DA v Small Firm Forum

[Anonymous User]

Jobless above median 3L @ a T1

For the spring I’ve got two options:

work 20 hours/ week at a small firm who says they are looking to hire someone and if I’m a good fit they’ll hire me after I pass the bar, but not really what I want to do

15 hours/week at the DA offices in the large county in which my school is located. I would work as an ADA if I had the chance

In terms of post grad employment, which is better. The small firm is a shit litigation firm and I’ve woeked at two other lit firms. I have 0 experience with crim law. Would a Spring semester internship with a DA’s office be enough to convince DA offices that I have an interest in crim law? I’ve taken a few crim classes but no work experience in the area and no mock trial/moot court

[kyle1978]

Jobless above median 3L @ a T1

For the spring I’ve got two options:

work 20 hours/ week at a small firm who says they are looking to hire someone and if I’m a good fit they’ll hire me after I pass the bar, but not really what I want to do

15 hours/week at the DA offices in the large county in which my school is located. I would work as an ADA if I had the chance

In terms of post grad employment, which is better. The small firm is a shit litigation firm and I’ve woeked at two other lit firms. I have 0 experience with crim law. Would a Spring semester internship with a DA’s office be enough to convince DA offices that I have an interest in crim law? I’ve taken a few crim classes but no work experience in the area and no mock trial/moot court

I'd go with the DA office. You've got a demonstrated interest in litigation and the DA experience will show offices of some commitment. Next step is for them to like you and trust you to hold your own in court.

[ggocat]

Go with the DA if that's where you'd prefer to end up. Yes, a 3L internship will be enough to demonstrate your interest.

If you're just looking for a post-grad job period, then you need to inquire of whether the DA regularly hires interns.

[deadpanic]

I would go with the DA as well. It's no guarantee of a job (neither is the small firm, though), but it is usually a pre-requisite to ever working at most DA offices. You will also probably get better experience.

[Anonymous User]

OP here

Thanks for the input. Any further advice is appreciated.

[mcmand]

DA. Why do a job you have no interest in at the small firm? If it's only being considered because you're afraid the DA plan won't work out, I advise you to take a risk here. It's not a massive risk, there are decent odds it could work out.

Do what you want to do.

[Anonymous User]

The only thing that concerns me is difficulty in getting a job. I figure the firm at least gives me the chance of having a job at graduation whereas DA doesn’t.

Is a barely above median t1 3L really in a position to do what he/she wants to do?

[mcmand]

The only thing that concerns me is difficulty in getting a job. I figure the firm at least gives me the chance of having a job at graduation whereas DA doesn’t.

Is a barely above median t1 3L really in a position to do what he/she wants to do?

If you make that kind of compromise at every juncture in your career you'll end up hating your career.

Maybe there's something about your DA I don't know, but based on my knowledge of DAs near my law school, they like to hire former interns, and the internship demonstrates interest in their work. Even if it's not that DA, it can set you up for another one nearby. No, they haven't dangled out the possibility of a job explicitly like the small firm, but I'd say the odds are similar. Small firms back out of those commitments all the time. It happened to a friend of mine.

Take the risk for a job you want, not for a job you don't want. You'll work harder/better at your internship because of your genuine interest, which will increase your chances, too, assuming you're reasonably competent and learn from feedback.

[dudders]

You'll likely get more substantive lit experience in DA's office, especially if it's a student practice act position and you'll actually be handling cases rather than just doing research in the office or something.

(I interned in a DA's office, and the law student interns ran an entire minor traffic division in the courthouse with basically no supervision. It was awesome. When I worked at a small firm in law school, I sat in a windowless office all day doing westlaw research and trying not to fall asleep.)

If you don't really WANT to be at the small firm, don't let the possibility of working there sway you at this point. Shitlaw will always continue to be a possibility. A DA internship with really substantive experience is helpful not just if you want to prosecute, but looks good on a civil lit resume, too.

[Anonymous User]

Appreciate all the input. Turns out I can get class credit for the DA’s office so that makes it an easier decision