Summer Internship Forum

[coolkid17]

For the 2nd half of the summer I've got the option of working at the DA's office or a small firm. Is there one that would be a better experience. The firm covers a number of practice areas, one of which I'm interested in. The DA's office is in the city I go to school in/want to work in but the firm is in the state where I'm from (a neighboring state). I'd rather work at a small firm upon graduating but wouldn't mind working at the DA's office. My only concern is if i go to the DA's I might miss out on an opportunity to build a good connection. While I'd rather work in the city I go to school in, if I have to go back home I would. My concern regarding the DA's office is it would be pointless interning there if it doesn't turn into a job after graduation which I'm pretty sure there is a better chance of it not happening then there is of it happening. I'm at a T1

[Londonbear]

Can you reapply for the DA's office during the year or even next summer? I think it just boils down to which do you want to do more post-grad? Small firm or DA's office? If its the firm, then I would say do your summer at the firm b/c you'll get an idea of what the work is like, and it might help during interviews w/other firms if you can express why you want to work in a firm and the work you're interested in doing. This is not to say that you won't do well in those interviews if your summer experience is in a DA's office. It's just a matter of how you spin things. So I think you can use your summer experience at the firm to build on and find a firm in your school's city. Or you might just realize you absolutely hate firm life and then you should try your next summer to get something you might be more interested in. Or even during the school year as an externship.

Other things to consider: will the firm give you an offer after the summer? You should try and find out if the DA's office hires first years. I think generally they don't (this is what I've heard, I don't know how true it is b/c I've never really looked into it).

Overall though, w/limited info, I think go for the small firm if you're open to working at a firm in the future. And definitely if it's paid, and DA's office doesn't.