from Public Interest to Firm Work? Forum

girlinlaw8 · Post by **girlinlaw8** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:43 pm

Does anyone have any experience on transitioning from public interest work one summer to firm work the next? I'm clerking for a chief deputy at a public office in a major market right now, but I've realized I'm not interested in public interest for a future career. It's been a valuable experience, but will I get looked over at firms for post-2L opportunities because I didn't take a firm job this summer? I'm not interested in biglaw, would be really happy at a medium sized firm. Any advice?

rad lulz · Post by **rad lulz** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:53 pm

girlinlaw8 wrote:Does anyone have any experience on transitioning from public interest work one summer to firm work the next? I'm clerking for a chief deputy at a public office in a major market right now, but I've realized I'm not interested in public interest for a future career. It's been a valuable experience, but will I get looked over at firms for post-2L opportunities because I didn't take a firm job this summer? I'm not interested in biglaw, would be really happy at a medium sized firm. Any advice?

Do you have any specific reason you want to work at a firm other than just not liking the govt?

girlinlaw8 · Post by **girlinlaw8** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:07 pm

I think it would be a better fit. I'm not too interested in being in the courtroom nearly everyday, legal writing has been a strong point for me, and I also did well in Property and Contracts this past year (and actually enjoyed the two, unlike many of my classmates). I could see myself really enjoying real estate or business law.

rad lulz · Post by **rad lulz** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:24 pm

girlinlaw8 wrote:I think it would be a better fit. I'm not too interested in being in the courtroom nearly everyday, legal writing has been a strong point for me, and I also did well in Property and Contracts this past year (and actually enjoyed the two, unlike many of my classmates). I could see myself really enjoying real estate or business law.

Oh you want to do transactions

I don't know a lot about that transition from a firsthand perspective but from my own 3L job search experience it will be hard to say you want to do transactions if you don't have any previous transactional experience.

You effectively don't have a lot to "sell" to an employer without it

Incidentally writing up leases and whatnot is VERY different than the memos and whatnot you wrote in legal writing

Myself · Post by **Myself** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:25 pm

girlinlaw8 · Post by **girlinlaw8** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:43 pm

I'm in the top 20% of my class. May be moving up more too depending on transfers. Transactional work would be great, but I know I need some experience first. I would be happy dipping into tax, real estate, commercial, etc. in a firm. I'm sure I'm going to have to work hard to promote myself regardless though because of lack of experience.

Myself · Post by **Myself** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:47 pm

girlinlaw8 · Post by **girlinlaw8** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:27 pm

Sadly a TTTT. That's why I'm being realistic in not shooting for biglaw haha. I would be happy to work in a midlaw firm and plan to look in mid-markets near my school that other graduates have had pretty good luck in.

rad lulz · Post by **rad lulz** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:28 pm

girlinlaw8 wrote:Sadly a TTTT. That's why I'm being realistic in not shooting for biglaw haha. I would be happy to work in a midlaw firm and plan to look in mid-markets near my school that other graduates have had pretty good luck in.

Shit from most TTTTs a midlaw firm would be an INSANELY good outcome

Don't get your hopes up

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