summer employment - local DA or USAO Forum

[littleboyblue]

if you had opportunity to do either for your 1L summer would you take the maybe more prestigious USAO job or the local DA job where you may want to work after graduation (only b/c you can't get hired right from law school in the USAO job).
Thanks!

[ggocat]

Depends. What will your responsibilities be at the DA's office; will you be able to write anything? Is there any reason you can't do both, either by splitting your summer or working at one of the offices during the school year (possibly for school credit)?

If you can do both, I'd suggest doing the USAO first. Save the job that could lead to employment for later so that you will be more experienced when you start the more important job.

[jdny09]

I worked for a USAO my 1L summer and loved it. I got to second-chair trials and stand up in court on arraignments and bail applications. Besides being interesting and impressive on the resume, it's just plain fun too. It's also a great thing to do if you think you want to clerk after graduating. The AUSA I worked for wrote me a rec letter and got me an interview and ultimately a clerkship with the judge he clerked for.

[annapavlova]

I worked for a USAO my 1L summer and loved it. I got to second-chair trials and stand up in court on arraignments and bail applications. Besides being interesting and impressive on the resume, it's just plain fun too. It's also a great thing to do if you think you want to clerk after graduating. The AUSA I worked for wrote me a rec letter and got me an interview and ultimately a clerkship with the judge he clerked for.

Question: I'll actually be working for the USAO during my entire 2L year. Do you think 16 hours (2 full days) will get me enough face time to reap rewards such as those you mentioned? Should I try to find a way to squeeze in more time? I can do internships for credit, so I might consider doing that if it would be that beneficial.

[smov_operator]

Why only 2 days a week?

[annapavlova]

Why only 2 days a week?

I'll be in school, plus other activities I've already committed to like being a TA, etc. I have other plans for the summer, so I won't be getting started until the Fall.

[rando]

I worked for a USAO my 1L summer and loved it. I got to second-chair trials and stand up in court on arraignments and bail applications. Besides being interesting and impressive on the resume, it's just plain fun too. It's also a great thing to do if you think you want to clerk after graduating. The AUSA I worked for wrote me a rec letter and got me an interview and ultimately a clerkship with the judge he clerked for.

I thought you could only be involved in court proceedings your 2L summer under the 3L practice act? Am I wrong?

[jdny09]

Depents on the district. In the district I worked in, 1Ls could do pretty much everything as long as the judge and defense counsel were okay with it (which was always the case). It was a big selling point when I was interviewing there.

[yabbadabbado]

Totally depends on the jurisdiction's rules and the policies of that particular office. I know a few people who were able to get court time right after 1L year because the rules in their jurisdiction allowed it.

I thought you could only be involved in court proceedings your 2L summer under the 3L practice act? Am I wrong?