Everything You
Want to Know
About the U.S.
Department of
Justice
Legal Internships & Entry-Level
Attorney Hiring at DOJ
Spring 2012
The Bottom Line Up Front
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Why Justice
How We Hire
Who’s Hiring
Who We Hire
What You Should Know
What We Value
What’s Next
Why Justice?
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WHAT
WE
OFFER
• Mentor Programs
• Balanced work-life
• Virtually every legal
practice area
• We’re BIG – with lots of opportunities each year
• 1800 law student volunteers
• 65 – 90 paid summer interns
• 85 – 150 entry-level attorneys
• 500+ experienced attorneys
• Perks … Perks … PERKS!
• Virtually every legal practice area
• Immediate responsibility
• Influence change and make a difference
• Incredible training
• Cutting edge legal issues and meaningful work
• Offices nationwide
How We Hire
Volunteer
Internships
The Four
DOJ Hiring
Programs
Summer Law
Intern Program
2013
Attorney General’s
Honors Program
2012-2013
Experienced
Attorney Hiring
• Apply 4 months in advance
• Begin looking now for spring 2013
• Available for fall, spring & summer
• Compensated internships, generally for 2Ls and
3Ls entering clerkships/fellowships
• Apply online July 31 - September 4, 2012
• Entry-level attorney positions
• Apply online July 31 - September 4, 2012
• Vacancies posted at www.justice.gov/legalcareers
• Minimum of 1 year post-J.D. plus bar admission
Visit www.justice.gov/legalcareers for
information on all DOJ hiring programs.
Who’s Eligible
Volunteer
Internships
There are
many
career
paths to
Justice
Summer Law
Intern Program
2013
Attorney General’s
Honors Program
2012-2013
Experienced
Attorney Hiring
• Law students with at least one semester of law
school experience.
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Law students with at least one semester of law school
experience at the time of application (late summer); and
•Law school grads entering judicial clerkships, legal
fellowships, or full-time graduate law programs.
• Law students graduating this academic year
• Eligible judicial law clerks, legal fellows, and
graduate law students whose terms end after
December 2013 but before September 30, 2012
• Minimum of 1 year post-J.D. plus bar admission.
Specific vacancies may require other experience
or skills.
Visit www.justice.gov/legalcareers for
information on all DOJ hiring programs.
Who’s Hiring:
Anticipated HP Participants
PERMANENT POSITIONS
• Antitrust Division
• Civil Division
• Criminal Division
• Civil Rights Division
• Environment & Nat’l Resources Div.
• National Security Division
• Office of Information and Privacy
• Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties
• Tax Division
• U.S. Trustee Program
TERM POSITIONS
• Office of the Solicitor General: 1 year
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Must have federal circuit court of appeals clerkship
PERMANENT USAO POSITIONS
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District of Arizona
Central District of California
Southern District of California
Northern District of Illinois
Northern District of Ohio
Western District of Texas
FELLOWSHIPS
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Federal Bureau of Prisons: 2-4 years
Criminal Division Asset Forfeiture & Money
Laundering Fellowship: 3 years
CLERKSHIPS
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Drug Enforcement Administration: 1 year
Executive Office for Immigration Review
(Immigration Courts nationwide): 1-2 years
Who’s Hiring:
Anticipated SLIP Participants
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Antitrust Division
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Washington, D.C. and field offices in major
cities
Civil Division
Executive Office for Immigration
Review
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Office of Information & Privacy
Tax Division
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICES
• District of Wyoming
• Southern District of Alabama
• District of Hawaii
• Middle District of Pennsylvania
RESTRICTED ELIGIBLITY POSITIONS
• Office of the Solicitor General
• Office of Legal Counsel
(restricted to 3Ls who have accepted a
judicial clerkship following law school
graduation only).
Who We Hire
Each component has its own mission, culture, and values
JUSTICE IS MISSION DRIVEN . . .
Many attorneys and interns have:
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Demonstrated interest in the work
Commitment to public service
Energy and enthusiasm
Strong credentials
Relevant educational or employment
backgrounds
Plus an application package that communicates all of the above!
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.
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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 We Value
INTEGRITY
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In the statements on your application …
In your reported employment history …
In your accomplishments …
In stating your class rank, standing, and
GPA …
DOJ reserves the right to disqualify any
candidate whose application materials contain
false, misleading, or substantially inaccurate
information and may report the factual basis for
such action to the applicant’s law school for
further review.
What You Should Know
Stepping Stones to Success
Appealing to the hiring officials!
Do your
research
Make a
connection
Public
Service
Be more
than a
GPA
SUCCESS!
What You Should Know
Online Application Tips
• Provide thoughtful, wellcrafted responses to shortanswer questions, such as:
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“Why do you want to work for
the Department of Justice and
what attracts you to the
components you selected?”
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“If you could tell the hiring
official one thing about
yourself, what would it be?
What You Should Know
Online Applications Require You To Rank Your Choices
Select 1-3
organizations
Think through
your ranking
Use
“Employment”
screens to sell
your skills
What You Should Know
More Online Application Tips
• Use the “Employment” screens
wisely
• Take advantage of the “Additional
Information” screen
• Address sticky issues, such as a
bad semester, etc.
• Research the hiring offices
• Be interested and interesting
What You Should Know
Security and Suitability
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
• Credit issues
• Drug use
• Tax issues
• Providing false or misleading
information on your pre-employment
forms
• Advisory opinions on potential
problems available post-offer.
What’s Next?
Top Takeaways
There are many paths to DOJ
including:
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Clerkships
Federal Government
State and Local Government
District Attorney’s Offices
Private Firms
Public Interest Employers
Academic Positions
Legal Fellowships
What’s Next?
Top Takeaways
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Volunteering pays off
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Effective applications take
effort. Do your research!
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If at first you don’t succeed . . .
Questions?
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Justice.
For more detailed information, visit our
website at: www.justice.gov/legalcareers
Updates for the 2012-2013 Honors Program
and Summer Law Intern Program will be
posted in early summer 2012.