think this is a good job in the meantime??

[Colonials322]

I graduated college last month and am finally starting to get some interview offers, one of which is tomorrow for a Paralegal Specialist position with the U.S. Attorney's Office (DOJ) in NYC tomorrow. My goal is to become an 1811 at some point, but I know I will need to get some experience, and for that matter get some kind of professional job in the meantime that will look good, as opposed to flipping burgers or waiting tables and hoping I get hired somewhere.

Anyway, is this position w/ the attorney's office going to help me in your opinions in gaining some good real world working experience and at the same time making myself a better candidate for FLE? The job is in the DOJ and is a GS-7 so that right there has some obvious benefit.

I appreciate any feedback you all can give.

[CColema4]

I don't know much about the USAO (both of them) in NYC, but if its anything like here in DC, which has both a District Court and a Superior Court division, your law enforcement experience will pretty much revolve around conducting research. You'll learn the law (Title 18 and 21 pretty fast), conduct criminal histories, and pretty much find lexis-nexis and westlaw is your best friend. You'll pretty much conduct any research asked of you by your AUSA or team of AUSAs. As you advance, you'll do more. Here in DC our experienced paralegals do almost everything our AUSAs do except for actual litigation. They do witness conferences, debriefings, and can "paper" cases (post-arrest case assessment).

Another good opportunity for USAO paralegals is the amount of contact you will have with law enforcement agents, a good time to build bonds now that you'll have ready when you do become an 1811.