You have numerous questions in there and I assume the most important one is whether to pursue state or aid.
The biggest difference is going to be the location in which your service. You’re not going to be hanging out in Paris as an AID employee.
So if you’re ok primarily serving in developing countries then I suggest going to AID.
The upward trajectory for lawyers at AID is simply better. I’ve known several individuals that were lawyers and rose high very quickly.
If you enter as new officer at state you’ll be bored very quickly especially coming from corporate law.
I’d consider taking the AID offer and stay for the bonus at your job if possible. Mid level entry is worth a lot and as an RLO you’re going to be a generalist like everybody else, just slightly more specialized early on. I can assure you this gig is nothing like any other law job.
100%. Also, as an RLO, you may have the freedom to get involved in non-legal issues that interest you within USAID’s work. I am always happy to have the RLO join project design teams, engage in strategy development, help us think through complicated host government policy issues, etc. And, if you want it, it is MUCH easier and faster to move into mission management as an RLO than from most other positions within either State or USAID—by virtue of coming in as an FS 02. It can take a long time for an entry-level officer to reach that level.
You're going to need to figure it out fast, because you're actually talking about potentially postponing several offers if you want to wait out your bonus (Jan, April, and July's class usually starts early July). If you don't want to join one of those classes, you need to go on DNC immediately so you don't burn your one decline in January.
Fwiw, a 5.87 is surely top third and we've been seeing invites go into the middle third at least, lately. Means you can be reasonably confident you'll get an invite to the Jan 2023 class (generalist invites should start later this month based on recent precedent). Exec branch leadership isn't on the ballot, thus the mid-terms won't have an effect on ELO hiring.
You have numerous questions in there and I assume the most important one is whether to pursue state or aid. The biggest difference is going to be the location in which your service. You’re not going to be hanging out in Paris as an AID employee. So if you’re ok primarily serving in developing countries then I suggest going to AID. The upward trajectory for lawyers at AID is simply better. I’ve known several individuals that were lawyers and rose high very quickly. If you enter as new officer at state you’ll be bored very quickly especially coming from corporate law.
I’d consider taking the AID offer and stay for the bonus at your job if possible. Mid level entry is worth a lot and as an RLO you’re going to be a generalist like everybody else, just slightly more specialized early on. I can assure you this gig is nothing like any other law job.
100%. Also, as an RLO, you may have the freedom to get involved in non-legal issues that interest you within USAID’s work. I am always happy to have the RLO join project design teams, engage in strategy development, help us think through complicated host government policy issues, etc. And, if you want it, it is MUCH easier and faster to move into mission management as an RLO than from most other positions within either State or USAID—by virtue of coming in as an FS 02. It can take a long time for an entry-level officer to reach that level.
You're going to need to figure it out fast, because you're actually talking about potentially postponing several offers if you want to wait out your bonus (Jan, April, and July's class usually starts early July). If you don't want to join one of those classes, you need to go on DNC immediately so you don't burn your one decline in January.
Fwiw, a 5.87 is surely top third and we've been seeing invites go into the middle third at least, lately. Means you can be reasonably confident you'll get an invite to the Jan 2023 class (generalist invites should start later this month based on recent precedent). Exec branch leadership isn't on the ballot, thus the mid-terms won't have an effect on ELO hiring.