Legal Internships, Entry-Level, and

Lateral Attorney Hiring at DOJ

Everything You Want to

Know About the U.S.

Department of Justice

2014 - 2015

Why Justice?

• World’s LARGEST legal employer

• 110,000 employees

• 10,000+ attorneys

• Each year, we hire:

• 1800 – 2000 law student volunteers

• 70 – 110 paid summer interns

• 80 – 200 entry-level attorneys

• Hundreds of experienced attorneys

• Perks … Perks … PERKS! • Immediate responsibility

• Incredible training

• Cutting edge legal issues

• Meaningful work

• Mentor Program

• Balanced work-life

• Virtually every legal

practice area

• Offices nationwide

• Attorney Student

Loan Repayment

Program

Place Photo Here,

Otherwise Delete Box

WHAT

WE

OFFER

How We Hire

The Four

DOJ Hiring

Programs

• Apply approximately four months in advance

• Apply individually to as many offices as you like

• Available for fall, spring, and summer

Volunteer Internships

• Paid summer internships

• Veterans receive formal hiring preference

• Apply online July 31 - September 2, 2014

Summer Law Intern Program

• Entry-level attorney positions

• Apply online July 31 - September 2, 2014

Attorney General’s Honors Program

2014-2015

• Vacancies posted at www.justice.gov/legalcareers

• Minimum of one year post-JD, plus bar admission

Experienced Attorney Hiring

Visit www.justice.gov/legalcareers for

information on all DOJ hiring programs

Who’s Hiring: Volunteer Internships

PRACTICALLY EVERYONE! 1000+ volunteer summer internships nationwide

800+ volunteer internships during the school year nationwide

United States Attorneys’ Offices, Litigating Components, Immigration Courts,

Bankruptcy Courts, FBI…

*Possible course credit or law school work-study

Who’s Hiring: SLIP Participants Summer 2015

FORMAL PARTICIPANTS

• Antitrust Division (25)

• Civil Division (30)

• Executive Office for Immigration

Review (18)

• Federal Bureau of Prisons (10)

• Tax Division (15 – 20)

RESTRICTED ELIGIBILITY POSITIONS

• Open to 3Ls entering a judicial clerkship in Fall 2015/Winter 2016 Office of the Solicitor General (2)

Office of Legal Counsel (1)

• These hires enter as law school graduates, and not as interns, per se.

INFORMAL PARTICIPANTS

• U. S. Attorney’s Office – Middle District

of Pennsylvania (2)

• U. S. Attorney’s Office – Southern

District of Alabama (1)

• Office of Justice Programs (Office for

Civil Rights) (2)

• Office of Information Policy (3)

• Office of the Inspector General (1)

Who’s Hiring: Honors Program 2014-2015

PERMANENT POSITIONS

• Antitrust Division (14)

• Civil Division (29)

• Civil Rights Division (12)

• Criminal Division (8)

• Environment and Natural Resources (15)

• National Security Division

• Tax Division (12)

• U.S. Trustee Program (10)

• U.S. Attorney’s Offices in AZ, CA, NY, and

OH (12) (Eligibility restricted to law school

graduates who meet specific bar admission

requirements).

FELLOWSHIPS

• Criminal Division Asset Forfeiture

Fellowship Program (4)

• Federal Bureau of Prisons (4)

• Indian Country Fellowship (1) New!

CLERKSHIPS

• Drug Enforcement Administration (3)

• Executive Office for Immigration Review

(Immigration Courts nationwide) (77)

INFORMAL PARTICIPANTS:

• Office of Information Policy (2)

• Office of the Inspector General (1)

•

Who’s Hiring: Experienced Attorneys

HUNDREDS OF OPPORTUNITIES EACH YEAR:

• Hiring is decentralized and each component conducts its own recruitment.

• Attorneys can apply to specific vacancy announcements or submit an application

to each organization where they wish to be considered for employment.

• All lateral attorney vacancies are posted at: http://www.justice.gov/legalcareers.

Who We Hire

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and work of the office

Relevant education or employment background

• Strong writing

Journal experience (e.g. Law Review)

• Oral advocacy skills

Moot Court

• Academic achievement and involvement

GPA, class rank, organizational leadership

• Practical experience in the area

Clinical experience and intern/externships

• Judicial clerkship experience (for Honors Program applicants)

Federal clerkship experience a plus for some

Common indicators of success

What We Value DIVERSITY

The greatest asset of the Justice

Department is its dynamic and diverse

workforce.

Justice welcomes applications from all

qualified candidates whose backgrounds

reflect the Nation’s rich diversity.

It is our goal to eliminate barriers and

make available new opportunities for

people with disabilities to contribute to and

thrive at the Justice Department.

What You Should Know Stepping Stones to Success

Do your research

Make a connection

Be more than a GPA

Public Service

SUCCESS!

Appealing to the hiring officials!

What You Should Know SLIP and HP Online Application

Requires You To Rank Your Choices

Select 1-3 organizations

Think through your ranking

Use “Employment” screens to sell

your skills

What You Should Know Application Tips

APPLICATIONS

• For SLIP and HP, provide thoughtful, well-crafted

responses to short-answer questions, such as:

“Why do you want to work for the Department of Justice and

what attracts you to the components you selected?”

“If you could tell the hiring official one thing about yourself,

what would it be?”

• For all apps, make a connection and proofread!

INTERVIEWS

• Prepare, prepare, prepare

• Enthusiasm!

What You Should Know Security and Suitability – All Positions

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS

• Credit issues

• Drug use

• Tax issues

• Providing false or misleading information

• Residency and citizenship requirements

Advisory opinions on potential problems

available post-offer

What’s Next? Top Takeaways

There are many paths to DOJ, including:

• Clerkships

• Federal Government

• State and Local Government

• District Attorneys’ Offices

• Private Firms

• Public Interest Employers

• Academic Positions

• Legal Fellowships

What’s Next? Top Takeaways

Volunteering at DOJ pays off

Effective applications take effort –

Do your research!

If at first you don’t succeed…

Questions?

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Department of Justice.

For more detailed information,

please visit our website at:

www.justice.gov/legal-careers.