First.

Gallion OUT!

Addington and Yoo were first

First.

Gallion OUT!

FIRST

I tried getting into that but I guess they don't like highly qualified people with 3.96 gpas. Oh well. I'm making 100K more in private practice now at a major firm.

First (to testify before Congress about politicizing the US Attorney appointments process)

FIRST

If you want to get hired, place a prominent "Federalist Society" reference on your resume and display a small but discreet American flag on your lapel on your interview.

If Regents grads and Liberty U. grads can do it, even Loyola 2L would get hired under those circumstances.

If you want to get hired, place a prominent "Federalist Society" reference on your resume and display a small but discreet American flag on your lapel on your interview.

If Regents grads and Liberty U. grads can do it, even Loyola 2L would get hired under those circumstances.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ALL CAPS IN YOUR RECRUITING COMMUNICATIONS.

The DoJ is for the law students who think they will be good lawyers - you know those who study in law schools that are not in the T14....

I expected some of all of these horror stories to come up in my application and interview process. None of them did. I got interviews with two components and they went swimmingly - nice, laid-back, informative interviews. Nothing remotely political came up - I am a moderate Democrat and don't have anything to the far right or left on my resume.

I'm looking forward to spending at least a few years at DOJ if I get an offer - good hours, solid pay and benefits, lots of opportunity for a recent grad to start litigating right away. For me, it's worth forgoing the biglaw salary, but to each his own. I'm certainly hoping the administration that takes over in 2009 makes the top levels of the department better - how could you not?

I also enjoyed the futuristic Security Space Tube you have to go through to get into Main Justice. I felt like I was being cloned.

boring...

I hear from several sources that, at least in civil division, the front office is staying clear of hiring decisions, and that last year was an abberation in what has otherwise been a very honorable and meritocratic process.

With regard to the third question: DOJ contract with another company to host its application website and to handle all interview-related correspondence. Apparently, the software used by that company had a glitch. When it notified people of the components that had selected them for an interview, the email was also supposed to state a) what additional materials were required (e.g. writing sample) and b) to whom you were supposed to send them. The glitch caused the wrong information to be attached to some emails (for instance, people who were selected to interview with Civil were given the requirements and contact information for Civil Rights). I was the recipient of one of the quirky emails, and it wasn't a big deal -- they told us of the mix-up quickly, and we got new emails later that day that did, in fact, have the correct info.

I hear you have to be very good with numbers and be the cream of the cream of the crop.

I would be very hesitant to work at DOJ Civ Rights unless you have a passion for the work. Very little of their work involves substantive litigation (Housing Section being an exception a limited extent). A result of this is that if you spend quite a bit of time there you may find yourself trapped unless you can successfully lateral to a different division, as you will have little to offer on your resume.

so what you're saying is, i wasn't selected for an interview.

i got rejected by the DOJ and all i got was this stupid tee-shirt.

I was interviewed by one person for one hour who I believe was fairly low on the DOJ totem pole. Not sure what the internal selection process is like after interviews. Anyone have anything to add in that respect?

4:34,

It varies by section. You may have undergone a screening round, which some, though not all, sections use.

5:03 - It was with the Civil Division and it was the one and only interview. Kind of odd since I met with only one person who, again, was relatively new there.

Interviewed w ATF last week. They said they'd be doing 2d round interviews for "finalists" since the Chief Counsel likes to meet everyone before decisions are made. Also was informed that I'm a finalist for EOIR, Civil Rights and Civil. Anyone know if any of those three hold further interviews, or whether they just select people based on materials submitted? I'm under the impression it's the latter...

The ability to torture other people legally is a powerful recruiting tool.

5:23 - You say you were selected as a "finalist" for several components without interviewing? I'm confused. I was selected for an interview with the Civil Division, interviewed, and told a decision would be made in Nov. I guess it could differ by component and branch though.

It sounds like 5:23 is talking about SLIP, not the Honors Program for Entry-Level Lawyers.

SLIP is the Summer Lawyers Intern Program, for the 1L or 2L summer.

The Honors Program for Entry-Level Lawyers is for either graduating 3Ls or Clerks to enter the DOJ for a 3-year term (some divisions have different lengths).

The normal process involves the application, one round of interviews ("Selected for Interview" status on your application), then some candidates are bounced while others are indicated as "Finalists". Offers are made any time between Nov. 9 - Jan. 1 or so, with the majority of interviews in the first weeks of that period.

There are SOMETIMES multiple-rounds of offers, due to some offer-recipients having already accepted offers elsewhere (other divisions, other agencies, clerkships or firms).

I'm not aware of any divisions having multiple-round interviews for the Entry-Level program; only for SLIP.

Personally, I'm waiting for my Criminal Law division this week, and hoping I can make it a career.

It sounds like 5:23 is talking about SLIP, not the Honors Program for Entry-Level Lawyers.

