Is BigFed too late for this 2L? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a 2L at a lower-T14 who is now considering aiming to work for the government.
I struck out at OCI and just recently accepted an offer to intern at a BigLaw firm's international office this summer but it will not lead to a post-grad offer and will barely cover living expenses so that sucks. I have started to think that working for the Federal Government is probably a better fit for me anyway (work/life balance, culture, etc).
I've mostly taken transactional/finance courses so I was thinking OCC, FDIC, CFPB, etc. As for experience, I did SEC Honors this past fall.

Is it too late for me to try to get a BigFed job right out of graduation? Should I try to get a summer internship in one of those agencies and renege on my acceptance?

[Anonymous User]

I would take the big law international offer. It will make you look better at 3L OCI. Also, most of the prestigious big fed summer deadlines have passed (e.g. DOJ SLIP, FTC, FBI, White House counsel, etc.) You can still apply for government honors attorneys positions during the summer/fall for after graduation without working in gov this summer. I would try to get a clerkship, looks favorably by gov. Then, see if you can do another gov externship 3L year. Also, there are very few gov honors attorney positions, and most of the people who apply have big law summer experience. Having some type of private sector experience will really be in your favor!

[Anonymous User]

I would take the big law international offer. It will make you look better at 3L OCI. Also, most of the prestigious big fed summer deadlines have passed (e.g. DOJ SLIP, FTC, FBI, White House counsel, etc.) You can still apply for government honors attorneys positions during the summer/fall for after graduation without working in gov this summer. I would try to get a clerkship, looks favorably by gov. Then, see if you can do another gov externship 3L year. Also, there are very few gov honors attorney positions, and most of the people who apply have big law summer experience. Having some type of private sector experience will really be in your favor!

Thanks! Is there any way to check how much each agency hires out of law school? Specially outside honors programs.

[nixy]

Generally, they don’t. Honors programs are the only entry level hiring and otherwise they hire laterals. (Maybe not for SSA or VA, but those don’t sound like what you’re looking for.)

[Anonymous User]

Having some type of private sector experience will really be in your favor!

Is this exclusive to litigation experience? or would I have a shot with transactional practice?