More Jobs for 3Ls -- But Applications Are Due ASAP!(And job opportunities for experienced attorneys too.)

In light of the tough job market for graduating law students, we've been running a series on employment opportunities for 3Ls. Thus far we've covered judicial clerkships, the Justice Department Honors Program, the Presidential Management Fellows Program, and the Chief Counsel’s Employment Program at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Now we bring you news about another arm of the federal government that is hiring graduating law students as well as experienced attorneys. But if you're interested, you need to act fast; applications are due today....

In light of the tough job market for graduating law students, we’ve been running a series on employment opportunities for 3Ls. Thus far we’ve covered judicial clerkships, the Justice Department Honors Program, the Presidential Management Fellows Program, and the Chief Counsel’s Employment Program at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Today we bring you news about another arm of the federal government that is hiring graduating law students as well as experienced attorneys. But if you’re interested, you need to act fast; applications are due as early as tomorrow….

The entity that’s doing the hiring is the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (yes, the bête noire of certain conservatives; but hey, in 2011, a job is a job). If you check out the CFPB website’s jobs page, you’ll see a wealth of openings just waiting to be filled. Some of the positions are legal — attorney/advisor, legal assistant — while others are more policy-focused or administrative in nature. Note the fairly high salaries for the experienced-lawyer positions, some of which break the $200,000 barrier.

Current 3Ls — i.e., members of the Class of 2012 — will probably be most interested in the Louis D. Brandeis Honors Attorney Program:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a new federal agency devoted solely to guarding the economic strength and vitality of America’s families, seeks to hire its first class of Louis D. Brandeis Fellows to participate in its attorney honors program, starting in the fall of 2012.

Program participants will make substantive contributions to the CFPB’s mission, and develop their legal skills through meaningful on-the-job assignments and rotational opportunities both in and outside of the Bureau. This is a rare public service opportunity to support the American consumer while enriching your legal skills.

These positions are located in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of General Counsel, Enforcement Division, Fair Lending, or other offices as assigned. Successful completion of the program normally will result in conversion to a permanent appointment.

Permanent employment: the Holy Grail for graduating law students! And yes, these positions are actually open to 3Ls (as well as recent law school graduates who meet certain requirements):

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Eligible applicants must be either:

* Current law school students who anticipate graduation between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012:

OR

* Attorneys who graduated from law school after September 30, 2009 and who, at the time of appointment, have spent no more than one year participating in an activity other than graduate education, a judicial clerkship, a public-interest fellowship, or another comparable activity.

You can read all about the Brandeis program at the CFPB website. But if you want to apply, act now; applications are due tomorrow. (We apologize for not mentioning this earlier.)

And don’t forget that there are other job opportunities at the CFPB for lawyers with more experience. But please note the application deadlines, most of which fall during this week (tomorrow or Thursday).

We hope this information proves helpful. Good luck to any of you who apply!

Join the CFPB team [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]

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