USDOJ Honors or Biglaw? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

I'll be graduating with relatively little ($20k) debt so money isn't a deciding factor.

[rpupkin]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

[lavarman84]

Yep. You're crazy.

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

[Lacepiece23]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

Then you are absolutely crazy to turn down USDOJ honors.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Why is it nuts?

[rpupkin]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

Why do you think the bolded is more likely to happen at a law firm than in a trial division of DOJ? I just can't even begin to grasp where you're coming from. (I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just trying to understand what you're possibly thinking here.)

[Lacepiece23]

OP here. Why is it nuts?

Substantive trial experience early on, probably gain way more skills then in biglaw, most likely way better hours, although there are exceptions, steady federal job, fulfilling career rather than defending corporations, less hierarchy, good chance at actually being a lawyer in short.

[rpupkin]

OP here. Why is it nuts?

Substantive trial experience early on, probably gain way more skills then in biglaw, most likely way better hours, although there are exceptions, steady federal job, fulfilling career rather than defending corporations, less hierarchy, good chance at actually being a lawyer in short.

Not to mention better opportunities in big law if that's what OP ultimately wants.

[Yukos]

Not to mention the only real advantage of big law -- the salary -- seems to be irrelevant to you based on your debt load and your priorities.

[pancakes3]

Bro probably has clerking credentials if he's sleepwalking his way into 3L offers and DOJ honors

[TheSpanishMain]

Isn't this a little premature until you actually get the DOJ offer? As of right now it's just an interview

[lapolicia]

Isn't this a little premature until you actually get the DOJ offer? As of right now it's just an interview

Seriously. Very few people who interview for honors actually get a offer.

[ArtistOfManliness]

Not to mention the only real advantage of big law -- the salary -- seems to be irrelevant to you based on your debt load and your priorities.

Agreed. I like money too much, but if I didn't, I'd do DOJ over big law in a heartbeat.

(But also, hella premature. But I wouldn't expect to turn down a DOJ offer and get another one...)

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

Why do you think the bolded is more likely to happen at a law firm than in a trial division of DOJ? I just can't even begin to grasp where you're coming from. (I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just trying to understand what you're possibly thinking here.)

I'm starting at Quinn. They seem to offer associates more hands-on experience than would be available elsewhere as a young associate.

[rpupkin]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

Why do you think the bolded is more likely to happen at a law firm than in a trial division of DOJ? I just can't even begin to grasp where you're coming from. (I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just trying to understand what you're possibly thinking here.)

I'm starting at Quinn. They seem to offer associates more hands-on experience than would be available elsewhere as a young associate.

173

[Anonymous User]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

What are your career goals?

I don't know. I just want to learn to be a good litigator, do interesting work, have enough money to live comfortably. I don't dream of becoming a judge or a US Attorney or a partner. This is all just a job for me.

Why do you think the bolded is more likely to happen at a law firm than in a trial division of DOJ? I just can't even begin to grasp where you're coming from. (I'm not trying to insult you. I'm just trying to understand what you're possibly thinking here.)

I'm starting at Quinn. They seem to offer associates more hands-on experience than would be available elsewhere as a young associate.

173

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[Yukos]

Damn we got played.

[TheSpanishMain]

Isn't this a little premature until you actually get the DOJ offer? As of right now it's just an interview

Seriously. Very few people who interview for honors actually get a offer.

Yeah always wondered what the interview/offer rate was for DOJ. Presumably it's not insanely bad for the applicant since the government is paying for people to travel. They wouldn't pay 20 airfares and hotel stays for 1 vacancy.

[Yukos]

Isn't this a little premature until you actually get the DOJ offer? As of right now it's just an interview

Seriously. Very few people who interview for honors actually get a offer.

Yeah always wondered what the interview/offer rate was for DOJ. Presumably it's not insanely bad for the applicant since the government is paying for people to travel. They wouldn't pay 20 airfares and hotel stays for 1 vacancy.

How do you think we got this deficit bro?

[Anonymous User]

Isn't this a little premature until you actually get the DOJ offer? As of right now it's just an interview

Seriously. Very few people who interview for honors actually get a offer.

Yeah always wondered what the interview/offer rate was for DOJ. Presumably it's not insanely bad for the applicant since the government is paying for people to travel. They wouldn't pay 20 airfares and hotel stays for 1 vacancy.

I think it usually ranges from something like 3.5-5 interviewees per vacancy, with more flexibility allotted to components/offices with only a handful (e.g., 1-2) of slots. This doesn't account for overlap between components. As a percentage, I think getting the interview at all is more "difficult," although presumably come interviews applicants are more qualified.

For example, career services let us know that in 2014 the Criminal Division considered 800 applicants, conducted 36 interviews, and made 8 offers.

[grand inquisitor]

above is correct iirc

[nealric]

Just accepted a biglaw position at a V20 firm for after I graduate. I didn't summer with them, but they seem nice enough.

Today I got invited to interview for USDOJ honors (criminal trial and one of the specialty groups). Am I crazy to turn down the honors program?

I'll be graduating with relatively little ($20k) debt so money isn't a deciding factor.

Eh... I don't think it's necessarily an obvious choice. I did DOJ SLIP but ended up starting my career in biglaw. Overall, I enjoyed working for the DOJ, and I enjoyed the people, but there are some definite downsides to working for the government: relatively shabby offices, budget cuts, poor support staff. And not every case the DOJ works on is high profile or even remotely interesting. The upside is that the attorneys were fantastic and the atmosphere a lot more laid back than biglaw (of course, much better hours too).

Pay is a real issue. Biglaw literally pays triple the DOJ. Even if you aren't all about money, that's a tough difference to ignore. Of course, DOJ offers far better job security.