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Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:00 am
by Gunz353
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?
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:01 am
by Esc
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.
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:33 am
by tetrahydrocannabinol
Not happening.
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:12 am
by Anonymous User
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.
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:52 pm
by Anonymous User
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.
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:56 pm
by ggocat
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
Re: Moving from Public Sector to Big Law??
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:18 pm
by bahama
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.