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ATTORNEY GENERAL’S HONORS PROGRAM AND SUMMER LAW INTERN PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY/APPLICATION PROCEDURES


The Attorney General’s Honors Program (Honors Program) is the Department’s recruitment program for entry-level attorneys and is the only way the Department hires graduating law students. The Summer Law Intern Program (Summer Program) is the Department’s recruitment program for compensated summer law interns. Both programs are highly competitive; the Department reviews many elements of a candidate’s background before selecting him/her for employment, including: academic achievement, law review experience, moot court competition, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time employment. The Department is also interested in specialized academic studies, work experience and extracurricular activities that are directly related to the work of the Department.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply to the Honor Program IF:

  • You are a third-year law student who will complete your studies in the winter (December/January) or in the spring/summer (May/June) following the fall in which you apply to the program; OR

  • You will be a full-time graduate law student in the last year of study by the fall in which you apply to the program. Your graduate study must immediately follow law school graduation with no significant post-J.D. employment and must be full-time for the duration of study; OR

  • You will be a Judicial Law Clerk prior to the application deadline and will complete your clerkship in the fall or winter in which you will begin your employment with the Department. Your clerkship must be your first significant legal employment following your graduation and, generally, must begin no later than nine months post-J.D. You may serve in a judicial clerkship(s) for no more than three years. If your clerkship ends before October 1st of the year in which you apply, you are not eligible to apply to the Honors Program; you should apply for employment with the Department as an experienced attorney.

You are eligible to apply to the Summer Program IF:

  • You have completed at least one semester of law school by the fall in which you apply; OR

  • You will enter your second year of law school in the fall of which you apply; OR

  • You will graduate from law school in winter or spring/summer following the fall in which you apply and will enter a judicial clerkship or full-time graduate law program in the fall following your internship.

  • NOTE: First-year, first-semester law students are not eligible to apply to the Summer Program.

Application Procedures

The Department of Justice initiated a new online application process this year in response to security concerns, mail delays, and to increase convenience for applicants. Candidates may complete and submit an application electronically through the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management's website at www.usdoj.gov/oarm/ between August 1 and September 23, 2002.

Both the Honors Program and the Summer Law Intern Program require that candidates submit their applications by a receipt deadline of Monday, September 23, 2002. The online application system automatically confirms the receipt of applications by generating an e-mail response. Individuals with disabilities or special needs who cannot access the internet or who need an accommodation may leave a voice mail message at (202) 514-1175. The TDD number is (202) 616-2113. The Department recommends that candidates apply early to ensure that the application is received by the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. No exceptions will be granted. The Department will not accept applications hand-delivered by applicants and is not open after regular work hours.

The new online application will ask candidates to attach an electronic transcript and resume, or, in the alternative, to type the relevant information in a field provided for that purpose. The Department will not accept resumes or transcripts submitted separately from the online application, or any other written submissions, such as letters of recommendation, writing samples, or cover letters.

The general time line for both programs is:

  • August 1st through September 23 - candidates submit application packages

  • late September/early October - DOJ reviews packages

  • October - DOJ selects and notifies interview candidates

  • late October through mid-November – DOJ conducts interviews

  • November through early December – DOJ selects finalists and extends most offers

  • November through mid-December – DOJ extends most offers

  • January – DOJ completes hiring selections

For more detailed information, review the web pages specific to the Attorney General's Honors Program or the Summer Law Intern Program at http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm.

Interviews and Offers

Information about the interview process and offers for the Honors and Summer Programs will be available on the OARM web page: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm after August 1, 2002.

Offers

Salaries

Honors Program

  • Candidates with J.D. degree GS-11, step 1

  • Judicial Law Clerks (1 year clerkship)

  • Candidates with LL.M. degrees GS-12, step 1

  • Judicial Law Clerks( 2-3 years of clerkships) GS-13, step 1* * at the discretion of the hiring organization

Summer Program

  • Candidates with less than 2 years of law school : GS-5, step 1

  • Candidates with 2 years completed: GS-7, step 1

  • Candidates with J.D. degree: GS-11, step 1

Federal salaries vary by locality. Applicants should consult the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Salary Table (Document No. 124-48-6) which is available in public libraries or on the Internet at http://www.opm.gov/ocva/payrates/index.htm

Length of Appointment

With the exception of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Honors Program appointments are for permanent attorney positions. EOIR hires candidates for one- or two-year clerkships. BOP hires candidates for two-year fellowships. All entry-level attorneys are required to pass a bar examination and be active members of the bar (any jurisdiction) within 14 months of entry on duty. Summer law interns generally work approximately 90 days between early May and late September. Candidates are usually allowed to “split” their summer employment; however, all organizations require a minimum commitment of 6 to 8 weeks.

Conditions of Employment

Department attorneys hold positions of high public trust. Prior to receiving a final appointment as an Honors Program attorney, candidates must undergo a full-field background character investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation includes a complete name and fingerprint check; checking and interviewing references, close personal associates, former spouse(s), former employers, co-workers, neighbors, landlords and educational institutions; and a complete check of credit, military, tax and police records. The background investigation covers a period of seven to ten years.

Summer interns are subject to a name and fingerprint check. In addition, interns’ pre-employment forms are thoroughly reviewed to determine suitability for employment. Both Honors Program attorneys and Summer Law Interns must pass a drug test which screens for current illegal drug use.

