Summer jobs are a staple of the law school experience. Students need law-related jobs to build an impressive resume that will land them a job after graduation. Summer associate positions, judicial clerkships, and volunteering at legal clinics are common summer gigs for law students. But, if you’re anything like I was in law school, those commonly pursued summer jobs don’t pique your interest.
For context, I’m a prosecutor. Despite growing up in a family of teachers, I always knew I wanted to be a prosecutor. That’s why I went to law school. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my career as a prosecutor actually started in law school during my first internship at the DA’s office.
Students often overlook internships at the DA’s office. It doesn’t have the same level of prestige as BigLaw, and you don’t get paid, even though you’ll be doing the same amount of work (if not more) that you’d be doing at a private firm. My internship at the DA’s office was challenging, difficult, incredible and everything in between.
What makes an internship at the District Attorney’s office so great?