Is it hard to find a public interest job? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Subject is my question.
Is it hard to get a public interest job that would entitle one for the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan?

[rad lulz]

Without knowing anything about you, I have no clue.

[Anonymous User]

Without knowing anything about you, I have no clue.

I think there is some sort of list or guideline about qualifying job.
I don't know if telling about myself add much value, but for what its worth: I am very interested in working in the public sector and am currently trying to decide where to attend. If finding a qualifying job isn't that difficult, I can care a little less on COA when weighing school.

[BeenDidThat]

Yes.

[rad lulz]

,

[nygrrrl]

Yup, I'm going to move this to a more appropriate forum.
Personal opinion? Finding jerbs is hard, period.

[thegrayman]

.

[Blindmelon]

For the people I know at least - its much more "I missed the PI train, I'll go to the biglaw job" than vice-versa. I think its overall harder than getting something through OCI. It depends heavily on the location/school, and what you want specifically.

[myselfersonEsq]

from my limited experience interviewing for public interest 1L summer internships, public interest gigs want to see a demonstrated commitment to public interest on your resume. my resume screams corporate (100% corporate experience prior to law school), and this was something that was brought up in the first few minutes of all my public interest interviews. If you want to be more secure for a public interest gig I would consider getting involved in some PI extra-curricular so you can demonstrate a commitment and get past the skepticism that this is really something you want to do versus you can't find any other gigs for summer.

As a 1L who is applying for the same types of positions with a decade of commitment to Public Interest work, I advise you to turn back now. I don't know you so I can't question your motivation for taking this route, but I suspect it will leave you very unfulfilled, when and if you decide to be honest with yourself.

[thegrayman]

from my limited experience interviewing for public interest 1L summer internships, public interest gigs want to see a demonstrated commitment to public interest on your resume. my resume screams corporate (100% corporate experience prior to law school), and this was something that was brought up in the first few minutes of all my public interest interviews. If you want to be more secure for a public interest gig I would consider getting involved in some PI extra-curricular so you can demonstrate a commitment and get past the skepticism that this is really something you want to do versus you can't find any other gigs for summer.

As a 1L who is applying for the same types of positions with a decade of commitment to Public Interest work, I advise you to turn back now. I don't know you so I can't question your motivation for taking this route, but I suspect it will leave you very unfulfilled, when and if you decide to be honest with yourself.

If you're a 1L then why are you applying to law schools for the class of 2015? You think finding a 1L job is as simple as applying to where you actually want to work? Have fun!

[myselfersonEsq]

from my limited experience interviewing for public interest 1L summer internships, public interest gigs want to see a demonstrated commitment to public interest on your resume. my resume screams corporate (100% corporate experience prior to law school), and this was something that was brought up in the first few minutes of all my public interest interviews. If you want to be more secure for a public interest gig I would consider getting involved in some PI extra-curricular so you can demonstrate a commitment and get past the skepticism that this is really something you want to do versus you can't find any other gigs for summer.

As a 1L who is applying for the same types of positions with a decade of commitment to Public Interest work, I advise you to turn back now. I don't know you so I can't question your motivation for taking this route, but I suspect it will leave you very unfulfilled, when and if you decide to be honest with yourself.

If you're a 1L then why are you applying to law schools for the class of 2015? You think finding a 1L job is as simple as applying to where you actually want to work? Have fun!

Thanks. I do have fun, every day. Good luck on your new path.

[thegrayman]

from my limited experience interviewing for public interest 1L summer internships, public interest gigs want to see a demonstrated commitment to public interest on your resume. my resume screams corporate (100% corporate experience prior to law school), and this was something that was brought up in the first few minutes of all my public interest interviews. If you want to be more secure for a public interest gig I would consider getting involved in some PI extra-curricular so you can demonstrate a commitment and get past the skepticism that this is really something you want to do versus you can't find any other gigs for summer.

As a 1L who is applying for the same types of positions with a decade of commitment to Public Interest work, I advise you to turn back now. I don't know you so I can't question your motivation for taking this route, but I suspect it will leave you very unfulfilled, when and if you decide to be honest with yourself.

If you're a 1L then why are you applying to law schools for the class of 2015? You think finding a 1L job is as simple as applying to where you actually want to work? Have fun!

Thanks. I do have fun, every day. Good luck on your new path.

For sure. Good luck getting into a school worth going to with a 3.4 and a 162! Speaking of being honest with yourself, where does lying about being a 1L when you are actually a 0L fall into that scheme?

[myselfersonEsq]

somewhere above, on the ethical scale,

having a lot of money and pretending to be poor to troll for legal advice.

would be my guess.

[seatown12]

If finding a qualifying job isn't that difficult, I can care a little less on COA when weighing school.

Care about cost regardless.

[traehekat]

My understanding is that yes, it is difficult, and possibly even more so than big law because not only do PI organizations still want to see some pretty decent grades from a good school like many law firms do, but they also want to see a demonstrated interest in the kind of work you will be doing (firms just want to see the grades and a decent school, and that you aren't a jackass). You also don't have the structured recruiting mechanism of OCI, so you have to be a lot more proactive.

I also support the general statement that any legal job is going to be hard to find.

[victortsoi]

Is the opposite true? I have significant PI experience as an 0L, interning for a brooklyn judge and the nyc mayors office for one year (forgive me if this isnt strict "PI").
Will firms raise an eyebrow?

[traehekat]

Is the opposite true? I have significant PI experience as an 0L, interning for a brooklyn judge and the nyc mayors office for one year (forgive me if this isnt strict "PI").
Will firms raise an eyebrow?

Highly unlikely.

[puremorning]

Subject is my question.
Is it hard to get a public interest job that would entitle one for the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan?

Anyone can do IBR, it's the PSLF that not everyone qualifies for.

[Always Credited]

The difficulty of finding any job is related to your law school, your GPA at that school, your work experience in and out of school, and your personality.

Since none of us know anything about any of these factors for you, there is no value in any specific advice.

However, I can tell you that top 1/3 at GWU who have *some* relevant experience (summers in law school/pre law school work) and are outgoing, strong personalities have had no trouble getting any type of PI job.

Even top half is getting good stuff, at least those with relevant work experience and who aren't socially retarded.

[puremorning]

Also, check this out: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal ... eness.html

[sd5289]

I work in PI (criminal justice/domestic violence agency) and based your posts, yes, it's going to be hard for you because you clearly do not have any idea what field you are interested in (and no, "public interest law" is not a field). I've been involved in hiring for the past two years here and we look for a very specific skill set that's directly related to the work we do at our agency. If you don't have it, and you haven't articulated a clear reason why you're applying to us, it is an automatic reject. Doesn't matter what school you come from or what your GPA is.

"They" say it's just as difficult to land PI as it is Big Law, and for the most part I agree. I agree because a significant majority of those jobs require two things: a) a very specific skill set, b) a demonstrated commitment to the "mission" of that PI agency or organization.

[lawschoolgrapedme]

No. PI is for the kids that didnt have the grades or background for biglaw.

Except for a few hippies every now and then that actually wanted to do this

[puremorning]

No. PI is for the kids that didnt have the grades or background for biglaw.

Except for a few hippies every now and then that actually wanted to do this

Omg you're so right! EVERYONE (except for maybe five people) goes to law school to gun for biglaw!

Oh, and I'm totally cracking up over your witty rape joke in your screenname. Remind me why you posted a reply to this?

[seatown12]

No. PI is for the kids that didnt have the grades or background for biglaw.

Love the inclusion of "background" as a prereq for Biglaw, just so we know he's 100% trolling.