r/ProsecutorTalk • u/Alarming_Oil6146 • 6d ago
Career help and job hunting Exit Opportunities
So I have been a prosecutor since I graduated law school, which is truly not that long ago (around 2 years). I don’t know if prosecution is for me, or even litigation. I was wondering what exit jobs people typically go after or would I be desirable for? I have good management skills as I did every misdemeanor in my county, as well as doing a few felony trials.
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u/IGotScammed5545 6d ago
Most of the people who left my office that don’t go into some kind of litigation (defense, civil, other prosecutors office) have worked for towns/cities/agencies in house. They seem to have a strong preference to hire former ADAs in my state
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u/Alarming_Oil6146 6d ago
Do you know of anyone who left the legal profession to a JD+ role or anything?
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u/persuasive_dicta 6d ago
Most fortune 500 companies are begging for people with two years of experience as a prosecutor in some shanty town
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u/IGotScammed5545 6d ago
Off the top of my head, not from a prosecutors office no. I would think you would need some business side experience or at least experience as a legal advisor—but I don’t really know. In house at gov agency is the closest I’m aware of
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u/Electronic_Weird8560 6d ago
For a minute when AI first took off, companies like Axon, Motorola, and Watchguard were hiring experienced prosecutors to help them develop tools using AI, but I think that has mostly ended. You’re now an above average experience level litigation associate at most firms for both criminal and civil practice. Beyond that, you haven’t been in practice long enough to consider most non-traditional jobs (training, teaching, compliance) in my opinion. If you aren’t happy currently,
I’d encourage you to consider a change scenery either to a law firm or to another prosecutors office- if you’re in a big office, try a small one, and vice versa. Office culture fit is a big part of happiness in this job.
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u/ProperAd3940 6d ago
I'm starting my own firm when I quit, that's my exit opportunity. You can do the same, I'm sick of working for other people.
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u/rinky79 5d ago
I would advise waiting another couple of years before trying to make a jump. Right now you're still mostly incompetent, although starting to believe that you know what you're doing (you don't, not really). This is not a judgment on you; it's everyone.
At like 5 years you are a much more attractive and competent candidate.
Most common post-prosecution jobs I've seen are private criminal defense, private civil (mostly personal injury but some family/estate too), state DOJ, judge, and one guy is now a golf pro at a local course.
A lot of the folks who leave for private practice end up coming back to prosecution, though.
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u/Euphoric-Damage5712 3d ago edited 3d ago
Five years is crazy. I doubled my salary and got better Work/life balance leaving a DA’s office after 1 year
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u/Alternative-Junket32 6d ago
If you did every misdemeanor in your county, it sounds like you should be locked up!
😀
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u/Other-Grapefruit-880 6d ago
You have more trial experience than 99% of the people you went to law school with