SLIP is the Summer Lawyers Intern Program, for the 1L or 2L summer.

The Honors Program for Entry-Level Lawyers is for either graduating 3Ls or Clerks to enter the DOJ for a 3-year term (some divisions have different lengths).

The normal process involves the application, one round of interviews ("Selected for Interview" status on your application), then some candidates are bounced while others are indicated as "Finalists". Offers are made any time between Nov. 9 - Jan. 1 or so, with the majority of interviews in the first weeks of that period.

There are SOMETIMES multiple-rounds of offers, due to some offer-recipients having already accepted offers elsewhere (other divisions, other agencies, clerkships or firms).

I'm not aware of any divisions having multiple-round interviews for the Entry-Level program; only for SLIP.

Personally, I'm waiting for my Criminal Law division this week, and hoping I can make it a career.

DOJ HONORS IS A TTT. WHO THE FUCK CAN LIVE ON A SHIT 50K STARTING SALARY? *GOES TO BIGLAW*

5:59 = Honors Program Envy

5:59 = small penis & cocaine addiction

5:59 = (apparently effective) troll

anyone know anything about enrd? (especially in terms of politically-oriented hiring.)

ENRD hiring is not politically oriented...but when they ask your opinion on global warming, tell them "the jury's still out."

They hire you at GS-11 which is $55K (might be more if you are at a field office with even more locality pay than DC), then after several months and bar passage you go to GS-12 which is $66 or 67K. GS-13 is $79K, I believe. Not bad at all if the hours, work, and responsibility are a good fit.

Anyway, one of my interviewers said OARM wants them to have their picks in by Nov 15th so they can start extending offers the next week.

Hey, 3:07 pm, I'm the real David Addington. I troll the WSJ Law Blog and find new and inventive ways to advance the unitary executive theory. Back off, douche. You can be John Yoo or Jack Goldsmith or even Douglas Feith, but I'm David Addington.

I'll close with two thoughts: Why are you trying to give away the president's power and Lat is a really creepy dude. What the hell is wrong with him and his campy, flamboyant personality?

I started in the Honors Program this fall (GS-12 after clerking). The political appointee at my interview last fall seemed pretty bored. My resume indicates that I am definitely not Fed. Soc. material, but I didn't get grilled on any partisan issues. I think the politicization of entry-level hiring is overblown, but maybe it's a division-by-division thing. It's an awesome job, litigating right away.

Does anyone know anything about anti-trust?

Interviewed with antitrust. Not sure how representative my panel of 3 was, but they had clearly done their homework (got questions on writing sample, something I published a year ago, and my, gasp, college thesis, so know your resume cold). Friendly, and from what I could tell, no ideological litmus test -- or, frankly, I would never have gotten as far as the interview. Know what sorts of cases you'd be into working on.

anyone interview with the national security division or have any insight?

4:19 - We can't all be as cool as TS.

Can anyone here tell me:
Is there a way to enter into the honors program if you've been out of law school for more than one year (class of '06) and have been working in a state government job since? Or is the door closed?

Can anyone here tell me:
Is there a way to enter into the honors program if you've been out of law school for more than one year (class of '06) and have been working in a state government job since? Or is the door closed?

11:09 -- my understanding is that the answer is no, unless your state govt job is a clerkship.

11:09,

You are shit out of luck. Not only b/c the Honors Program is unavailable to you, but because you have yet to learn that the google is your friend. http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/arm/hp/hpeligibility.htm#f

so I had a phone interview with my component for SLIP 2 weeks ago. Today I received a phone call to set up an in person interview at my law school for next week. Is this normal procedure for SLIP? I thought that they only had 1 round of interviews. Also, would this mean that I am a "finalist" or do you think I still have a long ways ahead of me? What are chances??

They're coming to your school? I had to travel for my 2nd SLIP interview--at my expense.

I am not the same anon2 as anon2.

today was the last day of interviews. are other interviewees references getting calls? do they call everyone's references or does the call indicate that we are a finalist, etc?

Only 1 of my 3 references got a call. I hope it's a good sign, but I don't know.

Has anyone received an Honors Program status change to finalist or received an offer? If so, what component?

Antitrust--status changed to finalist today. Didn't list my judge as a reference, but I know they called the judge anyway a couple of days after the interview. Not sure whether they contacted any other refs. FWIW, I also interviewed very early.

i also interviewed with antitrust, but my status changed to finalist a few days ago...

Update: Offer from ATR-DC.

Offer from Civil Rights

have received offer from civil tax

offer from enrd

Offer from Tax; Accepted.

Are offers given in letters or via telephone?

Are offers given in letters or via telephone?

By telephone

Wondering if anyone is still waiting to hear back for SLIP program? Status check says selected as finalist and had an interview, haven't heard anything.