U.S. Attorney Paralegal or Lawyer? Forum

[M_Baker0324]

Hi everyone, I really need some advice.

I'm graduating from a 3T law school in December (NY). I'm currently employed and planned on taking the Florida Bar in February. I would then look for a job as an attorney in FL.

PROBLEM: I was offered a position as a Paralegal with the U.S. Attorneys Office (in NY). I will not be afforded time off to Study for the February bar and the position requires a 2 year commitment.

MY QUESTION: Should i accept the position? I would be agreeing to not practice law for another 2 years and to forgo the Bar exam in February (i'm worried i may not pass if I study while working full time) Overall, i'm wondering whether the Paralegal position with the U.S. attorneys office would be enough of a benefit to forgo practicing for another 2 years. I'm graduating from a T3 school so my employment prospects are not ideal. Would accepting this position help my prospects in the future? Should I continue with my original plan of graduating, taking the bar (my current job will give me time off and will allow me to work until I find a job in FL) and looking for work in FL, or should I accept the Paralegal position?

Is a Paralegal Position with the U.S. attorneys office really worth it??

I'd really appreciate some advice!

[CanadianWolf]

What are your other options ?

Bilingual (English/Spanish) ?

Bar exams are competency exams, not competitive tests so don't worry about passing a bar exam a couple of years after graduation from law school.

[Desert Fox]

[CanadianWolf]

Because OP has no other offers & hasn't taken a bar exam yet ?

[anyriotgirl]

Because OP has no other offers & hasn't taken a bar exam yet ?

they typically hire (hot) 22 year olds with BAs

it seems really weird to me that they would even extend an offer to someone with a JD

also, OP, it is likely that you will be employed through a contractor, not the actual government, so this won't count towards PSLF

[zot1]

First, many people who work full time pass the bar (though most take the two weeks before the exam off).

Second, to answer your question, ask yourself how important it is for you to practice law? If the answer is highly, then keep looking.

[TheSpanishMain]

You really want to try to live on what is probably a GS7 salary in NY?

[Djmcnulty]

Given, I am a veteran and technically an "intern", I am still a paralegal in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office 3-5days a week full time. The catch is that I'm still only an undergrad. I'm the 1in a million to get a opportunity like this so I don't want to portray their paralegals as anything not to be respected. They really do take top quality PL's but I don't think it will reflect well at all for a law school graduate to take the job. I think big firms and agencies will see it as a lack in quality in some aspect of you as a candidate.

I know this is a little old so I hope you found something better. Guess this is for anyone out there now in the weak market.

[zot1]

Given, I am a veteran and technically an "intern", I am still a paralegal in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office 3-5days a week full time. The catch is that I'm still only an undergrad. I'm the 1in a million to get a opportunity like this so I don't want to portray their paralegals as anything not to be respected. They really do take top quality PL's but I don't think it will reflect well at all for a law school graduate to take the job. I think big firms and agencies will see it as a lack in quality in some aspect of you as a candidate.

I know this is a little old so I hope you found something better. Guess this is for anyone out there now in the weak market.

Welcome to the forum! You're not supposed to post here though.

[Anonymous User]

Given, I am a veteran and technically an "intern", I am still a paralegal in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office 3-5days a week full time. The catch is that I'm still only an undergrad. I'm the 1in a million to get a opportunity like this so I don't want to portray their paralegals as anything not to be respected. They really do take top quality PL's but I don't think it will reflect well at all for a law school graduate to take the job. I think big firms and agencies will see it as a lack in quality in some aspect of you as a candidate.

I know this is a little old so I hope you found something better. Guess this is for anyone out there now in the weak market.

Welcome to the forum! You're not supposed to post here though.

Why not?

[SFSpartan]

Given, I am a veteran and technically an "intern", I am still a paralegal in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office 3-5days a week full time. The catch is that I'm still only an undergrad. I'm the 1in a million to get a opportunity like this so I don't want to portray their paralegals as anything not to be respected. They really do take top quality PL's but I don't think it will reflect well at all for a law school graduate to take the job. I think big firms and agencies will see it as a lack in quality in some aspect of you as a candidate.

I know this is a little old so I hope you found something better. Guess this is for anyone out there now in the weak market.

Welcome to the forum! You're not supposed to post here though.

Why not?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=170603

[fauxpsych]

Lawyer. Every time.

Are you currently employed as a paralegal? Is that how you got this offer?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Welcome to the forum! You're not supposed to post here though.

Why not?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=170603

To be fair, 0Ls aren't allowed to ask questions here. If they answer questions they run the risk of being banned for trolling. And I really really discourage 0Ls from answering questions about law based on their employment in other fields or what they think makes sense, especially if they don't make clear that they are a 0L. But having direct experience in a USAO makes answering this question reasonable.

(I know we haven't always been as clear about this as we could have been.)

[zot1]

Welcome to the forum! You're not supposed to post here though.

Why not?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=170603

To be fair, 0Ls aren't allowed to ask questions here. If they answer questions they run the risk of being banned for trolling. And I really really discourage 0Ls from answering questions about law based on their employment in other fields or what they think makes sense, especially if they don't make clear that they are a 0L. But having direct experience in a USAO makes answering this question reasonable.

(I know we haven't always been as clear about this as we could have been.)

*Grabs bottle of bourbon and leaves room*