AUSA in Small District or Keep Applying to Clerkships?
I am currently clerking for a federal magistrate judge in a more "flyover" state. Top of my class at a low-ranked school, I took this position hoping it would be a stepping stone to an A3 clerkship (and maybe Biglaw after). After several interviews, I unfortunately struck out with the big wave of 2027 hiring that happened in June/July. My magistrate clerkship is over in August of 2027.
My judge told me that the USAO for this district has asked several times about me, suggesting I apply for an open position as an AUSA in their criminal division.
So, I am torn. I didn't take this state's bar before my clerkship because I didn't see myself staying here longer than that. But clerkship openings for fall of 2027 are already more limited than before and will only get fewer and fewer. But someone from my law school who didn't do the SLIP program becoming an AUSA so soon after graduation is unheard of.
I am much less familiar about the benefits/drawbacks of going to a USAO than clerking, which is even more compounded because this is a USAO in a small market. I am looking for some input from more experienced people.
First, the whole reason that this office has an opening they're willing to hire such a young attorney for is because the current DOJ has bled attorneys. This particular district only lost the USA (obviously) and chief deputy when the administrations changed, but it seems that their usual feeder methods aren't working. What would joining the Trump DOJ, even in such a minor role, look like on my resume in the future?
Second, this position is for the criminal division and I want a civil practice. How easy is it to change from the criminal to civil divisions? Just a matter of waiting for an opening?
If I did get the job, how feasible would it be to move USAOs in a few years? I saw that there may technically be a method of "transferring" offices (particularly within the same district), but for the most part moving would mean applying to an open position at another USAO. I am from the south (and went to law school there) but licensed in the northeast. I wouldn't necessary want to move/transfer to these places specifically, but I would want to move to a larger legal market for sure (truly hard to move to a smaller one). Would previous AUSA experience, even in a small market, give me a good shot at moving into a larger market (despite my lack of law school prestige)?
Ultimately, I need to decide pretty quickly whether I want to keep sending out these A3 clerkship applications, take the interview with the USAO here, or some third choice (moving into private practice, most likely). Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.