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Is it unheard of for an ADA in Manhattan for example to move into an associate position in BigLaw? Does this ever happen, anywhere, or is it unlikely?

Yes. See: Sotomayor, Sonia.

Gunz353 wrote:Is it unheard of for an ADA in Manhattan for example to move into an associate position in BigLaw? Does this ever happen, anywhere, or is it unlikely?

Happens all the time. In my experience virtually everyone at the Manhattan DA either did BIGLAW 2L summer or could easily have done it if they wanted to. So, to the extent they want to go back and take that route, they seem to have a pretty easy time.

what is almost impossible is landing a job in the Manhattan DA'S office. This might come as a shock, but they tend to be a bit selective.

mochafury wrote:Yes. See: Sotomayor, Sonia.

so ADA -> SCOTUS is also a probably career path?

underdawg wrote:so ADA -> SCOTUS is also a probably career path?

Well I don't know if it's a "probably" career path. But I can say that it's a probable career path.

j/k. Getting ADA/AUSA/BigLaw all take the same thing: top performance in school. So I think the first thing to do is dominate 1L/2L/3L years.....easier said than done though.

I interviewed at a biglaw (midlaw?) firm in NY w/ a former Manhattan DA. He was a partner but was an associate first. He did work at a federal agency in between though.