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alright so here's my situation. I'm top 1/3 at a T2, so nothing stellar. I had a few OCI screeners but realizing those are likely to not come through, I've been applying to smaller boutique firms because I am constantly in fear of not being employed (I'm a rising 2L). Because of that I apply to anything and everything on a daily basis, whether its an area I'm interested in or not. I have an offer from a boutique firm to begin working this semester and potentially indefinitely, buts its a criminal defense firm which is the one area of law I never ever want to practice. The problem is I feel like I don't have the luxury to be picky since I'm not a top student. But I know I will be miserable doing this type of work. Do I turn it down and keep hope for at least smaller firms in areas I want to practice in? Or am i completely crazy to turn a job down at all?

Anonymous User wrote:alright so here's my situation. I'm top 1/3 at a T2, so nothing stellar. I had a few OCI screeners but realizing those are likely to not come through, I've been applying to smaller boutique firms because I am constantly in fear of not being employed (I'm a rising 2L). Because of that I apply to anything and everything on a daily basis, whether its an area I'm interested in or not. I have an offer from a boutique firm to begin working this semester and potentially indefinitely, buts its a criminal defense firm which is the one area of law I never ever want to practice. The problem is I feel like I don't have the luxury to be picky since I'm not a top student. But I know I will be miserable doing this type of work. Do I turn it down and keep hope for at least smaller firms in areas I want to practice in? Or am i completely crazy to turn a job down at all?

crazy to turn it down

Can't you take the criminal defense position and then continue looking for a 2LSA? Are you unwilling to work in criminal defense for moral/ethical issues or just because you have no interest? If it's the latter, I would strongly consider taking the job anyways to gain the skills/potential reference for another job in the future, you might end up liking it. It just doesn't sound like taking the job and continuing to look for something else are necessarily mutually exclusive. Also grades + school rank sounds like crazy not to take it.

Crazy not to take it. Top 1/3 at a T2 can easily be unemployed after graduation. If you think this can help you get a real job after graduation you can't turn it down.

Its possible to do criminal defense and switch to something else later down the line. If you build actual litigation skills those can be useful in other practice areas. Taking a criminal defense job for the semester, or 2L summer, or even after graduation won't confine you to criminal defense forever. It might keep you out of biglaw or midlaw, but you're pretty much out of that anyways.

mommalee wrote:Can't you take the criminal defense position and then continue looking for a 2LSA? Are you unwilling to work in criminal defense for moral/ethical issues or just because you have no interest? If it's the latter, I would strongly consider taking the job anyways to gain the skills/potential reference for another job in the future, you might end up liking it. It just doesn't sound like taking the job and continuing to look for something else are necessarily mutually exclusive. Also grades + school rank sounds like crazy not to take it.

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