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So I am a rising 2L and selecting a place to work for this summer.
My options are either the USAO or in house at master card, both unpaid.

Rising 2L at a T20 with median GPA.
Both internships are unpaid.
Both internships are in the target market (Miami)
I want to get into corporate transactional work after law school.

I need advice please. What would look better on a resume for 2L OCI?

Thank you in advanced!

How is mastercard getting away with not paying you?

BmoreOrLess wrote:How is mastercard getting away with not paying you?

it's an informal internship, basically working under the general counsel

It will make little difference at OCI. It's 1L summer. Do whichever interests you more. Objectively speaking, a corporate internship might be more unique than USAO. Either way they'll definitely ask you about it. If you feel equally about them, I'd do the one that would give you more interesting things to say.

USAO. You'll get some good practical experience and because you shouldn't allow MC to get away with unpaid internships. That's just messed up.

zot1 wrote:USAO. You'll get some good practical experience and because you shouldn't allow MC to get away with unpaid internships. That's just messed up.

it's that the attorney's budget didn't allow for an intern, but at that point I insisted I would do it for free, which is the only reason I got the offer. I'm balancing the experience and OCI benefit I can get out of each. which just "looks" better on a resume

Both look good. If you want to push a litigation narrative at OCI go with the AUSA, if you're aiming for corporate go with the in-house. If you're not sure I would do the in-house, just because tons of people do AUSA so you might get a more interesting conversation out of the mastercard gig. But really either one is fine, if one sounds like more fun to you then do that.

I think I'd probably do the USAO. If it's an 'informal internship' and the GC is knowingly not paying you, they may be weary of giving you actual work since they can't not pay you even if you volunteer. If it was some tiny shop, maybe they could get away with it, but it's fucking mastercard.

Edit: interviewers want to hear about things you actually did. They're not going to care about your opportunity to shadow a GC all summer. Since they're not paying you, there's a good shot that's all you're going to do.

BmoreOrLess wrote:I think I'd probably do the USAO. If it's an 'informal internship' and the GC is knowingly not paying you, they may be weary of giving you actual work since they can't not pay you even if you volunteer. If it was some tiny shop, maybe they could get away with it, but it's fucking mastercard.

Edit: interviewers want to hear about things you actually did. They're not going to care about your opportunity to shadow a GC all summer. Since they're not paying you, there's a good shot that's all you're going to do.

Fair point. Under that supreme court unpaid internship case they legally can't give you work that would normally go to a regular employee, right? AUSA is probably the safer bet.

Plus, wouldn't you qualify for a summer stipend from your school if you worked at the USAO?

Anonymous User wrote:

zot1 wrote:USAO. You'll get some good practical experience and because you shouldn't allow MC to get away with unpaid internships. That's just messed up.

it's that the attorney's budget didn't allow for an intern, but at that point I insisted I would do it for free, which is the only reason I got the offer. I'm balancing the experience and OCI benefit I can get out of each. which just "looks" better on a resume

scottidsntknow wrote:Plus, wouldn't you qualify for a summer stipend from your school if you worked at the USAO?

only if i worked volunteer hours during the year

Anonymous User wrote:

scottidsntknow wrote:Plus, wouldn't you qualify for a summer stipend from your school if you worked at the USAO?

only if i worked volunteer hours during the year

Have you contacted your public service office about it? They might be able to work with you.

BmoreOrLess wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

scottidsntknow wrote:Plus, wouldn't you qualify for a summer stipend from your school if you worked at the USAO?

only if i worked volunteer hours during the year

Have you contacted your public service office about it? They might be able to work with you.

It's actually Emory, they seem strict in giving only those who did the hours the grant.

http://law.emory.edu/careers/public-interest/epic.html

30 EPIC Hours

Ten (10) Hours from outside of the law school
One and a half hours (1.5) from volunteering with the Inspiration Awards

Attend a Public Interest Conference
Attend the Inspiration Awards

Anonymous User wrote:

BmoreOrLess wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

scottidsntknow wrote:Plus, wouldn't you qualify for a summer stipend from your school if you worked at the USAO?

only if i worked volunteer hours during the year

Have you contacted your public service office about it? They might be able to work with you.

It's actually Emory, they seem strict in giving only those who did the hours the grant.

http://law.emory.edu/careers/public-interest/epic.html

30 EPIC Hours

Ten (10) Hours from outside of the law school
One and a half hours (1.5) from volunteering with the Inspiration Awards

Attend a Public Interest Conference
Attend the Inspiration Awards

Of course they're going to sound strict. I'd still reach out to them and ask.

Unpaid MasterCard sounds... fishy. Probably no real consequences, but you should ask if you'll be doing substantive legal work or are you just an "intern" ? Pretty sure there are pretty strict standards for interns doing actual legal work?

I would do USAO. Too much downside risk with MC without any upside. The MC job sounds so sketchy.

Do not accept an unpaid internship from a for profit entity. They're almost certainly breaking the law. Some industries basically require you to do it anyway but you're lucky enough not to be in one! Also, I like my legal employers to have a basic grasp on their own legal obligations.

USAO sounds like it would have more structure to the summer program. Just what would your volunteer duties entail at MasterCard ?

I interned at a USAO and they had a stipend program (I wasn't eligible because I was getting one from my school), but I remember the email they sent out to everyone interning to apply if they were interested/eligible.

Not the same market as you, but maybe see if your has a similar option?

I wouldn't personally do work for a for-profit organization for free.

USAO shows that you were able to out-compete others for a slot.

I want to get into corporate transactional work after law school.

MC