I really want to become a prosecutor. I understand it is not that high paying nor glamorous as TV depicts it. I want to become one to help the people who suffer get the justice they deserve. The only thing that is holding me back is my parents. They tell me don’t become a lawyer. They always say there are not a need of lawyers. Be an engineer instead. I quietly agree but in my heart and soul I really want to be a prosecutor. Can someone help me and tell me the steps in order to become a prosecutor including the internships etc. I’m a high school junior currently planning to major in Biochemistry/ Mathematics since Law schools don’t care about majors
While you are in college, you should be able to do an internship in a district attorney’s office. This can give you an idea of whether you really want to become a prosecutor. Get a good GPA in college and a good LSAT score. Go to law school and get an internship at a district attorney’s office or state attorney’a office. Then apply for the real job once you graduate and pass the bar.
One thing you should note is that law school is extremely expensive and many people take on debt thinking that they will be able to pay it off once they get a high paying job as a corporate lawyer. Prosecutors make very little money, so you need to figure out to pay for law school.
Also a lot can change between now and college. You might not even want to become a prosecutor in 2 years. It’s good to have goals now to push yourself, but don’t stress too much about it.
Internships are extremely important for prosecution jobs. Unlike BigLaw, prosecutors care about whether the potential hire is truly interested in the job (they get a lot of BigLaw strikeouts applying). It is very important to show commitment. You should take every opportunity to intern/extern with your local prosecutors’ office. A lot of the larger offices have dedicated internship programs, which your school’s pre-law adviser can help you get. College moot court is also probably a good idea–prosecutors are constantly going to court, so any evidence that you can do that is favorably looked at.
The plus side of interning is you can see if what prosecutors do is something you actually want to do. There’s no shame in deciding a job is not for you. On the other hand, if it’s clearly what you want then there’s no reason to go be an engineer.
Are prosecutor’s offices hiring college students as interns?? That would really surprise me.
Not “hiring” in the sense of paying, but prosecutors (and PDs offices and legal aid and even private firms) regularly take on college students looking to intern. It’s a win for everyone–free labor for the office and a chance for the student to both acquire experience and see what the job is really like. I interned through my undergraduate school (for credit) and then converted that into a pre-law school job on graduation.
My son also decided to be a prosecutor when in high school and he has been at his first job for a few months so maybe I can help. Coincidentally my other son just graduated in engineering. Engineering is a great field and your parents are right if you do well employment or higher education will follow. But it is intense and the interest and inclination has to be there if not that security likely won’t be either.
My son’s prosecutor path included debate and interning with children’s advocacy in high school. In college he majored in philosophy, any major will work just be sure you can get good grades because these along with your LSAT score will determine your law school admission possibilities and also the scholarship money you get. When in college he interned at a DA’s office. In law school he continued to intern with DA and city attorney offices and selected courses related to criminal law and participated in mock trial and moot court. He took the bar in July, between July and November when bar results came out he worked for a city attorney and received a stipend from his law school. There aren’t very many paying jobs available in government until you pass the bar. Between November and Feb when he started his first job he worked as a volunteer attorney at that same office. That is full time work and no pay check. He had several interviews when he got his job and had several more pending. He was very flexible about where in the state he was willing to work and accepted the first job he was offered. He did get some good scholarship money but law school is very expensive and he has a scary amount of debt. Since he knew he wanted to be a prosecutor he considered the loan forgiveness programs when selecting a school. At least right now loans can be forgiven in 10years if you work in public service. This could change but its how it is now. Right now he is doing just what he wanted to, is learning a lot and really likes his job. The pay is adequate but doesn’t match the education. Deputy DA jobs progress from level 1 often to a level 4. It doesn’t take all that long to possibly move up from a 1 to a 2 and the possibility of more income. Its not the route I would have chosen for him but he is happy with it and went into it with his eyes open. I admire and I am proud of his commitment and passion.
Good luck feel free to ask questions