Maximizing chances at Main Justice/USAO post-clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm currently a first-year associate in a white collar group at a V10. About to leave to clerk for two years, both district and circuit (neither major jurisdictions and I most likely wouldn't want to go back to either to practice). HYS with solid grades if it matters. Never did a USAO/DOJ internship.

Would like to try and maximize my chances at a DOJ role, either Main Justice in a litigating component or at one of the major USAOs after clerking. Obviously there's some concerns on hiring right now, but I assume that the environment will be normalized by 2027.

What can I do in the next couple of years to boost my profile? I've thought about publishing, and some topics I've looked into would be in DOJ-adjacent areas. Would that help? Is there anything I'm overlooking?

I also should have the option to go to my current firm/somewhere else and work from there, but I would prefer to minimize my time in biglaw if at all possible.

[Anonymous User]

1 year in biglaw followed by 2 years of clerking is a little tough. You won't be eligible for the Honors Program (if it exists then) because of your biglaw time. So you'd need to come in as a lateral, competing against people with much more actual litigation experience. Networking with some of the more specialized litigation components could help. Appellate is also always interested in great recommendations from circuit judges. But generally, I think you'd likely need some more time at a firm just learning more about investigation and discovery

[Anonymous User]

Unironically if you have demonstrated commitment to MAGA conservative causes reach out to your network and you can get a job. My friend is finishing his circuit clerkship this year and that's how he has gotten a sort of guaranteed job once the freeze is over.

[Anonymous User]

Unironically if you have demonstrated commitment to MAGA conservative causes reach out to your network and you can get a job. My friend is finishing his circuit clerkship this year and that's how he has gotten a sort of guaranteed job once the freeze is over.

I was in my school's FedSoc chapter and my COA judge is about as good as you can get for a non-feeder, but I don't have any real MAGA bona fides. I'll certainly talk to my judges about it though.

1 year in biglaw followed by 2 years of clerking is a little tough. You won't be eligible for the Honors Program (if it exists then) because of your biglaw time. So you'd need to come in as a lateral, competing against people with much more actual litigation experience. Networking with some of the more specialized litigation components could help. Appellate is also always interested in great recommendations from circuit judges. But generally, I think you'd likely need some more time at a firm just learning more about investigation and discovery

Ugh. I really don't want to go back to my firm. What about the border/less major USAOs--would they be more willing to take on someone with my profile?

Edit: Alternatively, are there any good white collar shops in DC or NYC that (a) place a lot of people into the DOJ and (b) aren't awful to work at? I've heard bad things about S&C (and the five days in-office is a bit much), but other than that I don't have the lay of the land.

[Anonymous User]

Ugh. I really don't want to go back to my firm. What about the border/less major USAOs--would they be more willing to take on someone with my profile?

I think you’d have a decent shot with border USAOs, depending on hiring patterns - they tend to have higher turnover for obvious reasons, and some will happily take people with less practice experience, especially with a good pedigree like yours. SDCA would probably like your background.

You will need to convince a border district that you genuinely want to move to their district and handle their kind of work; I don’t think anyone in border districts has any illusions that every non-local they hire is going to settle down there and prosecute border crime for life, but they’d still prefer to minimize turnover, you will be competing with local attorneys who pose less of a flight risk and may have connections to the office, and management tends to include lifers in the office for obvious reasons.

Keep in mind that you will spend at least the first few years doing general border crime (immigration/drugs); working conditions can be tough under tough-on-immigration administrations (depends in part on what the USA is like, but zero tolerance policies result in massive caseloads - see again SDCA); if you are interested in white collar work, you’re not that likely to get sophisticated cases in these districts; and while people definitely do move out of those offices to other USAOs, there’s no guarantee you’ll get into a major office after. It’s definitely possible - I know someone who went from a border district to NDCA, though they also had quite a lot of big law experience pre-USAO - but most people I’ve seen change offices go to an office in a region where they have ties (which I suppose might be a major USAO though!).

I think starting in a border district can be great experience and a good way to get a bunch of trial experience because you get quite a lot of responsibility. But it’s not for everyone and it’s not necessarily a straightforward path to a major USAO.

