SEC Chair's Attorney Honors Program Forum

[Anonymous User]

"The Chair's Attorney Honors Program appointments for Attorneys are two-year long developmental appointments. After successful completion of the program participants may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years)."

Are these positions actually only for two years? Or will it be easy to become full time?

I was told in my interview that while it's not guaranteed the expectation is that you will become full time unless your performance is below average.

[Anonymous User]

"The Chair's Attorney Honors Program appointments for Attorneys are two-year long developmental appointments. After successful completion of the program participants may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years)."

Are these positions actually only for two years? Or will it be easy to become full time?

I was told in my interview that while it's not guaranteed the expectation is that you will become full time unless your performance is below average.

Is it possible for budget concerns to play a part in the decision making process? I would hate for the SEC's budget to get slashed

[Anonymous User]

I heard that offers are being extended for enforcement.

I heard offers are also being extended for Corp. Fin.

[Anonymous User]

"The Chair's Attorney Honors Program appointments for Attorneys are two-year long developmental appointments. After successful completion of the program participants may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years)."

Are these positions actually only for two years? Or will it be easy to become full time?

I was told in my interview that while it's not guaranteed the expectation is that you will become full time unless your performance is below average.

Is it possible for budget concerns to play a part in the decision making process? I would hate for the SEC's budget to get slashed

I don't know for sure, but based on my past federal government work experience it's very rare for two year NTE appointments not to be converted to full time if management wants it. They are already integrated into the agency's budget, so there is no new allocation of FTE spots which is what hiring freezes generally limit.

[Anonymous User]

Can someone explain the minimum/maximum of the SK pay scale? The min-max range indicates locality pay is not the only factor considered. Thanks

http://www.sec.gov/jobs/sec-pay.shtml

[Anonymous User]

Can someone explain the minimum/maximum of the SK pay scale? The min-max range indicates locality pay is not the only factor considered. Thanks

http://www.sec.gov/jobs/sec-pay.shtml

The factor that's usually considered for where you are within the grade is your relevant work experience. If you're coming straight out of law school, you will be at the low end of the spectrum at whatever starting salaries are fixed at. I believe its around $95,000 for DC. If you have a clerkship or relevant work experience you can probably be put in at a higher salary within the grade.

[Anonymous User]

Can someone explain the minimum/maximum of the SK pay scale? The min-max range indicates locality pay is not the only factor considered. Thanks

http://www.sec.gov/jobs/sec-pay.shtml

The factor that's usually considered for where you are within the grade is your relevant work experience. If you're coming straight out of law school, you will be at the low end of the spectrum at whatever starting salaries are fixed at. I believe its around $95,000 for DC. If you have a clerkship or relevant work experience you can probably be put in at a higher salary within the grade.

Thank you for the reply. Assuming you have relevant work experience/a clerkship, is there room to negotiate the salary offered?

[Anonymous User]

Can someone explain the minimum/maximum of the SK pay scale? The min-max range indicates locality pay is not the only factor considered. Thanks

http://www.sec.gov/jobs/sec-pay.shtml

The factor that's usually considered for where you are within the grade is your relevant work experience. If you're coming straight out of law school, you will be at the low end of the spectrum at whatever starting salaries are fixed at. I believe its around $95,000 for DC. If you have a clerkship or relevant work experience you can probably be put in at a higher salary within the grade.

Thank you for the reply. Assuming you have relevant work experience/a clerkship, is there room to negotiate the salary offered?

Typically, there is room to negotiate. I'm only familiar with how it works for laterals though. I'm not sure how it works with the Chair's program since it's the first year they have it but there's no harm in trying once you get an offer.

[Anonymous User]

(1) are all these positions to start fall 2015? and (2) what impact if any does the budget vote next week has on this program, since technically the agency has not received longer term funding for this fiscal year that started October 2014 and is only operating on continuing resolution funding (in other words, how can they give out offers if there is not funding approved for next year yet?)

[Anonymous User]

(1) are all these positions to start fall 2015? and (2) what impact if any does the budget vote next week has on this program, since technically the agency has not received longer term funding for this fiscal year that started October 2014 and is only operating on continuing resolution funding (in other words, how can they give out offers if there is not funding approved for next year yet?)

I don't have a full grasp of how the process works, but I believe CRs don't block all hiring. They just limit it to the number of FTEs that the agency is allocated in the CR. So if the agency has FTEs available due to normal turnover or if it had't filled them all last year, it can hire for those FTE spots. I assume that's how they're giving out offers for this program. If you look on USAJOBS, you'll see that there's plenty of government agencies hiring plenty of people despite being under a CR.

[Anonymous User]

What are the exit options of Corp Fin/Investment Management after 2-4 years? Is it easy to get biglaw?

[seizmaar]

i can't speak generally, but i have heard anecdotally about success stories of people moving from corp.fin. to corporate practice groups. the inside knowledge can be helpful, but you know that. i wouldn't say it would be easy but i think the move definitely happens.

[Anonymous User]

All this budget talk making me uneasy, is this based on just speculation or have any of you heard anything pertaining to that directly from the agency?

[Anonymous User]

All this budget talk making me uneasy, is this based on just speculation or have any of you heard anything pertaining to that directly from the agency?

It's a risk that's always present in federal jobs except in the few self-funded agencies. Just something that comes with the territory. I really don't think it will affect anyone who already has an formal offer from this program before the new budget is passed. If you already have an offer to work at the SEC (or any federal agency), you will not be laid off (RIFed in government speak) and your offer will not be rescinded. If the SEC budget is drastically slashed (which there is zero reason to believe will happen--in fact the SEC is asking for it to be very significantly expanded in its appropriations request to do all the new work it has to do under Dodd-Frank), the consequences will be for future hiring and maybe furloughs--you won't be laid off. Obviously, if you have only an informal offer or are still waiting for an offer when the new budget comes out--and the budget is significantly lower--you may be in more jeopardy.

[Anonymous User]

What are the exit options for IM/OCIE/TM?

Is it easy for an IM attorney to go to a law firm with an IM practice? Easier than a Corp Fin attorney going into a Biglaw's M&A/Cap Markets practice?

[Anonymous User]

Where have offers gone out too?

[Anonymous User]

So these positions are for two years. If I have an offer from my v10 summer firm, will they keep it open for two years? Has anyone heard of this?

[seizmaar]

So these positions are for two years. If I have an offer from my v10 summer firm, will they keep it open for two years? Has anyone heard of this?

lol no

[Anonymous User]

What are the exit options for IM/OCIE/TM?

Is it easy for an IM attorney to go to a law firm with an IM practice? Easier than a Corp Fin attorney going into a Biglaw's M&A/Cap Markets practice?

Which one of the corporate divisions has the best exit options? For biglaw/inhouse

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone who has an offer (or knows of someone with an offer) tell us how much the starting salary is for 3Ls with no work experience? For judicial law clerks?

[Anonymous User]

Or anyone who had an offer please confirm what divisions have hired?

[Anonymous User]

Or anyone who had an offer please confirm what divisions have hired?

I've heard enforcement.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received offers from divisions other than Corp fin and enforcement? if so, which division?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know the starting salaries for DC?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know the starting salaries for DC?

Historically they've been 95k