How to maximize chance for DC? (Besides grades) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Interested in antitrust, international trade, or a general regulatory practice. Prior work experience in investment banking.

Currently choosing one of CCN to attend in fall.

If I want to maximize my chances at DC for these practices, what should I do? Obviously grades are the most important factor, but what other things are significant factors in the DC market?

Should I just go to Chicago and try to get a clerkship? Or Columbia and RA for antitrust profs? Is DC possible with median grades at CCN?

[Anonymous User]

Don’t go to DC unless you’re from there. It’s lonely as ****.

[Anonymous User]

If you want to maximize chances go to Chicago and during your 1L year get a summer internship in DC that can include judicial intern or working for a government regulatory agency stationed there.

[Anonymous User]

If you want to maximize chances go to Chicago and during your 1L year get a summer internship in DC that can include judicial intern or working for a government regulatory agency stationed there.

Yes, this.

[VirginiaFan]

But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln....

[Anonymous User]

Adding that publishing a Note in whatever regulatory area you choose will be a big plus - won’t be able to do it in time for 2L OCI but can leverage it for after that.
Also, I’d try to figure out your real interest - general regulatory is a tougher sell than having a legitimate interest in one specific area.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

[Anonymous User]

If you want to maximize chances go to Chicago and during your 1L year get a summer internship in DC that can include judicial intern or working for a government regulatory agency stationed there.

Makes sense! Why Chicago though, may I ask?

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

International trade lawyer here. If you want trade specifically, I think Columbia is a better option than Chicago. Easy east coast networking and agency experience is very important to the field. I'm much more familiar with Columbia people in the practice than Chicago

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

International trade lawyer here. If you want trade specifically, I think Columbia is a better option than Chicago. Easy east coast networking and agency experience is very important to the field. I'm much more familiar with Columbia people in the practice than Chicago

Thank you! By agency experience, do you mean going to work for USTR right after law school or is it more a mid career move to position for a partner promotion?

Also, how big is the international trade law market in DC generally?

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

International trade lawyer here. If you want trade specifically, I think Columbia is a better option than Chicago. Easy east coast networking and agency experience is very important to the field. I'm much more familiar with Columbia people in the practice than Chicago

Not OP, but besides USTR and BIS which are the most relevant agencies for biglaw trade?

[Anonymous User]

If you want to maximize chances go to Chicago and during your 1L year get a summer internship in DC that can include judicial intern or working for a government regulatory agency stationed there.

Makes sense! Why Chicago though, may I ask?

Not that person, but as a CLS alum who went to DC, I think this person needs to substantiate their statement a little more to be worth anything. Plenty of opportunties for the same thing from CLS, and plenty of good options in nyc as well that will be valuable for applying to DC jobs (i.e. interning at the Court of International Trade).

[Anonymous User]

OP, chill.

You can get to DC from any of those schools.

The most important thing is grades. After grades, the most important thing is grades.

After grades and grades, being able to explain why you want to work in DC is key. I had a professional reason (government-facing work) and a personal reason.

By OCI, I hadn’t worked in DC or for any government agency. But I did have future opportunities lined up (like 2L split summer working for the federal government). Even if I didn’t have that, I would have explained what opportunities during law school related to DC I intended to pursue.

Please do not attempt to pigeonhole yourself into some practice area just to boost DC chances. Almost everyone I know who ended up in DC did not have any known specialty. A lot (like me) just said we were generally interested in litigation/regulatory work. If a particular field of law appeals to you based on work experience or coursework, absolutely feel free to mention that and connect it to a department/agency. But it’s not required.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

International trade lawyer here. If you want trade specifically, I think Columbia is a better option than Chicago. Easy east coast networking and agency experience is very important to the field. I'm much more familiar with Columbia people in the practice than Chicago

Thank you! By agency experience, do you mean going to work for USTR right after law school or is it more a mid career move to position for a partner promotion?

Also, how big is the international trade law market in DC generally?

The international trade bar is smaller than other bars, but it is a really great, collegial community. Most people who join USTR do it after a few years at a firm, but internships there are great. As mentioned below, BIS is another good one. Would definitely recommend checking out CITBA or the Georgetown trade update if you want to know more about the bar!

