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Antitrust Division

The Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice enforces the federal antitrust laws to ensure that the U.S. economy works effectively and efficiently for the American people. The Antitrust Division's highest priorities are preventing anticompetitive mergers, acquisitions, and other business practices that unreasonably restrict competition in violation of the Sherman and Clayton Acts, through civil and criminal investigative and enforcement procedures.

Positions Available:
The Antitrust Division primarily hires attorneys, economists, paralegal specialists, and secretaries to accomplish its mission. The Division also hires a limited number of other types of professional, administrative, and support staff.

How to Find Out About Vacancies:
Current vacancies are posted on the World Wide Web at www.usdoj.gov, the Department of Justice Home Page. Once in the Home Page, select "employment" and then select the appropriate subcategory ("Vacancies", "General Information", "Legal Employment", and/or "Information Technology Careers"). Antitrust vacancies are also published on the Office of Personnel Management's Internet site at www.usajobs.opm.gov and many jobs are also posted in the Federal Career Opportunities Bulletin (call 703-281-0200 or visit the Internet site at www.fedjobs.com for information on obtaining a paper or on-line subscription to the Federal Career Opportunities Bulletin). General questions regarding job opportunities also can be addressed to the Antitrust Division's Personnel Unit on 202-514-2469.

How to Apply:
We accept applications on a year-round basis from experienced attorneys, outstanding scholars, and students (see below for more information on each program and how to apply). The deadline for Summer Law Intern and Honor Program applications is annually in late September. We accept other applications in response to posted vacancy announcements. Currently, we accept the Standard Form 171 (SF-171), the Optional Form 612 (OF-612), or a resumé. Be sure to check the individual vacancy announcement to see if additional information is required, such as a description of your background in relation to a particular quality ranking factor.

Attorney and Law Student Recruitment Program:
You may request a Do Your Legal Career Justice, Opportunities for Entry-Level Attorneys and Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice booklet, which describes the Department's legal employment programs, outlines the functions of every organization in the Department, and contains application procedures for the Summer Law Intern and Honor Programs.

Application materials, requests for an application booklet, or requests for a Do Your Legal Career Justice, Opportunities for Entry-Level Attorneys and Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice booklet, should be sent to the Honor/SLI Program Coordinator, Antitrust Division Personnel Unit, Room 10805, 601 D Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530.

Experienced Attorney Program:
An experienced attorney applicant must have had his or her J.D. degree for at least one year (or have their LL.M. or other graduate law degree in addition to a J.D.), and be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia. Submit a cover letter and resume at any time during the year to the Experienced/Lateral Attorney Program Coordinator, Antitrust Division Personnel Unit, Room 10805, 601 D Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530. Information pertaining to the Experienced /Lateral Attorney Program can be found in the booklet Do Your Legal Career Justice, Opportunities for Lateral Attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Honor Program for Attorneys:
The Attorney General's Honor Program is the primary way the Department hires graduating law students. You are eligible 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; 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.

Application instructions and eligibility requirements are included in the Do Your Legal Career Justice, Opportunities for Entry-Level Attorneys and Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice booklet. Applications are normally available in law school placement offices and may be downloaded from the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management's web site at www.usdoj.gov/oarm (available from approximately August 1st through the final business day prior to the receipt deadline for applications).

Summer Law Intern Program:
Law students are eligible to apply for paid summer law internships when they enter their second year of law school or are law school graduates between their graduation and commencement of a judicial clerkship or a full-time graduate law program. The application deadlines is annually in late September. Application Instructions are included in the application booklet or you may refer to the Do Your Legal Career Justice, Opportunities for Entry-Level Attorneys and Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice booklet. Applications may be downloaded from the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management's web site at www.usdoj.gov/oarm (available from approximately August 1st through the final business day prior to the receipt deadline for applications).

Part-Time Program:
There are some paid, part-time positions available in the Department during the "regular" school year, i.e., September through May (Paid positions for the summer months are filled through the Summer Law Intern Program). Employment of students who are attending law school on a full-time basis may not exceed 20 hours per week. Students who have completed their second year of law school are hired at the GS-07 grade level, while students who have not yet completed the second year of law school are hired at the GS-05 grade level. Current salary data for the location in which you are interested may be obtained from the Personnel Unit.

Work-Study Intern Programs:
Work-Study Intern positions are without compensation but are for course credit or part of a work-study program when permitted by the student's law school. Students should contact their law school for specific intern or work-study requirements prior to applying for such a position.

Volunteer Program:
Law students who want to gain valuable work experience with the Department may apply for a position as a volunteer. These positions are without compensation. The number of hours worked in a volunteer capacity is agreed upon by the student and the supervisor, but a student may not exceed 20 hours per week while attending law school full-time. Most such positions are in the Washington, DC area.

To apply, send a resume or current SF-171 or OF-612, college transcript, listing of law school courses attended and a brief cover letter indicating areas of interest and availability to the Volunteer Coordinator, Antitrust Division, Room 10805, Patrick Henry Building, 601 D Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530.

Economists:
The Antitrust Division's Economic Analysis Group (EAG) conducts sophisticated economic analyses of particular industries and markets, both regulated and nonregulated, to evaluate the competitive implications of proposed mergers, assess proposed regulations and legislation, evaluate allegations of anticompetitive behavior, and provide expert support in antitrust litigation. Relevant research is encouraged, and EAG economists regularly publish in peer-reviewed economic journals.

To apply, new or senior Ph.D. economists must submit a curriculum vita, three letters of recommendation, a research paper, and a copy of a current graduate school transcript to the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Justice, Suite 10000, 600 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20530. Please indicate whether you are applying for a permanent or visiting (one year) position.

Paralegal Specialists:
The Division offers its paralegal specialists important roles in major investigations. Day-to-day activities include document review and organization, interviewing, legal and factual research, and preparation of memoranda. Travel is common. Paralegal specialists are hired primarily through the Outstanding Scholar Program year round, with the most intensive recruitment done from January through May. An Outstanding Scholar applicant must be a college graduate with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.45 or higher, or must have graduated in the top 10% of his or her class. Paralegal Specialists are hired on a 14-month term appointment at the GS-7 level, with the possibility of an extension.

To apply, send a resume or current SF-171 or OF-612, college transcript, list of references, and a writing sample that demonstrates analytical ability to the Paralegal Unit Supervisor, Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Room 10531, 600 E Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20530.

Secretaries, and other professional, administrative, and support staff not specifically discussed above, are normally hired through the Federal Government-wide competitive merit system process. This begins with a vacancy announcement as described under the How to Find Out About Vacancies section above, and occasionally other sources such as advertisements in local newspapers. Applications may be accepted on a year-round basis, currently using the SF-171, OF-612, or a resume. Please read the entire announcement carefully for application instructions specific to the particular vacancy or vacancies for which you are applying, such as the closing date or dates, additional forms or information which may be required, and the name and phone number of the personnel specialist to contact for assistance.

The Department of Justice, Antitrust Division is an equal opportunity employer. Diversity is encouraged. It is the policy of the Department of Justice to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected are required to pass a urinalysis test to screen for illegal drug use prior to a final appointment. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.



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