DOJ Honors Program 2014-15 Forum

[Anonymous User]

To give you some context, I have four interviews around the country. Here is my timeline for receiving everything:

Monday, 29 Sept - Faxed off my travel survey
Wednesday, 1 Oct - Received my flight info via email
Thursday, 9 Oct - Received my interview schedule and flight info via fax

I hope this is helpful.

[Anonymous User]

For those that are staying overnight in D.C., which hotels are you using? What is the closest hotel to Robert F. Kennedy Building? And what is the per diem rate in D.C. The site is not loading for me.

[Anonymous User]

For those that are staying overnight in D.C., which hotels are you using? What is the closest hotel to Robert F. Kennedy Building? And what is the per diem rate in D.C. The site is not loading for me.

I booked a room at the Embassy Suites for just under $300 because everything closer was going for $500+. I don't mind eating the difference between $300 and the gov't rate ($222).

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who are staying overnight, I'm curious what your interview schedule is. I'm a little surprised mine did not warrant one.

[Anonymous User]

For those that are staying overnight in D.C., which hotels are you using? What is the closest hotel to Robert F. Kennedy Building? And what is the per diem rate in D.C. The site is not loading for me.

I booked a room at the Embassy Suites for just under $300 because everything closer was going for $500+. I don't mind eating the difference between $300 and the gov't rate ($222).

Alternatively, Club Quarters is right on top of the subway and has rooms at the per diem rate.

[Anonymous User]

Good luck to all the Week One peeps.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still waiting on fax and flight information? I sent my fax in on Tuesday, September 30 and still haven't heard a peep. Also, I can't seem to access the Community tab to find out the latest info. Help!

[Anonymous User]

General question here...but wasn't sure where else to put it...does anyone know if the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces qualifies as an HP eligibility preserving activity? I think it would since the Court of Federal Claims does. Anyone know for sure?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else still waiting on fax and flight information? I sent my fax in on Tuesday, September 30 and still haven't heard a peep. Also, I can't seem to access the Community tab to find out the latest info. Help!

HP Interview Schedules Have Been Issued

Greetings, all: If you are interviewing for the Attorney General's Honors Program, please be advised that we have completed the notification process. That means the schedulers have faxed your interview schedule to the number you designated on the Travel Survey.

If you did not receive your fax, please check the machine. If you still cannot find the fax with your interview schedule, please email Amy Mathers at Amy.Mathers@usdoj.gov so she can have the information re-sent to you. It would be a good idea to re-confirm the fax number when you reach out to Ms. Mathers.

Best of luck to all in your interviews.

[seizmaar]

hey i wondered if anyone would be willing to share how they are researching other than trolling the DOJ component websites? more specifically, i'm having a hard time separating the wheat from the chaff when it comes to which divisions and sections would be utter duds and which would be interesting to work for. help me plz.

[Anonymous User]

Good luck to all the Week One peeps.

Thanks! I'm interviewing tomorrow with EOIR/OCIJ (that's supposed to be my trying to smile while being nervous)

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who are staying overnight, I'm curious what your interview schedule is. I'm a little surprised mine did not warrant one.

I'm done with all four of my interviews. Since Monday, I have interviewed in three different cities. It looked like this:

Monday: Fly to city1 early, interview, fly to city2, check into hotel
Tuesday: Interview in city2, fly to city3, check into hotel
Wednesday: Interview in city3, fly home

Have already been asked by one office about any potential competing offers. It moves quickly, like clerkship hiring.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who are staying overnight, I'm curious what your interview schedule is. I'm a little surprised mine did not warrant one.

I'm done with all four of my interviews. Since Monday, I have interviewed in three different cities. It looked like this:

Monday: Fly to city1 early, interview, fly to city2, check into hotel
Tuesday: Interview in city2, fly to city3, check into hotel
Wednesday: Interview in city3, fly home

Have already been asked by one office about any potential competing offers. It moves quickly, like clerkship hiring.

The question about the potential competing offers is surprising. Did you get the sense that the office was asking about competing offers from other DOJ components? I'm wondering if I screwed myself by having my interviews scheduled for the last two days of the cycle.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who are staying overnight, I'm curious what your interview schedule is. I'm a little surprised mine did not warrant one.

I'm done with all four of my interviews. Since Monday, I have interviewed in three different cities. It looked like this:

Monday: Fly to city1 early, interview, fly to city2, check into hotel
Tuesday: Interview in city2, fly to city3, check into hotel
Wednesday: Interview in city3, fly home

Have already been asked by one office about any potential competing offers. It moves quickly, like clerkship hiring.

