DOJ Honors 2014 EOIR-OCIJ Finalists Forum

[swspecial]

I got an offer for Los Angeles today. There is still hope guys hang in there.

[Anonymous User]

I got an offer for Los Angeles today. There is still hope guys hang in there.

Congrats! And congrats to everyone else. I'm still hopeful-- my refs were contacted so we'll see!

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer in the Southeast Region about a week ago. Accepted.

[Anonymous User]

First time poster, long time follower. I just accepted an offer for the Northeast region. Congratulations to all, and good luck to those still waiting.

[Anonymous User]

Do the offers come from the individual courts, or do they all come from HQ in VA?

[Anonymous User]

For those that have received offer. First of all, congratulations. Second, were the offers for cities you had listed as a preference? Did any of you mark that you would be willing to be assigned anywhere?

[Anonymous User]

Congrats guys. I think I am officially giving up.

[Anonymous User]

Definitely losing hope. Refs checked weeks ago. Still haven't heard anything. Trying not to give up entirely, but this wait is really wearing me down.

I wish they would give us some information -- anything! Are they done with first-round offers? Halfway through? Have they moved on to alternates for any cities? How much longer will this take??? These are the thoughts that keep me up at night.

CS

[Anonymous User]

Do the offers come from the individual courts, or do they all come from HQ in VA?

My offer came from Virginia HQ.

For those that have received offer. First of all, congratulations. Second, were the offers for cities you had listed as a preference? Did any of you mark that you would be willing to be assigned anywhere?

I was offered my first choice; I did indicate I was willing to be assigned anywhere.

-C16

[Anonymous User]

Candidate who accepted the SE Region offer here:

My offer call was from the headquarters in VA. I listed my region/city as #1 and did not check that I would be willing to go anywhere.

[Anonymous User]

I got my second choice city and my offer came from HQ. I said I was willing to go anywhere.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone still think their references haven't been contacted?

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone who has accepted an offer starting higher than a GS-12, step 1?

During my interview, the interviewer told me to make sure I work with HQ on my grade classification since I'm coming in with two years of experience (and kind of hinted that others coming in with experience have had problems with this in the past). But then during the offer call, HQ made it sound like it was just black and white - GS-11 if you're just out of school, GS-12, step 1 if you have experience, regardless of how much experience it is. Just wondering if I should try talking to them about it again, or if they really don't ever give anything higher.

(And for those still waiting for an offer - don't give up hope yet! It seems like first round offers are still going out, and I was told they're expecting the full process of extending offers, including the alternates, to go until mid-late February. So there's definitely still a lot of time for an offer to come through!)

[Anonymous User]

I think the web page says that coming in at GS-13 is at the discretion of the component, and they may just not want to do it. It's probably worth asking, politely, but I wouldn't hold my breath. (I don't think there's really any negotiation on steps, but I could be wrong.)

[Anonymous User]

I think the web page says that coming in at GS-13 is at the discretion of the component, and they may just not want to do it. It's probably worth asking, politely, but I wouldn't hold my breath. (I don't think there's really any negotiation on steps, but I could be wrong.)

Seconded. From what I've heard, there isn't negotiation.

[Anonymous User]

I think the web page says that coming in at GS-13 is at the discretion of the component, and they may just not want to do it. It's probably worth asking, politely, but I wouldn't hold my breath. (I don't think there's really any negotiation on steps, but I could be wrong.)

Seconded. From what I've heard, there isn't negotiation.

There was no negotiation for me: I was simply told I would get GS-12 based on my experience.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone started their background investigation yet? If so, was the form the SF-85P or SF-85P-S?

[eoir2013]

Has anyone started their background investigation yet? If so, was the form the SF-85P or SF-85P-S?

I recall from threads from last year that 2013 incoming JLCs had to complete the SF-85P form.

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone who has accepted an offer starting higher than a GS-12, step 1?

During my interview, the interviewer told me to make sure I work with HQ on my grade classification since I'm coming in with two years of experience (and kind of hinted that others coming in with experience have had problems with this in the past). But then during the offer call, HQ made it sound like it was just black and white - GS-11 if you're just out of school, GS-12, step 1 if you have experience, regardless of how much experience it is. Just wondering if I should try talking to them about it again, or if they really don't ever give anything higher.

(And for those still waiting for an offer - don't give up hope yet! It seems like first round offers are still going out, and I was told they're expecting the full process of extending offers, including the alternates, to go until mid-late February. So there's definitely still a lot of time for an offer to come through!)

If you have the requisite time in grade to get a higher step owing to past government work, you shouldn't have too much of an issue getting the appropriate step. You'll have to work with HR on getting them appropriate dox. Other than that, I'd be pretty surprised if they negotiated at all.

On grade, it's pretty straightforward. If you're a licensed attorney as of the date you enter on duty, you start as a 12; otherwise, you're an 11 until you pass the bar (and pass your first performance review, so like March 2015). There's no way anyone is getting a 13 on a two year, entry-level clerkship.

Having no insider information, but based on past patterns, I would imagine they're past initial offers on all slots by now and they're going down the alternate lists. There's not really "waves." They're required to give each person two full weeks to consider an offer, so there's usually a two-week lag between offers, but they're just going down the list. There are many slots where they're on the third or fourth offer before they get someone to accept, and that could take anything between a few days or a couple months to shake out. No useful information can be gained by watching when other people on here are getting offers.

[Anonymous User]

just got an offer this morning for my third choice. came from headquarters. did not say i was willing to go anywhere.

[Anonymous User]

Just received an offer yesterday. It was not a city that I listed (in fact, it was not on the list at all), however it was in the same region as the cities I listed. I also marked that I would be willing to go anywhere. Oh, and just to give hope to future applicants - I'm from a fourth tier school (I don't even know if they are ranked that far down).

[Anonymous User]

for those who accepted offers: how long did it take before you received confirmation of your acceptance?

[swspecial]

I got an email confirmation the next day after I sent an email acceptance. But I still have not received the official packet in the mail yet.

[Anonymous User]

I received an offer yesterday for my first choice city. No negotiation for coming in above GS-12.

[Anonymous User]

Just wanted to close the loop -- I was offered a position a few days ago in one of my top three locations.

Thanks, everyone, for posting updates and commiserating. This process has been rough. Best wishes to those still hanging in there! Remember to breathe...

CS