AUSA position (please do not quote) Forum

[StarchedWhiteCollar]

Hi all,

I'm currently a district court clerk in a flyover--but desirable--location, coming straight from law school. There is the potential for me to fill one of the open AUSA criminal positions in the district after finishing my clerkship. I'm wondering whether doing so would be a good career move.

My end goal is white collar work, preferably in big law, at least for a time. Here are my considerations: (1) I do not ultimately want to remain in the jurisdiction to practice; (2) the criminal cases here mostly involve guns, drugs, and other violent crimes, not white collar (also to be clear, not a border district where I'd be doing mass immigration all day); and (3) I currently have a biglaw offer.

Clearly, I could just take the biglaw offer now and angle for white collar work. At the same time I'm torn because I think working as a federal prosecutor would be an amazing experience. But I'm also concerned that biglaw firms would not be eager to bring me on after 4 to 5 years of practice.

Thoughts?

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE

[Br3v]

(1) Federal prosecutor sounds pretty cool, let alone one who does gun and drug crimes all day...

(2) Off of no research and just my gut, I think biglaw lit would have no problem taking you after a few years experience as a mid level

(3) I think it comes down to whether you can afford it and would be happy in the jurisdiction

[A. Nony Mouse]

I've moved this to Legal Employment, because I think it's a more appropriate question for that forum, and also people can respond anonymously, which may help get you more responses. I'll move it back if you would prefer.

[StarchedWhiteCollar]

Yeah, makes more sense here. Thanks for the move!

[zot1]

Just take the big law offer. You won't be able to get into BigLaw white collar with a violent crimes experience. It's also a lot more difficult to go AUSA -> BigLaw than the opposite.

[Lexaholik]

Take the AUSA position.

You really have few options in Biglaw white collar without AUSA experience. I used to work in the white collar department of a V5 and the ratio/structure on cases is basically 2 former AUSAs, 1 partner (with no AUSA experience), and like 10+ associates. The former AUSAs did all the substantive work, and the partner + associates all dealt with coordinating and doing document reviews, etc. So while yes you can become a white collar attorney, you'll be relegated to doing BS tasks. Clients want to see that their white collar defense attorney has prosecutorial experience. Imagine you were being investigated by the govt--wouldn't you prefer your lawyer to have AUSA experience?

Also, if you head to Biglaw, you'll probably be forced to do lots of non-white collar work. They might tell you now that you can do white collar work but Biglaw is notorious for baiting & switching prospective employees. (e.g. summer associate programs)

Biglaw's hiring model is exactly to hire former AUSAs who have worked there for 5-10+ years. So that won't hurt you. It doesn't really matter that much what you actually prosecute. It's helpful if you work on white collar type cases but working on guns & drugs won't hurt you. Biglaw will still be able to pitch your resume and government experience to clients. (Being a former AUSA is important from a marketing perspective.)

One last thing I'd add is that AUSA spots are elusive. Once you see an opportunity, you gotta pursue it with all you got. I have some friends and former co-clerks with impeccable credentials (e.g. they clerked for my judge who was himself a former chief in the local USAO) who were rejected the first few times they applied. There were 20+ legitimate contenders for the single position when it opened up. We're talking SCOTUS clerks, YLS grads, V5 associates with 5+ years of experience, etc. So unless you have strong reasons to not go for it (personal reasons or the like) I say you gotta go for it with all you got.

[StarchedWhiteCollar]

Zot1 and Lexaholik, you are taking opposing positions on biglaw after AUSA. Is either of you speaking from first-hand knowledge? If not, does anyone else have any first-hand knowledge?

Thank you to everyone who has chimed in so far.

[zot1]

My first hand knowledge is very limited. I got the general info from speaking with a handful of BigLaw associates and one AUSA.

Strictly California market.

Perhaps this will help you get better opinions.

[Anonymous User]

Go for the AUSA position and don't look back. Don't worry about initially starting in a position that doesn't give you white collar experience. The fed government gives their employees ample opportunity to move around and apply for different positions. You may start in a violent crimes section, but you can easily end up somewhere else later. Good luck.

[Lexaholik]

Zot1 and Lexaholik, you are taking opposing positions on biglaw after AUSA. Is either of you speaking from first-hand knowledge? If not, does anyone else have any first-hand knowledge?

Thank you to everyone who has chimed in so far.

Like I said in my post, I used to work in a Biglaw white collar practice and I have friends who are AUSAs. That's the basis for my advice. You don't have to take my word for it--go ask around in real life and see what people say.

[dixiecupdrinking]

If you want to do white collar big law work long term (i.e. make partner), an AUSA or other government enforcement stint is basically a prerequisite. And those jobs are hard to get out of big law. You basically have an opportunity now that you would be lucky to get in five years if you went to the firm, and which is all but necessary to progress at the firm. In other words, take the AUSA job. I get that your cases won't deal substantively with the ideal subject matter but a bird in the hand....

[baal hadad]

Take the ausa position

U may never get another shot