Moving from Public Sector to Big Law?? Forum

Gunz353 · Post by **Gunz353** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:00 am

Is it possible for someone to start their career in a job like an ADA in the Manhattan DA's office and then eventually move into a Big Law associate position? Has anyone heard of doing this, or this very unlikely/frowned upon? Are you doomed to be in the public sector for life if you start there?

Esc · Post by **Esc** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:01 am

Gunz353 wrote:Is it possible for someone to start their career in a job like an ADA in the Manhattan DA's office and then eventually move into a Big Law associate position? Has anyone heard of doing this, or this very unlikely/frowned upon? Are you doomed to be in the public sector for life if you start there?

If you consider a career in the public sector to be a "doom," then you probably shouldn't be considering work in the public sector.

tetrahydrocannabinol · Post by **tetrahydrocannabinol** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:33 am

Not happening.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:12 am

tetrahydrocannabinol wrote:Not happening.

This is not true. Moving from gov't to firms happens all the time. See, e.g., the partners in top securities, white collar, and antitrust practice groups at firms. Or look at DC firms in general. You'll find tons of former fed gov't lawyers (AUSA, etc.).

Still, I agree with Esc that you should not take a gov't job if you see it as "doom." Plenty of us would be thrilled to spend our whole careers in the public sector. Leave these jobs for us.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:52 pm

1. You're not going to get the Manhattan DA's Office unless you have outstanding credentials which would get you a BIGLAW job anyways.
2. You're not going to get any DA's job unless you really, really want it, and come across that way in the interview.
3. Yes, Manhattan ADAs lateral to BIGLAW, and back, all the time.

ggocat · Post by **ggocat** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:56 pm

Anonymous User wrote:1. You're not going to get the Manhattan DA's Office unless you have outstanding credentials which would get you a BIGLAW job anyways.

this

bahama · Post by **bahama** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:18 pm

Yes, as others have said it is possible, but only from the better known and more prestigious public sector jobs. You also need to have done well in your public sector job since the firm is hiring you as a mid-level who will be expected to perform at a fairly high level from day one.

Example: I know a guy who graduated from Chicago, clerked for a year, and then went to DOJ in DC. After 4 or 5 years he went to a well known litigation boutique that pays Big Law+, as a mid-level associate.

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