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I am about to be a state prosecutor this fall. If you are a State/County Prosecutor in a large city like NYC, Chi, LA, Miami and are looking to become an AUSA in your city or at least be competitive to go to flyover country or smaller cities, would it benefit you to get an LLM in taxation (or something else)?

Prosecutors in my office will normally have misdemeanors and felonies of drugs, assaults, etc., but the white collar cases are few and far between. If AUSAs are working on white collar cases, would an LLM in Tax (or something else) be a plus for federal offices? I am thinking of just doing night classes so I would get my LLM by about my 4th year as a prosecutor. I don't know a thing about the *fancy* white collar stuff of mortgage or securities fraud, tax evasion--I just know the more kinetic crimes that state prosecutors handle.

FYI--I don't mind the night classes or cost. The plan would be to apply for AUSA positions with an LLM and 2-4 years as a state prosecutor.

Former prosecutor in one of those cities here. LLM won’t help you at all for AUSA spots. It’s best to try to network your way in and try to move into a specialized unit that prosecutes the types of crimes AUSAs focus on.

Agreed. I’m an AUSA and I’ve never met an AUSA with an LLM. Also an LLM in tax is going to be way too specialized - I don’t know if those programs really address the criminal side of tax, but even if they do, you’d be more competitive for the Tax Division in DOJ than an AUSA position. (Keep in mind that of course you have to understand tax statutes but the IRS agents are generally EXCELLENT and are going to be the people actually delving into someone’s tax returns and telling you what’s in them).

Don’t undersell the value of state felonies - it depends on the USAO but understanding drug crimes and gun crimes is still going to be really helpful. And getting into court and doing trials (keeping in mind there are differences between federal/state) is going to be really valuable regardless of the nature of the case.

(Yes, some offices prefer to hire out of biglaw and don’t like to hire out of state prosecution offices, but that’s by no means all offices. And getting an LLM isn’t going to make up for not having a biglaw pedigree if you don’t already have one.)

OP here: Thanks! That was helpful.

Anonymous User wrote:I am about to be a state prosecutor this fall. If you are a State/County Prosecutor in a large city like NYC, Chi, LA, Miami and are looking to become an AUSA in your city or at least be competitive to go to flyover country or smaller cities, would it benefit you to get an LLM in taxation (or something else)?

Prosecutors in my office will normally have misdemeanors and felonies of drugs, assaults, etc., but the white collar cases are few and far between. If AUSAs are working on white collar cases, would an LLM in Tax (or something else) be a plus for federal offices? I am thinking of just doing night classes so I would get my LLM by about my 4th year as a prosecutor. I don't know a thing about the *fancy* white collar stuff of mortgage or securities fraud, tax evasion--I just know the more kinetic crimes that state prosecutors handle.

FYI--I don't mind the night classes or cost. The plan would be to apply for AUSA positions with an LLM and 2-4 years as a state prosecutor.

“No” is the credited response, here.

objctnyrhnr wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I am about to be a state prosecutor this fall. If you are a State/County Prosecutor in a large city like NYC, Chi, LA, Miami and are looking to become an AUSA in your city or at least be competitive to go to flyover country or smaller cities, would it benefit you to get an LLM in taxation (or something else)?

Prosecutors in my office will normally have misdemeanors and felonies of drugs, assaults, etc., but the white collar cases are few and far between. If AUSAs are working on white collar cases, would an LLM in Tax (or something else) be a plus for federal offices? I am thinking of just doing night classes so I would get my LLM by about my 4th year as a prosecutor. I don't know a thing about the *fancy* white collar stuff of mortgage or securities fraud, tax evasion--I just know the more kinetic crimes that state prosecutors handle.

FYI--I don't mind the night classes or cost. The plan would be to apply for AUSA positions with an LLM and 2-4 years as a state prosecutor.

“No” is the credited response, here.

Wow, thanks for all that.

No. Just try to move into some fraud work at the DA’s office if you really want to gain relevant knowledge, or don’t, and just do it later at the USAO after you’ve been there a while. More new slots opening for violent crimes and narcotics during this admin anyway—better to focus on that if looking to transition soon.

Source: former ADA/biglaw associate, current AUSA.

Anonymous User wrote:No. Just try to move into some fraud work at the DA’s office if you really want to gain relevant knowledge, or don’t, and just do it later at the USAO after you’ve been there a while. More new slots opening for violent crimes and narcotics during this admin anyway—better to focus on that if looking to transition soon.

Source: former ADA/biglaw associate, current AUSA.

Gonna hijack real quick—if one goes fedclerk for a year-ada for 3 years-litigation boutique firm, does one have any shot at ausa without having done grand jury work or biglaw?

Just answered you in your own thread.

Prosecutor in one of the big city offices with a competitive AUSA district.

The *only* person I know of with an LLM in our office has one in trial advocacy that they did after they got the job, nights. They're a rock star at trials and now is chief of training. I don't even think the LLM matters as a credential, but maybe as a teacher it helps.