The most common issues that arise in background investigations are: past unlawful use of drugs, failure to fulfill tax obligations, and failure to comply with financial obligations. After an applicant has received an offer of employment from the Department, OARM can advise him/her as to any issues regarding potential suitability problems.

Candidates for both programs are subject to a residency requirement. Any candidates who have lived outside of the U.S. for three of the past five years may have difficulty being approved for appointment by the Department’s Security Staff. (Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees, serving overseas are excepted from this requirement.)

Citizenship

Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Non-U.S. citizens may apply for attorney positions or internships with other Department organizations, but appointments are extremely rare; an appointment or internship would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department’s mission and would be subject to statutory restrictions on the expenditure of funds and strict security requirements. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Geographic Assignments

The majority of entry-level attorney positions and legal internships are in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. The Antitrust Division, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review hire Honors Program attorneys for positions outside of Washington, DC. The U.S. Trustees hire Honors Program attorneys for position in 94 regional/field offices located throughout the country, and occasionally for the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees in Washington, DC. The Antitrust Division and the Executive Office for Immigration Review offer summer internships outside of Washington, DC.

Other Sources of Information

The Internet

Information on the Attorney General’s Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program can be found on the OARM web page: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/. The DOJ home page (http://www.usdoj.gov) contains detailed information about the Department and each of its organizations. If you are interested in employment with the Department, we urge you to consult the OARM home page for the most current information.

Recorded Information

You may call (202) 514-3396 for recorded information (available 24 hours a day) on the eligibility and application requirements for the Honors Program (select option 1) and Summer Law Intern Program (select option 2). The OARM TDD number is (202) 616-2113.

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The Attorney General’s Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program are administered by:

Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management
U.S. Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov/oarm
Telephone: 202-514-3396
(Recorded Information)

Summer Law Interns McTaggart,Lee,Helton,Gaynor

Summer Law Interns Kelli McTaggart (seated), Rex K. Lee (left), Taiawagi Helton (center), and Amy Gaynor.

“Shortly after I started work in the Tax Division’s Criminal Enforcement Section, the Section Chief handed me the records of an Internal Revenue Service investigation and asked me to determine whether criminal prosecution was warranted. A steady stream of interesting projects followed, ranging from determining the admissibility of a drug expert’s testimony to responding to a defendant’s preliminary motions. I was also impressed with the flexibility in accommodating my schedule since I was studying for a bar. My managers knew when I attended classes and checked to make sure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by my assignments. It was an exciting summer with a happy ending . . . I passed the bar!”

Edward Crooke
Summer Law Intern
Tax Division




“I cannot imagine a more rewarding summer experience as a law student than the one I had at the Tax Division. To ensure that I had a worthwhile legal experience, attorneys entrusted me with challenging responsibilities. Since tax law permeates a large sphere of human affairs, the stories behind the cases I worked on were as colorful as life itself. I worked on cases that involved transactions all across the country as well as across oceans - to China, Saudi Arabia and the South Pacific Island of Vanuatu. I traveled to Las Vegas where I attended depositions and a court hearing. Moreover, my section’s congenial but dedicated work culture provided me with all the resources and support I needed to complete my assignments without constant or patronizing supervision. While every summer intern’s experience is unique, mine was certainly beyond my expectations.”

Rex K. Lee
Summer Law Intern
Tax Division

Photo of Alvin L. Bragg

"The amount of responsibility given to interns and the significance of the Government's work provided me with an unparalleled opportunity to be involved in civil rights litigation. My first observation about the Employment Litigation Section was the level of commitment that the attorneys and staff demonstrated in every aspect of their work. Their enthusiasm and dedication enriched my summer and inspired me to remain involved in efforts to combat discrimination and prejudice. Section attorneys provided summer interns with interesting and practical assignments. All of my research projects involved issues that were fundamental to open cases. Assignments were also designed to be learning experiences. Each intern was exposed to all the different types of cases for which the Section is responsible. I also drafted motions, helped attorneys prepare for depositions, and observed interviews of potential witnesses for trial. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I am confident that anyone who interns in the Civil Rights Division will enjoy working with and learning from exceptional litigators who truly are interested in the professional development of future attorneys."

Alvin L. Bragg
Summer Law Intern
Civil Rights Division








"As a former chemist
who went to law school specifically to become a better environmental advocate, I applied for the Summer Law Intern Program because I wanted to gain experience with environmental litigation while exploring opportunities to work in the public sector. I couldn't have
chosen better. From my first day in the Appellate Section, the section attorneys gave me substantive legal work concerning everything from endangered species protection to clean water regulation to wetlands protection. I was even able to help an attorney from the Policy, Legislation and Litigation Section draft an amicus brief in support of a regional planning agency. And my work wasn't limited to writing memoranda and drafting briefs; the section attorneys were dedicated to involving all the summer clerks in preparing for their oral arguments. The best part of my summer, however, was meeting the attorneys in the Division – they were not only some of the brightest people I've met in my life, but also incredibly friendly, thoughtful and diverse. Indeed, I had such a great experience that I applied to the Honors Program and am happy to say that I'll be returning to work at the Department of Justice as
an entry-level attorney.”

Stephanie Tai
Summer Law Intern
Environment and Natural
Resources Division