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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If your ultimate goal is BigLaw partnership, you should go work at BigLaw now.  As a general rule, a few years at DOJ is not going to put you "ahead" on the partnership track.  People who go straight from government to BigLaw partnership have generally practiced for at least 8-10 years minimum, and attained some sort of high profile position.  And even so, many firms may still offer only a Counsel position. If you do 4 years at DOJ, you may get recruited by firms as a litigation associate, but you will be on equal footing with any fourth year lateral from another large firm. And frankly, you may, depending on what work you do at DOJ, be a much tougher sell than a typical fourth year lateral - your experience many not be particularly applicable, and some partners are going to question whether someone who comes from the government will have the necessary work ethic. 
The more typical track is to start at BigLaw, get a good reputation, and then as a senior or mid-level associate, go work in some highly relevant government office (i.e Antitrust Division foran Antitrust Associate). That may allow you to leapfrog your career somewhat, though again it is no guaruntee.  [/quote]

I agree with this.  You will no doubt get more actual litigating experience at DOJ, but early in your career the firm wants to know you are ok with things like billing hours, and working for different clients/partners.  Later on, it gets more difficult to move from DOJ to firms because you can't bring any business.  The most likely way to do it is a few years at the firm to establish some bona fides, then a few years in govt, then back at the firm.[/quote]

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