Federal Public Defender question Forum

[Anonymous User]

2L strikeout here weighing the value of a summer position as a law clerk for a Federal Public Defender's office. I currently have an offer for a year-long position (paid over the summer; credits for both 3L semesters). Taking this position seems like it would be a lot of work for relatively little money, but I don't want to say "no" before knowing if this would be a valuable position for me. I have a state COA clerkship lined up after graduation, and my plan is to network during my clerkship and try to land a midsize/big firm in my market, but I would be open to federal public defense in the future.

Does anyone here know anything about Federal Public Defense and have anything to say about working there for a summer (or year)? I would appreciate any input!

[Anonymous User]

Current semester clerk at an FPD office in a major city-- I think it's totally worth it, even for the networking opportunities alone. At least in my office, almost all of the attorneys went to top schools and spent a couple years at a biglaw firm, and are well-known and respected. It is very competitive to get a full-time position there, but one of attorneys I know actually started as a paralegal and was eventually hired. They get to know the AUSAs and private counsel in town well and if you're interested in criminal long-term that could be valuable too.

[Anonymous User]

Current semester clerk at an FPD office in a major city-- I think it's totally worth it, even for the networking opportunities alone. At least in my office, almost all of the attorneys went to top schools and spent a couple years at a biglaw firm, and are well-known and respected. It is very competitive to get a full-time position there, but one of attorneys I know actually started as a paralegal and was eventually hired. They get to know the AUSAs and private counsel in town well and if you're interested in criminal long-term that could be valuable too.

OP here. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am now weighing against an offer from my hometown DA, which sounds more inviting than the FPD. FPD sounds like a good opportunity, but it's hard for me to justify a year of free work with the sole benefit being vague networking opportunities. Plus the chances of actually becoming a FPD are so small. I really appreciate your input!

[abogadesq]

That's a sweet opportunity. IMO, it wouldn't be as fun as a state public defender job since the fed side does so few trials. However, as a poster above has said, there's great networking potential. Plus, just getting your door in the federal government, which is very difficult, is worth it. The pay is also great mid career (I'm thinking 140k or so).

[Anonymous User]

You'd have a better chance of landing a post-grad job with the DA. Most Federal Defenders don't hire straight out of law school. Pretty much every intern from our office wanted a job after graduation, and only person ever got one (as a fellowship attorney, so not permanent job).

Former Assistant Federal Defender who has friends at several other FPD and FCD officers

[Anonymous User]

That's a sweet opportunity. IMO, it wouldn't be as fun as a state public defender job since the fed side does so few trials. However, as a poster above has said, there's great networking potential. Plus, just getting your door in the federal government, which is very difficult, is worth it. The pay is also great mid career (I'm thinking 140k or so).

Yes that is great mid career pay but what are the actual odds of becoming an Assistant? 1 percent? This is what I'm concerned about. I do not doubt that working for the FPD will be great experience but I'm more concerned about post-grad opportunities. It's still a year of my life for networking opportunities, I don't think that's a good trade. But I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences

[dixiecupdrinking]

There are plenty of people who would jump at the opportunity, so if you're not excited about it you should skip it.

[Anonymous User]

There are plenty of people who would jump at the opportunity, so if you're not excited about it you should skip it.

Actually there aren't (at least for this position), because they told me in the interview that they didn't have many applicants. Plus the number of people who "would jump at the opportunity" isn't really a consideration I take into account when deciding whether to take a job.

[abogadesq]

That's a sweet opportunity. IMO, it wouldn't be as fun as a state public defender job since the fed side does so few trials. However, as a poster above has said, there's great networking potential. Plus, just getting your door in the federal government, which is very difficult, is worth it. The pay is also great mid career (I'm thinking 140k or so).

Yes that is great mid career pay but what are the actual odds of becoming an Assistant? 1 percent? This is what I'm concerned about. I do not doubt that working for the FPD will be great experience but I'm more concerned about post-grad opportunities. It's still a year of my life for networking opportunities, I don't think that's a good trade. But I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences

I can't say I know what the chances are of being hired (I was just a state PD). However, you should know that federal public defenders aren't only hired via USAJobs, which tends to be a black hole for job applications. The federal PD has it's own job posting website, and there tend to be a lot of postings: https://www.fd.org/navigation/employment/view-vacancies

Also, do you speak Spanish? That helps tremendously.

[Anonymous User]

That's a sweet opportunity. IMO, it wouldn't be as fun as a state public defender job since the fed side does so few trials. However, as a poster above has said, there's great networking potential. Plus, just getting your door in the federal government, which is very difficult, is worth it. The pay is also great mid career (I'm thinking 140k or so).

Yes that is great mid career pay but what are the actual odds of becoming an Assistant? 1 percent? This is what I'm concerned about. I do not doubt that working for the FPD will be great experience but I'm more concerned about post-grad opportunities. It's still a year of my life for networking opportunities, I don't think that's a good trade. But I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences

I can't say I know what the chances are of being hired (I was just a state PD). However, you should know that federal public defenders aren't only hired via USAJobs, which tends to be a black hole for job applications. The federal PD has it's own job posting website, and there tend to be a lot of postings: https://www.fd.org/navigation/employment/view-vacancies

Also, do you speak Spanish? That helps tremendously.

Yes thank you. I have spent some time on that website while doing my research on FPD. Unfortunately, I don't speak Spanish :/

[dixiecupdrinking]

There are plenty of people who would jump at the opportunity, so if you're not excited about it you should skip it.

Actually there aren't (at least for this position), because they told me in the interview that they didn't have many applicants. Plus the number of people who "would jump at the opportunity" isn't really a consideration I take into account when deciding whether to take a job.

Let me put it differently. You seem to be looking at this primarily as a networking opportunity. If you want to get substantive experience working with really accomplished trial lawyers you should do it. If you're otherwise going to spend the time on school stuff, you should do it. If you might want to be a public defender (state level - pretty sure all FPDs require experience), definitely do it. If you're looking primarily for a way to parlay the experience into connections in a mid/big law firm, ie I presume probably a commercial litigation job, then I think you should skip it.