SEC Spring 2016 Honors Program Forum

[leop]

Has anyone received an offer from the NY Division of Enforcement for the Spring and if so what was your timeline between interview and offer?

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Got an interview invite for the Chicago office today. Not sure if this is worth doing though..unpaid and like 20 hours a week. Does anyone know if this is a worthwhile experience?

[Anonymous User]

I worked at the SEC during the school year last year, it definitely helped a lot in the job search. But I was searching for jobs specifically in the corporate/financial regulation sphere. A the least it just shows commitment to the type of law you want to do. As for if you should do it or not, I was in enforcement, and would not recommend it to anyone. Was incredibly boring and mostly nonlegal work. Lot of preliminary investigation and a decent amount of doc review. If you already have locked down an SA position, then I wouldn't do enforcement.

If you're interested in securities litigation, then I'd try to work at the CFTC instead. There you will actually get litigation experience.

[Anonymous User]

I worked at the SEC during the school year last year, it definitely helped a lot in the job search. But I was searching for jobs specifically in the corporate/financial regulation sphere. A the least it just shows commitment to the type of law you want to do. As for if you should do it or not, I was in enforcement, and would not recommend it to anyone. Was incredibly boring and mostly nonlegal work. Lot of preliminary investigation and a decent amount of doc review. If you already have locked down an SA position, then I wouldn't do enforcement.

If you're interested in securities litigation, then I'd try to work at the CFTC instead. There you will actually get litigation experience.

I want to add several caveats. It's true that Enforcement involves doc review, and it wasn't always exciting. But depending on the office and the relationships you make with the people within it, your experience can vary significantly. Attorneys aren't going to give good work to people they don't know/trust. Also, I'm confused by above anon's statement that his/her work was "mostly nonlegal."

That said, the CHRO has a centralized assignment system for its interns, and you may find developing relationships to receive better work to be challenging. And SEC externships are unpaid, a fact which isn't going to change any time soon.

I recommend externships to everyone, though, because it's better than class. And it's P/F, at least at my school.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear from DC office for interviews, besides Enforcement?

[Anonymous User]

3L here with offer from enforcement (regional office). Am going to V5 corporate after graduation but always wanted to try some litigation work and i still need a few more pro bono hours for the NY bar requirement (which apparently this satisfies). But 15 hours a week for 10 weeks is a pretty hefty commitment, especially since my school doesn't grant credit for externships. have people generally found this to be a worthwhile experience?

[pancakes3]

Anyone hear from DC office for interviews, besides Enforcement?

interviews and offers have gone out for Corp Fin.

[Anonymous User]

Current extern in Div of Enforcement in New York Regional Office - heard supervisors say that offers for the fall are all out, but still waiting on some acceptances.

[Anonymous User]

Did the non-NY regional offices have earlier deadlines than Oct 15/16? Because by the time I checked, the posting specified NY. I could've sworn I saw (indicate your office preferences) in the instructions when I checked a week before that.