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Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:55:38 -0700
Shu from private IP, post #19920481
/all
Prosecutor shortage?
I recently read there is supposedly a shortage of prosecutors in the United States.
That surprised me, as those were considered decent jobs when I was coming out of law school.
Have things gotten so much worse since then?
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:53:13 -0700
Andy from private IP
Reply #14114524
Example, San Mateo County where I live. Prosecutors cannot afford housing here, so they started a program to offer housing assistance to prosecutors. And
still there is a shortage. This is a safe area and criminal prosecutions here are mostly misdemeanors-- I could see a lot of people not wanting to "pay their
dues" doing a decade of bitch work for The Man before even doing a felony jury trial. And the revolving door into private practice is one reason why people do
it in the first place. So why invest in training new prosecutors if they are just going to leave in a few years for the private sector? The cycle perpetuates.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:26:17 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #17496248
I'm overseas now, but I spent several years in a public defender's office early in my "career.”
I probably have a few more years in this job, but I’m actually sort of interested. It'd have to be on the prosecutor side of things, though. I'd just retire
before ever going back to working indigent defense again.
I wonder if any of them would be desperate enough to hire me when I'm in my late 50s or early 60s.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:41:19 -0700
Andy from private IP
Reply #15613205
https://www.smcgov.org/da/employment-opportunities
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:54:33 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #13800920
I would say california would be particularly friendly to hiring older or non traditional people. Plus, people in California government jobs are lazy. Big plus
if you speak an additional language such as Spanish or mandarin. And if you are willing to get paid an entry level role, and the situation is as andy says, an
older person would be a better bet than a young person wanting to jump ship.
Are you in japan shu? Why dont you do some professorshit in asia? Less stressful it seems.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:56:00 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #14144263
Good to know though. I may also consider this in later years. 50s and 60s. Let me know how it goes lol.
I imagine salary would suck but you get great benefits.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:57:31 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #17995199
Andy what would be actual prerequisites for an entry level DA position?
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:02:10 -0700
Andy from private IP
Reply #14715400
@whiteguyinchinaTest They adjust your level depending on your
qualifications and experience. Deputy D.A. I-IV are all possible for an experienced attorney, and the salary goes up commensurate with the level. They are
desperate and would love to have a law school graduate with 3-5 years of litigation experience.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:39:49 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #10232082
👍
Thanks for the information.
Yes, I’m at a Japanese university now. It’s fine, but I’ve been doing it for a long time -- I’m still several years away from mandatory retirement.
In any case, I expect I’ll ultimately retire in Japan. Adding to U.S. Social Security and some kind of pension (or, better yet, adding to my old county
pension) would be nice, especially with the weak yen. But I’m not really desperate for the money.
I’m still just sort of brainstorming. As an expat friend said when I mentioned this today, “You’ll probably get there and immediately regret leaving the
cushy university job.”
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:03:08 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #11717655
As an expat friend said when I mentioned this today, “You’ll probably get there and immediately regret leaving the cushy university job.”
I moved back to the US in 2022 and now are probably moving back to China next year. As you probably know, inflation has been insane in US since 2020 and things
are very very expensive. It has changed the value for the money proposition a lot. You need a lot more money than you remember to have a lifestyle you remember.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:00:12 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #17611691
👍
I went back to the States for the first time in 8 years last year and was indeed shocked at the prices.
I recently read that the purchasing power of $100,000 in 2000 is equivalent to almost $200,000 today. Thinking back, I think my highest salary in the public
defender’s office was $60,000 in the late ’90s/early 2000s. It wasn’t great, but I was able to service my loans and buy a small condo.
Here’s a quick story about the cost of living in Japan with the weak yen.
About a year ago, I contacted the county where I worked as a public defender to confirm I was still in their retirement system. They confirmed I was. For the
few years I worked there, I expect to get somewhere between $400 and $500 per month when I turn 65. $500 may not sound like much, but I was very happy with the
news. With the weak yen, $500 covers most of my rent.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:06:03 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #18916741
Here are the main things i noticed - necessary car ownership due to lack of public transport; extremely high gratuity rates at restaurants which would seriously
inhibit your restaurant patronage /18% : extremely high health insurance costs; and high propert tax / insurance rates/ rent; lack of decent free or low cost
entertainment unless you like hiking and live in an area that has nature. Those are the ones which really add up.
That just gets you to like low upper middle class level, which is where I imagine you would want to be Where you can go out to eat 1-2 times per week, live in
a decent area and drive a mid range car, have money for a vacation or weekend trip.
Not sure where you would move, but san mateo you would prob need 120k as a single dude, maybe 150k. You could not move anywhere else but a high cost area unless
you were completely willing to change your lifestyle. I could not live in Texas even though it is a nice place.
America definitely has its good parts, but increasingly it is becoming a more difficult place to thrive.
Why not get a part time gig in like se asia? Yes the pay would be lower but your purchasing power would be a lot stronger.
Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:09:48 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #17930915
I think my highest salary in the public defender’s office was $60,000
I remember going to a job interview for a Charles schwab or jp morgan investment franchise thing, and the guy asked our group what is their dream salary.
One dude raised his hand and said, 75,000. That was maybe 2002 or 2003.
That was baller status back then.
