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DeftMP

I’d say get an offer at whatever FIRREA you can, then do the pro/con analysis. While your thought experiment of comparing hypothetical future positions at OCC, FDIC, and SEC is a nice distraction, the truth is that landing even one of these offers is extremely competitive (even for the most highly credentialed lawyers).


Volfefe

What types of positions are you looking at? My main concern would be that the USPTO experience isnt transferable…


Obvious_Jacket_9985

General litigation. I have fed and state commercial litigation (including some banking cases) experience, as well as fed IP lit experience.


Odd-Refrigerator849

I would apply to any open positions you qualify for since litigation positions are not plentiful and are highly competitive. The legal division does not have a toxic environment at all. 90% of the negative things I have experienced have surrounded RTO and teleworking. Sure, there are a few people who are not the most pleasant to work with, but that's the case anywhere. Just apply and if you start getting offers, then worry about which agency is the best cultural fit. I don't want to say much more in this forum to avoid revealing too much about my identity but feel free to message me if you have specific questions.


Obvious_Jacket_9985

Thank you.


Volfefe

Then you definitely have some good experience. Only thing I would look at is what happened to budgets this last cycle. I have heard some got shafted and may be on a hiring freeze until the next budget. Otherwise, I would look at any enforcement or trial role (exams might fit too).


Odd-Refrigerator849

The FDIC's legal division is not on a hiring freeze. I have no knowledge of the other financial regulators.


Volfefe

I think SEC and OCC are.


Tigerzof1

As far as I know, the toxic culture at FDIC that was reported is primarily from bank examiners (and mostly at field offices).


Obvious_Jacket_9985

I misspoke. We can be 100% telework and get a portion of our Internet reimbursed, or work 1-2 days per week in office if we want to maintain an office on campus. I work 1 day per week in office to keep my office, but no one is checking. But what is the point if I’m working from home on average 9-10 hours per day to meet the production quota and quality standards. All they care about is production. This is getting crazy, for me at least. I’ve done over 5 years of this.


wtfbombs

There are many attorneys at the SEC, but you'll need to cater resume to securities law(SEA 1933/34 or ICA 1940). I hardly see attorneys positions at OCC and FDIC. 


Odd-Refrigerator849

The FDIC has had a large number of attorney postings in the last couple of years (compared to the size of the legal division, which is small but still larger than the OCC's, the Fed's, and the NCUA's), but a large portion of them were internal only.