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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?

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.

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