DA or state AG? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a 2L at a T50 LS that is across the country from my home state, to which I hope to return after graduating. It is a large state (NY, TX, FL, CA...) and I am near the top 1/3 of my class. I have been offered summer employment at a DA in my hometown and the state AG's employment law section in a major metro area nearby. My desired practice area is employment law, which favors the AG, but I feel like the DA gig might lead to more immediate opportunities.

Let's say my ultimate goal would be to work in a small/mid-sized firm or a state/fed agency. Which opportunity would open the most doors after graduation? Which would provide the best practical experience? Your perspectives are much appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

If you want to go criminal/litigation, go DA.

Anything else, go AG.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify- you think the DA would provide better experience for any litigation,including civil litigation, than the AG?

[micwrecka45]

State AG. DA for crim. However, you do say that in your case, the DA route might provide more immediate opportunities. With the way the job market is, that's not something you can really ignore, although it depends on how strong those immediate opps you are referring really are. I worked in a state AG's office, and from what I saw, rarely led to full-time employment at the AG's office.

[Anonymous User]

State AG. DA for crim. However, you do say that in your case, the DA route might provide more immediate opportunities. With the way the job market is, that's not something you can really ignore, although it depends on how strong those immediate opps you are referring really are. I worked in a state AG's office, and from what I saw, rarely led to full-time employment at the AG's office.

Thanks for the response. The immediate opportunities I was referring to are mostly speculative. My thought is that since I have strong ties to the county in which the DA is located and there are more entry-level opportunities at DA offices in general than with the AG, it might be safe to assume that a DA internship would have a greater chance of leading to a permanent job afterward.

That being said, I have never been that passionate about criminal law so even if the DA thing would lead to a job, I would probably try to lateral into a firm or state agency to pursue civil practice after a couple years. If that is my end goal, my thinking is that I should go with the AG instead since it will give me experience in civil litigation and will probably provide more in the way of researching/writing experience.

I guess my dilemma boils down to this: take the internship outside of my interests that provides a greater opportunity at permanent employment, or take the internship that is more aligned with my career goals but offers little in the way of a path to permanent employment?

[Teoeo]

What section of the AGs office would you be working in? Also, what branch of employment law are you interested in? Eg. occupational safety and health, workers comp., unemployment insurance, labor (collective baragaining/unfair labor practices), workplace discrimination, wage and hour.

[Anonymous User]

What section of the AGs office would you be working in? Also, what branch of employment law are you interested in? Eg. occupational safety and health, workers comp., unemployment insurance, labor (collective baragaining/unfair labor practices), workplace discrimination, wage and hour.

The section I would be in is the employment and admin section (defends the state from Title VII claims and equivalent state law claims). To be honest, I haven't narrowed down my interests within employment law all that much. I have taken employment law and labor law courses in school and I think all these topics are interesting, but I think I would most enjoy labor, discrimination, or wage and hour.

[Teoeo]

What section of the AGs office would you be working in? Also, what branch of employment law are you interested in? Eg. occupational safety and health, workers comp., unemployment insurance, labor (collective baragaining/unfair labor practices), workplace discrimination, wage and hour.

The section I would be in is the employment and admin section (defends the state from Title VII claims and equivalent state law claims). To be honest, I haven't narrowed down my interests within employment law all that much. I have taken employment law and labor law courses in school and I think all these topics are interesting, but I think I would most enjoy labor, discrimination, or wage and hour.

Based on this answer, I think you need to go to the AG's office. Your path to employment is as follows:

1. Do the AG this summer and maybe see if you can also participate in a local employment clinic. Many places have those once a week in an evening. For example, in California, VLSP provides a weekly employment law clinic where students work with attorneys in assisting people with employment claims - sometimes even going to hearing.

2. Do some sort of internship your 3L academic year. Make sure it is related to employment law and really try and get hands on experience at administrative hearings.

3. Do a clinic your 3L year, preferably one that gives you the opportunity to do administrative hearings.

4. Cultivate your 2L summer contacts all year, keep up via email. Go out for lunch whenever you are in town, etc.

If you do these things, I think you should be in good shape. In fact, this is pretty much what I did and I currently work for the California government doing employment law. PM me if you have any other questions.