2L: Small Firm v. Gov Agency Forum

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2L: Small Firm v. Gov Agency

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Feb 22, 2014 12:51 am

I'm a 2L at a school ranked in the 50s-70s in a large city (NY, LA, CHI). Ranked in the top 25% (just outside of top 20%). I'd ideally like to practice commercial/business litigation at a large/medium size firm in the secondary market that I am from. I haven't been able to get a summer position at a firm in my hometown.

I have an offer from a small firm (5-8 attorneys) near school which primarily does civil defense litigation. They also do some administrative law, criminal defense, and real estate work. It is a paid position and is part-time this semester + full time during the summer. Should give me good litigation experience.

I also have an offer at a large federal government agency. I am also waiting to hear back from a few I have interviewed with. (DOL, FDIC, USAO, etc.). These are unpaid.

My options are either to take the small firm offer, keeping pursuing the federal government offers, or keep looking for a firm/in-house counsel position in the secondary market that I am from. I've been networking as much as possibly in my home city and have a few places that said I can interview next year for a full-time position. Given my goals of returning to the secondary market to do commercial lit at a medium sized firm, should I accept the small firm offer?

Nebby

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Re: 2L: Small Firm v. Gov Agency

Post by Nebby » Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:33 am

Those fed agencies are great for 1L summer, but I'd recommend the small firm for 2L if your endgame is to return to your secondary market and work at a firm there. The experience you'll gain from the small firm will be much, much more relevant than BigFed. Unless you happen to have firms in your secondary area that do a lot of regulatory work--but even then the small firm is probably better.

rad lulz

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Re: 2L: Small Firm v. Gov Agency

Post by rad lulz » Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:24 pm

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