Gut Check

I'm sending out my resume to a lot of different places right now. The types of jobs I have applied for pretty much fall into two categories: 1.) Medium-large size law firms 2.) Government.

I really don't know what route I want to take. I think I want the firm route in the long run but government right now. I have applied to several firms in the city where I am originally from and for several government positions in Washington, DC.

The biggest downside to the firms I am looking at is that I really don't want to live at home. I know this is pretty much the only alternative if I choose this route because I will still be paying rent on my apartment from law school and with my family being from there, it would be hard to justify not living at home if I do choose that route. Plus, I would be making good money at the firm and not paying additional rent.

The government positions are unpaid and I would have to get a new place in DC, on top of the rent I still have to pay on my current place. I go to a more regional law school though, and if I don't get my foot in the door on working in DC now, the opportunity might not be there in the future. I am also beside myself excited to live and work in Washington. It is my favorite U.S. city, by far. I have government work experience from internships in college but I need to pursue legal ones to keep that capital I have built since college.

I should also say that I am just now being selected for interviews. I don't have anything locked up yet. But if I had all options on the table it would look like either 1.)Live at home and make a bunch of money possibly being misrable but getting law firm experience or 2.)Live in DC, make no money, eat rent on an additional place, make great contacts and get my foot in the door for a future DC job, and love my living situation.