[Anonymous User]

Unironically if you have demonstrated commitment to MAGA conservative causes reach out to your network and you can get a job. My friend is finishing his circuit clerkship this year and that's how he has gotten a sort of guaranteed job once the freeze is over.

I was in my school's FedSoc chapter and my COA judge is about as good as you can get for a non-feeder, but I don't have any real MAGA bona fides. I'll certainly talk to my judges about it though.

1 year in biglaw followed by 2 years of clerking is a little tough. You won't be eligible for the Honors Program (if it exists then) because of your biglaw time. So you'd need to come in as a lateral, competing against people with much more actual litigation experience. Networking with some of the more specialized litigation components could help. Appellate is also always interested in great recommendations from circuit judges. But generally, I think you'd likely need some more time at a firm just learning more about investigation and discovery

Ugh. I really don't want to go back to my firm. What about the border/less major USAOs--would they be more willing to take on someone with my profile?

Edit: Alternatively, are there any good white collar shops in DC or NYC that (a) place a lot of people into the DOJ and (b) aren't awful to work at? I've heard bad things about S&C (and the five days in-office is a bit much), but other than that I don't have the lay of the land.

Not really the crux of your thing here but the S&C / 5 days in person thing ended up being a misunderstanding. There are def other problems with the firm but that isn't one of them

[Wild Card]

There are openings at Main Justice and USAO DDC. I mean, you can't predict how things will shake out. You're doing great for now.

But don't assume your firm will take you back. That should be your general concern for now, staying employed after your second clerkship.

[Anonymous User]

There are openings at Main Justice and USAO DDC. I mean, you can't predict how things will shake out. You're doing great for now.

But don't assume your firm will take you back. That should be your general concern for now, staying employed after your second clerkship.

That's true--the hiring freeze seems over (though it's odd that it's only the civil division, OLC, and USAO-DC are hiring right now; maybe they're unfreezing piecemeal?).

I'd honestly rather not go back to my firm (though as of now all the signs are positive and I've only had congratulatory comments from the partners I work with). But I'm not going to intentionally burn any bridges on my way out.

Hypothetically, I have some contacts in my home state SG's office, which is both major and has a fellowship program. Would that make me more competitive for these roles? I imagine it would slot me into appellate work more than trial, which isn't ideal but I would be happy with.

[crazywafflez]

You are certainly competitive for state SG shops. You'll be fine in the job market. Talk to your judges. And agreed with the others re border AUSA gigs. It can happen, they don't think you'll stay for life, but make sure to tell them why there and for awhile. Consider learning Spanish. Again, your judges might be able to help you more past that.

[Anonymous User]

That's true--the hiring freeze seems over (though it's odd that it's only the civil division, OLC, and USAO-DC are hiring right now; maybe they're unfreezing piecemeal?).

The hiring freeze isn’t over, these are just exceptions. The civil division is underwater defending lawsuits (gee I wonder why????) and Ed Martin fired/drove out a ton of AUSAS and you gotta have people to investigate Schumer’s political rhetoric from 2020.

[Anonymous User]

Edit: Alternatively, are there any good white collar shops in DC or NYC that (a) place a lot of people into the DOJ and (b) aren't awful to work at? I've heard bad things about S&C (and the five days in-office is a bit much), but other than that I don't have the lay of the land.

might be somewhat obvious, but in DC, w&c places a good number of attorneys into USAOs/main justice components and, i hear, is a pretty decent place to work by biglaw standards (with no in-office requirement). they also do a lot of individual rep white collar work beyond the normal FCPA drag.

[Anonymous User]

Edit: Alternatively, are there any good white collar shops in DC or NYC that (a) place a lot of people into the DOJ and (b) aren't awful to work at? I've heard bad things about S&C (and the five days in-office is a bit much), but other than that I don't have the lay of the land.

might be somewhat obvious, but in DC, w&c places a good number of attorneys into USAOs/main justice components and, i hear, is a pretty decent place to work by biglaw standards (with no in-office requirement). they also do a lot of individual rep white collar work beyond the normal FCPA drag.

Are firms even doing FCPA anymore? DIdn't Bondi stop that.

[Anonymous User]

If you want to live in a big city, then Manhattan DA or Los Angeles DA could be a good option. With your school, big law, and clerkships, I think you'd be competitive for AUSA after.