Wed, 14 Oct 2026 04:06:31 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #17470809
👍
Yes, I was making $60,000 around 2003.
By that point, I had sold my condo and moved into a cheap apartment my boss owned not too far from work. I lived there with my ex-wife (Japanese), and we were
within walking distance of restaurants and bars.
In hindsight, outside of work, it was probably one of the best times of my life. But the job was a fucking grind. When I was offered this position in Japan, I
jumped at it.
I don’t think I’d go back to indigent defense now for triple that salary. If I went back, it would have to be on the prosecution side of things.
Anyway, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. With my university schedule, I’d need at least two years to put things together.
Having said that, I contacted a friend back in the States who worked as a prosecutor. He seemed to think I wouldn’t have much trouble getting an ADA or ASG
job post-retirement, which still surprises me.
Ideally, I’d work a few years, shore up my pension and Social Security, then come back to Japan for retirement.
Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:49:18 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #12071741
He seemed to think I wouldn’t have much trouble getting an ADA or ASG
job post-retirement, which still surprises me.
Do u do anything law related in japan? Also surprises me
Thu, 15 Oct 2026 03:46:39 -0700
Wily from private IP
Reply #11147965
👍
Just randomly searching I'm seeing that entry level assistant district attorney jobs in Bay Area are like $150k-$250k (see https://careers.sf.gov/role/?id=3743990006875215) . But that probably has the purchasing power of
$60k in in a median suburb in in 2010. Like you're barely middle class, because lunch is $40 and your 1-bedroom is $4500.
To move to Bay Area or San Diego, I'd need to gross like $600-$800k to match QoL in Asia.
Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:58:35 -0700
Andy from private IP
Reply #10015371
The D.A. agencies are all desperate for new hires, especially San Mateo County-- ground zero for the housing bubble is the mid-Peninsula where I live and work,
which is why the D.A.'s office has a housing assistance program. Basically, you need to net $500,000 per year to afford a house in this area, and houses start
at $2.3 million for anything serviceable. Thus, a prosecutor who makes even $300k needs a spouse who works, because buying a house on one income in this area,
even a pretty high income, is simply impossible. Then you have the cost of everything else, such as child care ($3,000/mo. for day care). Even I as a success
story of small law firm ownership and having trouble in this area. Why should I move, since I grew up here? Long-term, I'm not sure what we are going to do.
We either need to make the law firm work (difficult) or move out of the area and admit defeat. My pride is going to take a huge hit if we do that, but the same
thing has happened to virtually everyone I know-- no one from my group growing up is still here except me and one guy who works as a software engineer and is
crushing it. I don't want to leave the area I grew up in, and if I do, I'm not going to make this kind of money again, either.
Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:44:58 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #17460059
>>> Do u do anything law related in japan?
Yes, I'm in a law department at a Japanese university.
I teach classes related to American law in English and Japanese. But it is not equivalent to a U.S. law school. More like undergraduate history, political
science, etc.
The latest twist is that I have a research sabbatical coming up in about a year and a half. On the one hand, there is a good chance I may end up
“researching” the quality of sand on various Thai beaches. On the other hand, I mentioned the prosecutor shortage in the States to one of the higher-ups in
our department yesterday and asked if that sort of work would be allowed. He was more receptive than I expected, agreeing that it might qualify, but I’d need
to run it through the executive committee.
The next hurdle would be actually getting hired somewhere. Any idea if they are desperate enough to take someone for one year?
I grew up in California, but I am only licensed in Georgia. Ideally, I’d go back to my old county and try to get one more year of pension contributions. But
if I am crazy enough to do this, I suppose I could work anywhere that would hire me.
>>> Cost of living in California
My sister lives in San Diego. She and her husband both work, but rent is so expensive that they live on a boat in a marina.
Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:18:09 -0700
Wily from private IP
Reply #19916828
I spend about 4 weeks in San Diego every year now on trips to teach students over there. Did a house tour and the only ones my wife and I feel fine to live in
are north of $4 million. Good motivation for how far I need to go still.
Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:49:50 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #10511386
Shu why dont you work in shanghai? Wily may be hiring.
Having to move back to the US south - even Atlanta- would be utter recipe for depression and immediate weight gain after living in asia for so long. You'd be at
teriyaki express like every day.
Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:20:59 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #10829192
I don't have plans to stay in the States permanently.
The idea would be to go back to work for a little while—either during a one-year sabbatical or after university retirement—to boost my Social Security and
county pension, and then return to Japan and enjoy the weak yen.
I don't know if I'll actually do it. As the same friend said when trying to talk me out of it again yesterday, I don't really need the money.
China sounds interesting, but I'd worry that if they ever move on Taiwan, I'd end up on the wrong side of the fence.
Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:10:21 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #18379762
China sounds interesting, but I'd worry that if they ever move on Taiwan, I'd end up on the wrong side of the fence.
HAHA.
China is amazing. Haven't you ever been?
Sat, 17 Oct 2026 16:26:55 -0700
Shu from private IP
Reply #14772174
I have been to Taiwan a few times. Mainland China only once.
A very short trip across the border from Hong Kong back when Hong Kong was still British.
@10232082 Andy 👍 @17611691 Andy 👍 @17470809 Andy 👍 @11147965 Andy 👍
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