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Hey all,

I am currently a 2L at a T3. I want to join the military reserves and I know that it is incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to balance a law firm with being an officer. However, I know that government work makes this much easier. I don't want to be in the military forever, but I feel I will regret not going in if I do not. I do not want to do active duty. This leads me to my question:

Do law firms like to hire/ will they hold it against me if I first work at as a prosecutor for a few years while in the reserves and then try and join a firm? Do people do this kind of thing? I currently have a summer associate offer from a firm. Thanks!

BigLaw will be super difficult. Small firm, you might be okay.

No. Don't do this. You have enough against you with coming from a low ranked school. Get an offer from your firm this summer and don't bring this up at all.

Then decide if you would rather be a prosecutor.

I think here T3 = HYS.

OP, it does seem pretty unusual to go from being a prosecutor in the military to big law - the exception is if you prosecute white collar crime, which can lead back to big law criminal defense.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I think here T3 = HYS.

OP, it does seem pretty unusual to go from being a prosecutor in the military to big law - the exception is if you prosecute white collar crime, which can lead back to big law criminal defense.

Oh yeah! Totes a fair point. The trick will be getting into that unit.

Yeah, and I don't think that's much of an option in the military.

It's not.

Also, getting a job as a prosecutor isn't a cakewalk either.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I think here T3 = HYS.

OP, it does seem pretty unusual to go from being a prosecutor in the military to big law - the exception is if you prosecute white collar crime, which can lead back to big law criminal defense.

Sorry OP if I misread your question.
You sound like you don't really know what you want to do. I would be sure to get an offer this summer no matter what else you are considering.

If you are a federal prosecutor (AUSA), law firms will definitely hire you, although it is not as automatic as going through OCI. I have seen plenty of former AUSA's go to white collar or even general lit in big law. Most important is that if you still long enough you can enter big law as "Counsel" or an income Partner (note: paycheck will be nice but IMO this is the worst position in big law because you have to bill hours and bring in new work).

That said, being an AUSA is harder than getting big law. Anyone can go work big law (I've been in it for a couple of years) but becoming an AUSA is difficult. I've been trying to make the jump but no luck. Good luck!

Thanks all! This is super helpful. I'll try and secure my offer and probably end up hanging up my military ambitions. There are definitely worse things.