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Long story short, I accepted a position at a DA office not long ago, but am now having second doubts especially now that another, better opportunity has opened itself up.....how should I handle this predicament? is it advisable to just message the office and tell them I won't be there next fall? if I do that, what are the potential drawbacks? will I be blacklisted among DA offices and other legal employers?

+1

Accepted a fed job when OCI didn't work out, but now I have 2 interviews lined up during winter break. Was thinking I could just play the whole "no pay" v. "$$$$ to help with loans, COA, etc" card, but I don't want to close any doors or offend anyone.

Don’t renege from the feds for the reason that it doesn’t pay - it will come across badly. Say that the other job is better for your long term goals or the like. (To be clear, reneging is fine, you will just piss people off unnecessarily if you say it’s because of the money.)

nixy wrote:Don’t renege from the feds for the reason that it doesn’t pay - it will come across badly. Say that the other job is better for your long term goals or the like. (To be clear, reneging is fine, you will just piss people off unnecessarily if you say it’s because of the money.)

TITCR. Doubly so because the above posters likely professed a passion for government work during their fed interviews. It'd really come across badly to now turn around and reveal that they prefer $$$ to government service after all.

OP here...the responses are appreciated, but what's the overall verdict on turning down an offer that you've already accepted? i'm certain that this is something that i want to do, but how i go about it will depend on what the consequences will be, and if the consequences are serious, i may not do it at all.

You will likely burn bridges with that office, but the sooner you do it, the better it is (they will have time to get another intern - if you put it off it gets ruder). It’s not likely to have any other broader repercussions.

nixy wrote:You will likely burn bridges with that office, but the sooner you do it, the better it is (they will have time to get another intern - if you put it off it gets ruder). It’s not likely to have any other broader repercussions.

this is an actual job offer i'm talking about, not an internship

Anonymous User wrote:

nixy wrote:You will likely burn bridges with that office, but the sooner you do it, the better it is (they will have time to get another intern - if you put it off it gets ruder). It’s not likely to have any other broader repercussions.

this is an actual job offer i'm talking about, not an internship

Same advice, IMO. They will still have time to hire someone else between now and next fall (when your job was scheduled to start). As nixy says, you'll probably be persona non grata w.r.t. future job opps at that DA's office - at least for the next few years, until the staff turns over - but you won't be blackballed from the entire fed gov or anything.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here...the responses are appreciated, but what's the overall verdict on turning down an offer that you've already accepted? i'm certain that this is something that i want to do, but how i go about it will depend on what the consequences will be, and if the consequences are serious, i may not do it at all.

If you don’t want the job, no one working there wants you to be there either. I would just be honest about what happened — something else canes up that better suits your goals , etc. —without too much detail. Make sure the other offer is solid before you renege.

Anonymous User wrote:

nixy wrote:You will likely burn bridges with that office, but the sooner you do it, the better it is (they will have time to get another intern - if you put it off it gets ruder). It’s not likely to have any other broader repercussions.

this is an actual job offer i'm talking about, not an internship

Ah, sorry, misunderstood. But yeah, same advice.

OP - I'm curious. I don't want to try to burn you, so I'll be cryptic. Did you accept a Post-Bar opportunity in a CA county away from the one you want to practice in, because the county you wanted to practice in delayed their post bar hiring because of the election?

Bingo: I'm not OP, but you just described me. It felt like you just read my mind. Like a lot of people, the county you speak of was my #1 choice, but I received two offers before I even did a screener with them. I accepted one of the other counties because they told me it was going to possibly be January until they even did the screener and they might not even have a paid clerk program this year because they didn't know what the new DA was going to do with the budget and hiring. The other counties wanted to hear back within the month, so I accepted one and even got live scanned and started the background investigation before the other county even contacted me about the callback. It wasn't really fair because nobody had any idea what was going to happen. I think you know exactly what I'm talking about here.

I'm actually thinking of sticking with the county I accepted first because they actually pay better, and quite frankly I really liked the office and people I met there. Also I'd feel bad leaving them, since they're a smaller office and only picked a few clerks out of a whole bunch of applicants. Really the only downside is the location, since I don't have any contacts/friends in the area.

For the love of God OP, do what is best for you financially. The fact that you feel guilty about not providing uncompensated/under-compensated labor is truly appalling. Anyone who tells you any different simply does not know the reality of 200k in student loans. IGNORE THEM.

Anonymous User wrote:Long story short, I accepted a position at a DA office not long ago, but am now having second doubts especially now that another, better opportunity has opened itself up.....how should I handle this predicament? is it advisable to just message the office and tell them I won't be there next fall? if I do that, what are the potential drawbacks? will I be blacklisted among DA offices and other legal employers?

