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Hello all,

I'm currently a rising junior deciding between two fall semester internship positions — USAO SDNY or USAO DC. Both are compelling opportunities, but I figured your legal community could afford some perspective as to which internship would prove a better experience.

What should I consider when deciding between the two? Is one objectively superior? I'm primarily interested in national security law, constitutional law, and appellate litigation — so any insights into SDNY's and DC's respective strengths in such areas would be appreciated!

Thank y'all so much.

The relevant Main Justice branches handle all three areas of law that you claim to be interested in.

That said, the most fun I had as a college intern was watching trials from start to finish, various proceedings.

You'll have a better time of it at SDNY, given the many and high-profile cases brought there.

(DC is more akin to a city prosecutor's office, given the nature of the District of Columbia.)

That said, I interned at SDNY as a law school student and had a very bad time there. There's just not enough work to go around. This isn't a consideration for you, as there's even less that you could do as a college intern. It doesn't matter even if you're at Harvard College, or w/e.

The best and most meaningful thing you could do is to set there and watch and listen. SDNY would be better for that.

There is no objective “right” answer — neither will be a huge boost to your resume once you’re in law school, and they’ll probably be equally helpful applying to law school. If housing is free in one location I’d go there. But all else being equal, I’d 100% go to SDNY for the same reasons the reply above gives.