Summer Job: U.S. Attorney's Office or Judicial Internship? Forum

[djeter2]

I’ve been offered an internship with a federal district court judge and a summer internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Obviously my career goals impact which position I should choose but, to be honest, I haven’t yet narrowed my interests into a focused career path.

I do want to be a litigator in the public sector (preferably with the federal government or a state government), and I am interested in exploring prosecution as a career. However, if I were to be a prosecutor, I would only want to prosecute civil cases. I also am completely open to the idea of clerking after law school, in part because I think it would make it easier to get a job with a federal agency.

[FeelTheHeat]

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

[20130312]

Isn't it considered extremely rude to turn down a judge?

ETA: Scooped.

[kalvano]

However, if I were to be a prosecutor, I would only want to prosecute civil cases.

Best of luck with that.

[3|ink]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

[3|ink]

However, if I were to be a prosecutor, I would only want to prosecute civil cases.

Best of luck with that.

Awww. I missed that gem when reading. Stupid ADD.

[Mce252]

However, if I were to be a prosecutor, I would only want to prosecute civil cases.

Best of luck with that.

Obviously (s)he was metaphorically refering to tort reform.

[FeelTheHeat]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

[20130312]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

[Mce252]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

I have a slight feeling that the comment was sarcastic.

[FeelTheHeat]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

Missed it...my internet skills are off today. This is why I don't venture into on-topic forums.

[20130312]

Missed it...my internet skills are off today. This is why I don't venture into on-topic forums.

See:

I have a slight feeling that the comment was sarcastic.

Also, wouldn't the on topic forum be more internet retard friendly?

[FeelTheHeat]

Missed it...my internet skills are off today. This is why I don't venture into on-topic forums.

See:

I have a slight feeling that the comment was sarcastic.

Also, wouldn't the on topic forum be more internet retard friendly?

My sarcasm detector is lowered

[sundance95]

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

This is true of clerkships, but I don't believe the same holds true for externships. But, if OP is interested in civil work, he or she should almost certainly take the USDC summer anyway.

[20130312]

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

This is true of clerkships, but I don't believe the same holds true for externships. But, if OP is interested in civil work, he or she should almost certainly take the USDC summer anyway.

I'd say in general it is rude to snub a judge.

[itsirtou]

You don't turn down an offer from a judge.

This is true of clerkships, but I don't believe the same holds true for externships. But, if OP is interested in civil work, he or she should almost certainly take the USDC summer anyway.

I'd say in general it is rude to snub a judge.

I don't think it's as serious for judicial 1L internships as it is for clerkships. It's not only that it's rude. I could be wrong but I think the main reason that you don't turn down a clerkship with a judge is that the judge gets wary of even asking anyone from that school to be their clerk (I think that's what happened with Diana Motz and UVA students -- someone turned her down a few years back). That's a really serious deal for 2Ls at that school. I don't think it's the same for 1L internships, either in terms of how pissy the judge will get or how serious the consequences will be for other people at the school.

Could be totally wrong -- but that's my impression of the whole "don't turn down a clerkship" deal, anyway.

[FeelTheHeat]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

Bothering me all day, so I'm coming back to note that I flat out said you don't do it and the following poster said he didn't think you should. I hardly think that warrants knowing you were being sarcastic. Anyways, continue.

[3|ink]

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

Bothering me all day, so I'm coming back to note that I flat out said you don't do it and the following poster said he didn't think you should. I hardly think that warrants knowing you were being sarcastic. Anyways, continue.

I'm amazed nobody has said this yet, but you don't turn down an offer from a judge.

[sundance95]

I dunno, my district judge was surprised when I accepted on the spot.

[YourCaptain]

i'm pretty sure that 1L judge offers are not auto-accept.

i turned down a judge myself, she asked where i was going, i told her, she said "congratulations, that's a wonderful opportunity" and told me to stay in touch. the other judge that i did accept told me that if i wanted to accept another offer that i should do so and he would completely understand.

anecdotal but fyi

[yale2011]

.

[Yobot]

i'm pretty sure that 1L judge offers are not auto-accept.

i turned down a judge myself, she asked where i was going, i told her, she said "congratulations, that's a wonderful opportunity" and told me to stay in touch. the other judge that i did accept told me that if i wanted to accept another offer that i should do so and he would completely understand.

anecdotal but fyi

Same exact experiences here as well. Maybe we just got lucky with how easy-going and understanding the judges were.

[downstream]

The "dont turn down a judge thing" is strictly for your law school's reputational benefit, not yours. It isn't like an Art III judge is going to grind an axe for years about the 1L that turned him down for an externship.

This depends solely on 2 things:

1) What is the judge like?
2) Which USAO is it?

If the judge is really cool and you will interact with him/her a lot, do the externship. They will totally have your back down the road if you want to clerk and you will do a shit load of writing that summer which the firms will love at OCI. I did 10 full opinions the summer i externed, all on westlaw (LOL), and it was a big help. If the judge is senior status, not around much or aloof, do the USAO because otherwise you will be a glorified memo writer and nothing more for a summer.