Yes it's often not true but it *is* true specifically for federal prosecutors, who are almost universally elite-tier lawyers from the best law schools, prestigious clerkships etc in a profession where base salaries are already quite high. they will get good benefits wherever they go. - ThreadSky

mtsw.bsky.social • 12 days ago

Yes it's often not true but it *is* true specifically for federal prosecutors, who are almost universally elite-tier lawyers from the best law schools, prestigious clerkships etc in a profession where base salaries are already quite high. they will get good benefits wherever they go.

Reposted from Cokesville

Well-meaning people often say that bureaucrats could make a more money in the private sector but they do government service out of love for the work. That's only sort of true. Many could get a higher salary. But they would have a hard time matching the benefits, especially the pension.

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danmcd.bsky.social•12 days ago

I was in public service for the first two years of my career in the 90s. "Federal Pensions" went out the window during the Reagan administration, when the old CSRS (which is what people think when they think, "Federal Pensions") got replaced by the FERS (which is a 401k-alike).

readsettle.rs•12 days ago

TSP is the 401k-like, FERS is still a pension

danmcd.bsky.social•12 days ago

Shit, that's right. (It HAS been over 30 years. 😀)

mtsw.bsky.social•12 days ago

Ya, my guess would be that BigLaw really prefers to have the shark-like attorney who is unwilling to put themselves in ethical/legal jeopardy for these type of jobs. If you just want a bagman, you don't need to pay $650k/year to a guy who clerked for the Supreme Court to get one

msderohanes.bsky.social•12 days ago

Excellent point.

buchman.bsky.social•12 days ago

Counterpoint: biglaw wants access. A lot of the reason you hire ex government officials is their connections and familiarity with the system.

Suddenly a 4chan post history might be a valuable legal credential because it means you speak the language of the new EPA commissar

pauldmayer.bsky.social•12 days ago

Not to mention, if you check political donation disclosure websites, most big law firms donated like 90-10 to Harris in the last cycle. Eg: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/latham-watkins/recipients?id=D000000536

bmca.bsky.social•12 days ago

That's specifically what Michael Cohen was for! Graduate of Cooley Law, notoriously the worst law school in the country!

cokesville.bsky.social•12 days ago

100% ... was thinking about the industry I'm in (education), where things are definitely different!

profmisterlizzie.bsky.social•12 days ago

That's often mentioned as a way of dismissing their courage -- e.g. if you aren't going to starve for this you get no credit. Yet we have several hundred members of Congress who ALSO would have no trouble making a living if they stuck their necks out and lost re-election, and they refuse to do it.

drelwell.bsky.social•12 days ago

One way the government has been able to attract capable, dedicated people to public service is by offering fair, stable employment, even if the pay is modest. Abusing them and expelling them from the government is an attack on the present and the future of competent, accountable government.

rntropy.bsky.social•12 days ago

Also, the defined benefit portion of Federal retirement plans has shrunk substantially in the last few decades. Most of Federal workers retirement benefits now come from a 401k-like program (TSP)

standupratman.bsky.social•12 days ago

Should be noted that the AUSA (especially SDNY’s office) is not generally know for having great work life balance. While it may not be an 80 hr/week grind, these jobs typically go to super hard working folks that really do believe in what they’re doing

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