3L Public Defender Applications Forum

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

[mazatec]

Got an NJOPD panel interview in early March.

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

Respectfully disagree. NJOPD pays slightly more, offers a better work-life balance, has phenomenal training, lets its lawyers get out and try cases much faster, and NJ criminal courts are more collegial than what you'd see in NY or PA. They've also basically revamped their entire recruitment/training program since the new chief came in, and the reputation has grown as a result.

I'm not saying NJOPD is automatically better than BxD, but reasonable people could disagree on which would be a better fit for any given person. I would be genuinely conflicted about whether to take NJOPD vs. BxD.

[Anonymous Defender]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

Respectfully disagree. NJOPD pays slightly more, offers a better work-life balance, has phenomenal training, lets its lawyers get out and try cases much faster, and NJ criminal courts are more collegial than what you'd see in NY or PA. They've also basically revamped their entire recruitment/training program since the new chief came in, and the reputation has grown as a result.

I'm not saying NJOPD is automatically better than BxD, but reasonable people could disagree on which would be a better fit for any given person. I would be genuinely conflicted about whether to take NJOPD vs. BxD.

NY>NJ...Always!!

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

Respectfully disagree. NJOPD pays slightly more, offers a better work-life balance, has phenomenal training, lets its lawyers get out and try cases much faster, and NJ criminal courts are more collegial than what you'd see in NY or PA. They've also basically revamped their entire recruitment/training program since the new chief came in, and the reputation has grown as a result.

I'm not saying NJOPD is automatically better than BxD, but reasonable people could disagree on which would be a better fit for any given person. I would be genuinely conflicted about whether to take NJOPD vs. BxD.

Ok so best case scenario, they are a tie?? Talking in generalities, BxD does have the better reputation, track record, etc. To each his own.

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

Respectfully disagree. NJOPD pays slightly more, offers a better work-life balance, has phenomenal training, lets its lawyers get out and try cases much faster, and NJ criminal courts are more collegial than what you'd see in NY or PA. They've also basically revamped their entire recruitment/training program since the new chief came in, and the reputation has grown as a result.

I'm not saying NJOPD is automatically better than BxD, but reasonable people could disagree on which would be a better fit for any given person. I would be genuinely conflicted about whether to take NJOPD vs. BxD.

Ok so best case scenario, they are a tie?? Talking in generalities, BxD does have the better reputation, track record, etc. To each his own.

Agree BxD

[Anonymous User]

NJPD or BxD? Which would you choose? Discuss.

Umm BxD, for sure! I don't think anyone (with half a brain) would disagree. BxD has a much better training program, track record, and overall reputation. NJ is a series of office. Each with a different approach, problems, and reputation. Corret me if I am wrong, but you will not be able to control where you are going.

Respectfully disagree. NJOPD pays slightly more, offers a better work-life balance, has phenomenal training, lets its lawyers get out and try cases much faster, and NJ criminal courts are more collegial than what you'd see in NY or PA. They've also basically revamped their entire recruitment/training program since the new chief came in, and the reputation has grown as a result.

I'm not saying NJOPD is automatically better than BxD, but reasonable people could disagree on which would be a better fit for any given person. I would be genuinely conflicted about whether to take NJOPD vs. BxD.

My big problem with NJ is that they don't let you pick a specific office/location or tell you in advance your office placement.

[Anonymous User]

2L on the PD track. How do you guys answers/handle the expected question of, "you're white, how do you think you could do this work/connect to our clients?"

[Whyjd]

2L on the PD track. How do you guys answers/handle the expected question of, "you're white, how do you think you could do this work/connect to our clients?"

Uhhh... I've never been asked that question. Is that a thing? How would you handle it? I think the key is a genuine answer, not some generic BS about tolerance.

[Anonymous User]

^^ive been asked that question on nearly every PD interview I've been on and I'm still not entirely sure what the correct answer is. I generally take the approach of recognizing and owning my privilege because I'm not sure there's an answer beyond that.

FWIW I answered that way and have an offer at a prestigious office so who knows

[Anonymous User]

2L on the PD track. How do you guys answers/handle the expected question of, "you're white, how do you think you could do this work/connect to our clients?"

I've always said some combination of recognizing privilege, gaining the trust of your client by making sure they feel heard, and finding common ground. Depending on the office, this is a good time to talk about client-centered representation and treating your client as an equal.

[radicalbanana]

Has anyone interviewed for Federal PD in San Diego? Just wondering what the process is like and what to expect in interviews.

Yep - PM me for more info.

[mazatec]

Does anyone else have no idea what state they're taking the bar in?

[mazatec]

By the way, had a screener with the Montgomery County Public Defender recently.

[mazatec]

Got a callback interview with NJPD next month. Any tips? What should I expect?

[Anonymous User]

^^ive been asked that question on nearly every PD interview I've been on and I'm still not entirely sure what the correct answer is. I generally take the approach of recognizing and owning my privilege because I'm not sure there's an answer beyond that.

FWIW I answered that way and have an offer at a prestigious office so who knows

That's so bizarre. I feel like I would have had that question by now, and I haven't.

[mazatec]

Got a callback interview with NJPD next month. Any tips? What should I expect?

BUMP. Anyone?

[Anonymous User]

Got a callback interview with NJPD next month. Any tips? What should I expect?

BUMP. Anyone?

I have one next week. It's with the head of the office. He's kind of an intense guy, from what I've heard.

[HillandHollow]

Does anyone else have no idea what state they're taking the bar in?

That was my situation all through 3L. I ended up taking the bar where my family lived/I am from, because I was able to stay there for free, and it happens to be a UBE state. I guess most people know generally where they want to go, but I didn't, and I ended up somewhere totally unexpected (but also a UBE state).

[Anonymous User]

just FYI, I applied to Massachusetts Committee for Assigned counsel back in December. Just got an email asking me to submit a form (a more extensive application).

I already accepted somewhere else so I'm not continuing with the process, but If anyone applied there, don't ignore the email just b/c it looks like spam...

[mazatec]

Does anyone else have no idea what state they're taking the bar in?

That was my situation all through 3L. I ended up taking the bar where my family lived/I am from, because I was able to stay there for free, and it happens to be a UBE state. I guess most people know generally where they want to go, but I didn't, and I ended up somewhere totally unexpected (but also a UBE state).

Just got a state trial court clerkship in the criminal division! Hopefully someone here gets my NJOPD interview spot!

[mazatec]

just FYI, I applied to Massachusetts Committee for Assigned counsel back in December. Just got an email asking me to submit a form (a more extensive application).

I already accepted somewhere else so I'm not continuing with the process, but If anyone applied there, don't ignore the email just b/c it looks like spam...

I got that email too. I applied to the Youth Advocacy Division in Worcester, MA.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if LAS is still offering final round interviews?

[Anonymous User]

By the way, had a screener with the Montgomery County Public Defender recently.

I have an interview with them coming up. How was it?