I was told by career services that you can renege but it's gonna look really bad on you and you'll def be blacklisted from that office. If you're fine with not working there ever, then I don't see an issue. I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office. If you got a firm job and you don't really want the DA job, fuck it. I doubt you'd wanna work at a DA office later anyway after getting better pay

DAhopeful2019 wrote:
I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office.

Why would this be the case?

I’m in a similar position, but it’s in the context of reneging on my acceptance to my 2L summer associate for an offer from a litigation boutique firm I obtained in the post-clerkship hiring market. I don’t know what to do. My school is vehemently against reneging because they vouched for me (strong alumni connection to this firm) when I was struggling during OCI, but I know this post-clerkship firm has better exit opportunities and would be better for my career overall. Insight/reassurance appreciated.

Don’t be a martyr for your school’s career office. Do what’s best for you and your career.

Anonymous User wrote:I’m in a similar position, but it’s in the context of reneging on my acceptance to my 2L summer associate for an offer from a litigation boutique firm I obtained in the post-clerkship hiring market. I don’t know what to do. My school is vehemently against reneging because they vouched for me (strong alumni connection to this firm) when I was struggling during OCI, but I know this post-clerkship firm has better exit opportunities and would be better for my career overall. Insight/reassurance appreciated.

Did you miss my post above where I said a firm doesn’t want you working for them if you want to be somewhere else.
Do what you want with your own career as long as you handle it professionally you will be fine. Firms don’t get emotionally attached to anyone.

LaLiLuLeLo wrote:Don’t be a martyr for your school’s career office. Do what’s best for you and your career.

Agreed--your career service office's foremost goal is to protect their relationship with the firm, not your interests. Take any advice they give with a grain of salt.

As has been echoed ITT, law firms are businesses and you should do what's best for you now (because the firm will always do what's best for itself). As long as your professional, they'll understand--you are not the first to renege on an offer and certainly won't be the last.

111tesfa111 wrote:

DAhopeful2019 wrote:
I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office.

Why would this be the case?

I guess it's only if you're looking to be a career prosecutor because you'd be burning bridges if you ever wanted to switch offices. However, someone told me that there's one office in NYC that calls all of the other DA's offices to inform them when you renege. Idk if the other offices care or if this is even true. Could've just been career services trying to convince me not to consider reneging.

DAhopeful2019 wrote:

111tesfa111 wrote:

DAhopeful2019 wrote:
I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office.

Why would this be the case?

I guess it's only if you're looking to be a career prosecutor because you'd be burning bridges if you ever wanted to switch offices. However, someone told me that there's one office in NYC that calls all of the other DA's offices to inform them when you renege. Idk if the other offices care or if this is even true. Could've just been career services trying to convince me not to consider reneging.

LMFAO. I would LOVE to have enough time to be this petty.

Guchster wrote:

DAhopeful2019 wrote:

111tesfa111 wrote:

DAhopeful2019 wrote:
I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office.

Why would this be the case?

I guess it's only if you're looking to be a career prosecutor because you'd be burning bridges if you ever wanted to switch offices. However, someone told me that there's one office in NYC that calls all of the other DA's offices to inform them when you renege. Idk if the other offices care or if this is even true. Could've just been career services trying to convince me not to consider reneging.

LMFAO. I would LOVE to have enough time to be this petty.

hahahah RIGHT? I honestly think it's true knowing this specific office though

DAhopeful2019 wrote:

111tesfa111 wrote:

DAhopeful2019 wrote:
I think it's different if your end goal was to work at a DA Office and you're reneging because you got an offer at a different DA office.

Why would this be the case?

I guess it's only if you're looking to be a career prosecutor because you'd be burning bridges if you ever wanted to switch offices. However, someone told me that there's one office in NYC that calls all of the other DA's offices to inform them when you renege. Idk if the other offices care or if this is even true. Could've just been career services trying to convince me not to consider reneging.

I sincerely doubt this really happens often. There has to be thousands of applicants for DA office jobs in NY ever year. Why would some random attorney at the other office give a flying flip that one reneged on a job offer? I'd burst out laughing if someone called specifically to tell me this about a candidate.

It's true that the legal world can be small, especially within a specific practice specialty, but as long as you are professional about how you turn them down, I don't think anybody who matters will care long term. The only exception I can think of is reneging on a judge you are likely to practice before during your career, though even then it may depend on the circumstances.

I've never understood the hesitancy around this question. Have you signed a formal binding employment agreement that has consequences if you breach it? No. Employers retract offers all the time. "Accepting" an at-will employment offer means nothing. Politely tell them another opportunity has come up and that you unfortunately will be going in a different direction.

boredtodeath wrote:I've never understood the hesitancy around this question. Have you signed a formal binding employment agreement that has consequences if you breach it? No. Employers retract offers all the time. "Accepting" an at-will employment offer means nothing.

Actually it is possible in some cases to successfully sue for damages but folks don't do it because they don't want to commit professional suicide. See https://www.naceweb.org/career-developm ... nt-offers/