SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office Opening Forum

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone taken a look at the application for the recent SDNY USAO opening?

(Link here: --LinkRemoved--)

They’re asking for drug use background, current job applications outstanding, and status of recent interviews. I’m in biglaw, and I’ve had some USAO interviews lately. I also have applications out to some firms for a potential lateral move. Finally, while I was hardly a druggie, I tried a few drugs a handful of times (probably smoked marijuana 5-10 times, and did cocaine once) a decade ago when I was in high school.

I’d like to apply to this, but holy hell I’d hate to put all of that in writing and submit it to a USAO. I could see the answers getting to the other USAOs I’ve interviewed at. I could also see the answers sticking with me and surfacing at an inopportune time in the future. What does everyone think? I doubt my drug use and application status is out of the ordinary, but putting it in writing and admitting to my past shortfalls and current obvious dislike for my current job and shotgun job-seeking method would be embarrassing.

(I think it’s obvious why this is anonymous, but if mods disagree, please just delete the entire post instead of unmasking me).

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, in my interview with a USAO (for a post-grad job), I was told that the only dealbreaker was post-law school drug use (well, and financial issues that aren't relevant here). I'd be surprised if your background was out of the ordinary or a problem.

And while this is just a hunch, I also don't see that information getting to other USAOs - they're all pretty autonomous. The only point at which their hiring stuff joins a common system, as far as I know, is once you do the background check, which wouldn't be until you'd been offered the job.

As for the job applications, I think you might be overthinking it? Lots of people dislike their jobs and apply all over the place - I don't see how that's in any way embarrassing. Not liking your job and applying widely aren't signs of personal failure. I know people who applied everywhere and moved across the country because that was where they got the AUSA job.

It's certainly asking for a lot of (personal) information, so I can see being concerned/turned off. But I don't think the stuff you mention will be a red flag.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, in my interview with a USAO (for a post-grad job), I was told that the only dealbreaker was post-law school drug use (well, and financial issues that aren't relevant here). I'd be surprised if your background was out of the ordinary or a problem.

And while this is just a hunch, I also don't see that information getting to other USAOs - they're all pretty autonomous. The only point at which their hiring stuff joins a common system, as far as I know, is once you do the background check, which wouldn't be until you'd been offered the job.

As for the job applications, I think you might be overthinking it? Lots of people dislike their jobs and apply all over the place - I don't see how that's in any way embarrassing. Not liking your job and applying widely aren't signs of personal failure. I know people who applied everywhere and moved across the country because that was where they got the AUSA job.

It's certainly asking for a lot of (personal) information, so I can see being concerned/turned off. But I don't think the stuff you mention will be a red flag.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure it isn't out of the ordinary, but I've tried to start this application 3 times and I stopped and deleted it each time. I'm a marginal candidate as it is, so I think the drug use from a decade ago, plus disclosing that I'm interviewing at USAOs across the country and applying to firms across the country would only serve to sink my application. Clearly my answer to "why New York" will seem contrived if I admit I'm also interviewing in (say) Washington DC, Dallas, and San Francisco.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, in my interview with a USAO (for a post-grad job), I was told that the only dealbreaker was post-law school drug use (well, and financial issues that aren't relevant here). I'd be surprised if your background was out of the ordinary or a problem.

And while this is just a hunch, I also don't see that information getting to other USAOs - they're all pretty autonomous. The only point at which their hiring stuff joins a common system, as far as I know, is once you do the background check, which wouldn't be until you'd been offered the job.

As for the job applications, I think you might be overthinking it? Lots of people dislike their jobs and apply all over the place - I don't see how that's in any way embarrassing. Not liking your job and applying widely aren't signs of personal failure. I know people who applied everywhere and moved across the country because that was where they got the AUSA job.

It's certainly asking for a lot of (personal) information, so I can see being concerned/turned off. But I don't think the stuff you mention will be a red flag.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure it isn't out of the ordinary, but I've tried to start this application 3 times and I stopped and deleted it each time. I'm a marginal candidate as it is, so I think the drug use from a decade ago, plus disclosing that I'm interviewing at USAOs across the country and applying to firms across the country would only serve to sink my application. Clearly my answer to "why New York" will seem contrived if I admit I'm also interviewing in (say) Washington DC, Dallas, and San Francisco.

I don't know about the drug use, but I honestly don't think ties are as important for USAOs as for firms. Where I am, there are a LOT of locals (in part because it hires heavily out of the local DA's office), but there are also people (like me) who had no connection to the area at all, and went there for the job. I think you can make a convincing argument that you're following the work and that you're willing to go where you can get the best work experience possible/wherever you can get an AUSA gig. (Firms might be harder to explain, I suppose.)

I guess it seems to me that yeah, you may not get the job, but you definitely won't get it if you don't apply, and if you do apply and don't get it, the information's just going to go into the trash - it's not going to hurt your applications anywhere else. (I also suspect some of the questions about where you're interviewing are looking for conflicts info as much as anything else.)

But if you can't bring yourself to send in the form, I get that. I don't think it would hurt you, but applications can be emotionally weird.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, in my interview with a USAO (for a post-grad job), I was told that the only dealbreaker was post-law school drug use (well, and financial issues that aren't relevant here). I'd be surprised if your background was out of the ordinary or a problem.

And while this is just a hunch, I also don't see that information getting to other USAOs - they're all pretty autonomous. The only point at which their hiring stuff joins a common system, as far as I know, is once you do the background check, which wouldn't be until you'd been offered the job.

As for the job applications, I think you might be overthinking it? Lots of people dislike their jobs and apply all over the place - I don't see how that's in any way embarrassing. Not liking your job and applying widely aren't signs of personal failure. I know people who applied everywhere and moved across the country because that was where they got the AUSA job.

It's certainly asking for a lot of (personal) information, so I can see being concerned/turned off. But I don't think the stuff you mention will be a red flag.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure it isn't out of the ordinary, but I've tried to start this application 3 times and I stopped and deleted it each time. I'm a marginal candidate as it is, so I think the drug use from a decade ago, plus disclosing that I'm interviewing at USAOs across the country and applying to firms across the country would only serve to sink my application. Clearly my answer to "why New York" will seem contrived if I admit I'm also interviewing in (say) Washington DC, Dallas, and San Francisco.

I don't know about the drug use, but I honestly don't think ties are as important for USAOs as for firms. Where I am, there are a LOT of locals (in part because it hires heavily out of the local DA's office), but there are also people (like me) who had no connection to the area at all, and went there for the job. I think you can make a convincing argument that you're following the work and that you're willing to go where you can get the best work experience possible/wherever you can get an AUSA gig. (Firms might be harder to explain, I suppose.)

I guess it seems to me that yeah, you may not get the job, but you definitely won't get it if you don't apply, and if you do apply and don't get it, the information's just going to go into the trash - it's not going to hurt your applications anywhere else. (I also suspect some of the questions about where you're interviewing are looking for conflicts info as much as anything else.)

But if you can't bring yourself to send in the form, I get that. I don't think it would hurt you, but applications can be emotionally weird.

Really? I had heard the opposite--e.g., "why do you want to represent this community, and not the one you're from." It probably depends on the goals of the people involved with hiring.

[Anonymous User]

Is this office still hiring? Anyone have any details?

[Anonymous User]

marijuana leaves ur system after 1-3 months for urine test, and after 6 months-2 years for hair test.

I wouldn't worry about any drug use a decade ago if its not on your record (by getting busted). If it is on your record, disclose it.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

How hard is this kind of job to get? I assume harder than big law, but what are the typical characteristics of someone they hire?