Is it possible to go from ADA in a large metropolitan office to BigLaw? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just curious.

I want to get a lot of prosecutorial experience because it interests me. But at the same time, I want to have private sector exit options that are not small plaintiff's firms. What can I do to make sure I stay an attractive candidate for BigLaw throughout my career?

FWIW I am in a large market (probably the largest one). Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

be an attractive biglaw candidate before you go to a DA's office (school, grades)

[Anonymous User]

Makes sense. So if one is already an attractive BL candidate (t-14, excellent grades), you'd have an easier time getting into BL post-ADA. Whoda thunk it.

[Anonymous User]

Handle big, high profile cases of the kind that big firms handle (eg. white collar stuff). You're going to have to be at a DA's office quite a while (7+ years minimum) before you'd have anything on your resume that big firms would be interested in.

If you were hoping to just do your 3 years then jump, it's not happening. You'd probably be better off going DA --> AUSA --> big firm, then trying to jump there straight from a DA's office.

[Anonymous User]

I went from big ADA office (top 5 largest) to small firm to biglaw. It felt like it was impossible to go straight from ADA to biglaw, so I had to make a year stop at a small firm. Went something like two years as an ADA, one year small firm (boutique practice focusing on one area) then biglaw for the same practice area.

I would not recommend going ADA first if you want to do biglaw. I imagine it’s easier to go biglaw first then ADA, especially in the bigger metro areas because they, unfortunately, care about prestige just like firms.

[objctnyrhnr]

I went from big ADA office (top 5 largest) to small firm to biglaw. It felt like it was impossible to go straight from ADA to biglaw, so I had to make a year stop at a small firm. Went something like two years as an ADA, one year small firm (boutique practice focusing on one area) then biglaw for the same practice area.

I would not recommend going ADA first if you want to do biglaw. I imagine it’s easier to go biglaw first then ADA, especially in the bigger metro areas because they, unfortunately, care about prestige just like firms.

It’ll be hard with a federal clerkship, but potentially doable with good networking and some luck. Without a clerkship, I could see it being nearly impossible.