The question about the potential competing offers is surprising. Did you get the sense that the office was asking about competing offers from other DOJ components? I'm wondering if I screwed myself by having my interviews scheduled for the last two days of the cycle.

Yes. They knew I had multiple HP interviews.

[Anonymous User]

Components can't make offers until they've got their finalists approved through OARM, and they can't do that until the interviews are completed, so you don't have to worry about interviewing late screwing you over.

Also, the year I went through this, someone reported that a friend of theirs had asked directly, and had been told that applicants won't get more than one offer, even if they've done multiple interviews. Obviously I can't confirm that, but I've also never heard of anyone getting multiple offers (but then, I don't know all the DOJ honors attorneys out there, either). So if that's correct, presumably it means components have to duke it out for the candidates they want before the offer stage.

[Anonymous User]

Components can't make offers until they've got their finalists approved through OARM, and they can't do that until the interviews are completed, so you don't have to worry about interviewing late screwing you over.

Also, the year I went through this, someone reported that a friend of theirs had asked directly, and had been told that applicants won't get more than one offer, even if they've done multiple interviews. Obviously I can't confirm that, but I've also never heard of anyone getting multiple offers (but then, I don't know all the DOJ honors attorneys out there, either). So if that's correct, presumably it means components have to duke it out for the candidates they want before the offer stage.

This makes sense! I was so confused as to why the office asked about my other interviews without extending me an offer themselves. I also found it odd that one of my interviews ended with "and we hope you'll choose us!" (and me thinking "I'm pretty sure you would have to choose me first..."). Got it! Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Anybody staying overnight during the month of November? The per diem rate is 177, lower than October's 222. Anybody find a good hotel for that price?

[Int'lshoe]

This question pertains to EOIR finalists only.

Does anyone know if we are interviewing at one of the non-traditional locations (ie. Los Angeles, Miami), that we are interviewing for that location specifically, or if we are still asked to fill out a "location preferences" for clerkships across the country?

[Anonymous User]

yo somebody tell me the components of DOJ Honors worth taking over SEC Honors Enforcement division?

[Anonymous User]

Have people been calling and getting names of interviewers? I feel odd not knowing who I am meeting with, but I got the impression (from one component) that that information was not readily avaliable.

[Anonymous User]

This question pertains to EOIR finalists only.

Does anyone know if we are interviewing at one of the non-traditional locations (ie. Los Angeles, Miami), that we are interviewing for that location specifically, or if we are still asked to fill out a "location preferences" for clerkships across the country?

No, you'd still fill out a location preferences form. The interview location is based only on where you're located now, not on where they need people.

[Anonymous User]

yo somebody tell me the components of DOJ Honors worth taking over SEC Honors Enforcement division?

What do you actually want to do, and what would make one worth more than the other for you?

[Anonymous User]

yo somebody tell me the components of DOJ Honors worth taking over SEC Honors Enforcement division?

What do you actually want to do, and what would make one worth more than the other for you?

i like the idea of litigating and getting to do more, faster than i would in biglaw. but if i really knew, i wouldn't be asking. i'm just casting about to see if anyone has a sense for which sections of DOJ might beat the "white hat" sensibility and litigation experience of enforcement at SEC.

[Anonymous User]

General question here...but wasn't sure where else to put it...does anyone know if the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces qualifies as an HP eligibility preserving activity? I think it would since the Court of Federal Claims does. Anyone know for sure?

I know someone who did CAAF and then SDNY and then Honors.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who are staying overnight, I'm curious what your interview schedule is. I'm a little surprised mine did not warrant one.

I'm done with all four of my interviews. Since Monday, I have interviewed in three different cities. It looked like this:

Monday: Fly to city1 early, interview, fly to city2, check into hotel
Tuesday: Interview in city2, fly to city3, check into hotel
Wednesday: Interview in city3, fly home

Have already been asked by one office about any potential competing offers. It moves quickly, like clerkship hiring.

The question about the potential competing offers is surprising. Did you get the sense that the office was asking about competing offers from other DOJ components? I'm wondering if I screwed myself by having my interviews scheduled for the last two days of the cycle.

Yes. They knew I had multiple HP interviews.

My schedule also looked like this, and two of three interviewers asked directly who else I was interviewing with through HP and a third insinuated they knew I had other interviews. I got similar instructions to update certain components if I received any offer before I had heard back from them. Not sure if that's because the USAOs are moving independently (to a greater extent than other components, that is), or if they're saying it in case I get biglaw offers before the DOJ offer stage.