But biglaw also does some trade remedies work with with the International Trade Administration and the International Trade Commission. Both great internships, and the ITA at least hires straight out of law school. Plus you have less-legal positions such as Senate Finance and House Ways and Means that have a decent amount of lawyers. Not to mention the CIT, which is more attainable clerkship than SDNY and CA2, while still being a good experience

A lot of big law trade lawyers also do at least some OFAC work. I think most big law trade partners have at least mid-level experience at an agency

[Anonymous User]

OP, chill.

You can get to DC from any of those schools.

The most important thing is grades. After grades, the most important thing is grades.

After grades and grades, being able to explain why you want to work in DC is key. I had a professional reason (government-facing work) and a personal reason.

By OCI, I hadn’t worked in DC or for any government agency. But I did have future opportunities lined up (like 2L split summer working for the federal government). Even if I didn’t have that, I would have explained what opportunities during law school related to DC I intended to pursue.

Please do not attempt to pigeonhole yourself into some practice area just to boost DC chances. Almost everyone I know who ended up in DC did not have any known specialty. A lot (like me) just said we were generally interested in litigation/regulatory work. If a particular field of law appeals to you based on work experience or coursework, absolutely feel free to mention that and connect it to a department/agency. But it’s not required.

I'm the anon who previously said that choosing an area earlier can help, and perhaps my wording above was a little too strong - don't disagree with any of this, but if they are able to demonstrate a specific interest, I think it significantly bolsters the "professional interest" portion of the pitch. As you said, basically everyone goes to DC for "lit/reg" and "gov facing work," but I do think having more concrete interests can help someone stand out. To be sure, I agree that it's not necessary and maybe not the best path for OP, but the question was how to maximize chances besides grades, and demonstrating interest in a particular area (or two) can potentially do that.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thanks! On the point about having a legitimate interest for an area I am particularly interested in such as trade, should this factor into my choice of school? Ie is it justifiable to attend Columbia over Chicago because there are more offerings related to international trade and I might be able to RA for particular profs?

International trade lawyer here. If you want trade specifically, I think Columbia is a better option than Chicago. Easy east coast networking and agency experience is very important to the field. I'm much more familiar with Columbia people in the practice than Chicago

Thank you! By agency experience, do you mean going to work for USTR right after law school or is it more a mid career move to position for a partner promotion?

Also, how big is the international trade law market in DC generally?

The international trade bar is smaller than other bars, but it is a really great, collegial community. Most people who join USTR do it after a few years at a firm, but internships there are great. As mentioned below, BIS is another good one. Would definitely recommend checking out CITBA or the Georgetown trade update if you want to know more about the bar!

But biglaw also does some trade remedies work with with the International Trade Administration and the International Trade Commission. Both great internships, and the ITA at least hires straight out of law school. Plus you have less-legal positions such as Senate Finance and House Ways and Means that have a decent amount of lawyers. Not to mention the CIT, which is more attainable clerkship than SDNY and CA2, while still being a good experience

A lot of big law trade lawyers also do at least some OFAC work. I think most big law trade partners have at least mid-level experience at an agency

This is all on point.

[Anonymous User]

The reason people said Chicago is that DC is a litigation-centric market and Chicago generally has better litigation outcomes than CLS. Litigators are snobs and Chicago has an exceptional clerkship program and (rightly or wrongly) a more intellectual reputation.

[Anonymous User]

OP, chill.

You can get to DC from any of those schools.

The most important thing is grades. After grades, the most important thing is grades.

After grades and grades, being able to explain why you want to work in DC is key. I had a professional reason (government-facing work) and a personal reason.

By OCI, I hadn’t worked in DC or for any government agency. But I did have future opportunities lined up (like 2L split summer working for the federal government). Even if I didn’t have that, I would have explained what opportunities during law school related to DC I intended to pursue.

Please do not attempt to pigeonhole yourself into some practice area just to boost DC chances. Almost everyone I know who ended up in DC did not have any known specialty. A lot (like me) just said we were generally interested in litigation/regulatory work. If a particular field of law appeals to you based on work experience or coursework, absolutely feel free to mention that and connect it to a department/agency. But it’s not required.

This is terrible advice. Or maybe this poster recruited years ago. OP is on the right track to pick a specific practice group. Plenty of people with top grades and a decent “why” aren’t able to land in DC lit.

[CanadianWolf]

Internship and/or Clerkship at the Court of International Trade.

However, there may be a 4 year commitment for the clerkship.