DOJ Honors 2015-16 Megathread Forum

[JackOfAllTrades]

So I just got a call from the Civil Division... they are calling to see who is still available... apparently they are still waiting for Congress to see what their final budget will be before they know how many interns they can hire. Said it will probably be several weeks before they even schedule interviews.

What a nightmare.

Whew! I think you're right. I wish the process didn't take so long though. I have other offers which are very good (not as good as SLIP), but they will expire very soon.

Happened to me too. I just sent in the materials. No big deal. I think it says in the email to send it in to whatever contact you were assigned. I don't think it makes a difference to the components that no-offered you. The way the email was written seemed like they decided to give you an interview, then went through doc check, not vice versa.

Also, does anyone know about the correlation between components and Honors chances - if any?

Yeah, takes a while. The latest of the interview slots that I was offered was like Nov. 20.

[Anonymous User]

Welcome to the Federal Government

[Anonymous User]

With week 2 of interviews wrapping up, out of curiosity, does anyone know whether we could potentially hear about finalists as early as week of Nov. 16 (immediately following week 3) or whether it will be another week after that?

I was looking at the 2014 thread, and it appears that the 2014 interview period started a week earlier (Oct. 20 - Nov. 7) than it did this year (Oct. 26 - Nov. 13), and that there was a week in between the conclusion of interviews and finalist notifications (although notifications went out as early as Nov. 17--mid-month--that cycle).

[Anonymous User]

With week 2 of interviews wrapping up, out of curiosity, does anyone know whether we could potentially hear about finalists as early as week of Nov. 16 (immediately following week 3) or whether it will be another week after that?

I was looking at the 2014 thread, and it appears that the 2014 interview period started a week earlier (Oct. 20 - Nov. 7) than it did this year (Oct. 26 - Nov. 13), and that there was a week in between the conclusion of interviews and finalist notifications (although notifications went out as early as Nov. 17--mid-month--that cycle).

finalists? maybe this varies by section, but my impression was that offers were made this month

[Anonymous User]

There will likely be at least a week because components are required to get their finalists approved by EARM before they can make an offer. You get notification about whether you're a finalist before you get an offer (if you did multiple interviews it doesn't tell you who selected you as a finalist) and not all finalists necessarily get offers, because it includes short lists in case someone turns the offer down (I think this mostly applies to EOIR).

Most offers should go out this month but they might not make it before Thanksgiving. There isn't usually a huge gap of time between being designated a finalist and getting an offer, but it's not always instantaneous (again, EOIR can be longer).

[Anonymous User]

It appears that, at least for some components, finalist notifications and oral offers were issued on the same day last year (as to those finalists who were selected for first-round offers).

[Anonymous User]

With week 2 of interviews wrapping up, out of curiosity, does anyone know whether we could potentially hear about finalists as early as week of Nov. 16 (immediately following week 3) or whether it will be another week after that?

I was looking at the 2014 thread, and it appears that the 2014 interview period started a week earlier (Oct. 20 - Nov. 7) than it did this year (Oct. 26 - Nov. 13), and that there was a week in between the conclusion of interviews and finalist notifications (although notifications went out as early as Nov. 17--mid-month--that cycle).

finalists? maybe this varies by section, but my impression was that offers were made this month

my understanding, after speaking with someone who was hired last year in civil rights, is that avue will switch status to "finalist" if you're selected as one. If you're a top pick, you're given an offer that day or in the days shortly thereafter. If you're on a wait list, they'll notify you if / when someone else turns down the offer. Those who are going straight into the program from law school have, I believe, 28 days to respond, so if you're a "finalist" who was not initially given an offer, you could hear 29 days later.

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with one of the field offices a few weeks ago and they said the earliest they would be able to extend an offer would be Nov. 24 (since they still have to go through DC for hiring decisions), if that helps.

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with one of the field offices a few weeks ago and they said the earliest they would be able to extend an offer would be Nov. 24 (since they still have to go through DC for hiring decisions), if that helps.

Do you mind saying which component you interviewed with?

[Anonymous User]

Assimilating the above, it seems the earliest we will hear about offers is around Monday, Nov. 23. That would be when the finalist notifications go out and oral offers begin issuing.

[Anonymous User]

good news for everyone else: i had a terrible interview sometime in the last couple business days. good luck everyone.

[Anonymous User]

I imagine at this point, after interview, if you are advancing, they'll check references, right?

[Anonymous User]

I imagine at this point, after interview, if you are advancing, they'll check references, right?

yes

[Anonymous User]

Has one who has interviewed, have their references checked?

I had my interviews last Wednesday and no references checked yet. Wondering if that's a bad sign.

[Anonymous User]

Has one who has interviewed, have their references checked?

I had my interviews last Wednesday and no references checked yet. Wondering if that's a bad sign.

re: CRIM, i have been given the impression that references are called after all the interviews have been completed. but that, of course, is not gospel.

[Anonymous User]

Interesting re: CRIM, then I can stop incessantly checking my boss' voicemail and email for signs that DOJ is reaching out. The waiting is the worst part!

Did you interview with CRIM, and during your interview did they mention that you should feel lucky to have received an interview because of how competitive it is? They said that to me mid interview and said they say it to everyone but I kinda read into it as a bad sign.

[Anonymous User]

Interesting re: CRIM, then I can stop incessantly checking my boss' voicemail and email for signs that DOJ is reaching out. The waiting is the worst part!

Did you interview with CRIM, and during your interview did they mention that you should feel lucky to have received an interview because of how competitive it is? They said that to me mid interview and said they say it to everyone but I kinda read into it as a bad sign.

i did. and i was told worse things. i wouldn't worry. or we should maybe just both worry. panel interviews are the worst.

[Anonymous User]

I at least find some comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who heard that you should feel lucky about getting an interview. But yes, I generally am a good interviewer but the panel was extremely difficult I thought. Guess back to a few more weeks of waiting.

[Anonymous User]

I at least find some comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who heard that you should feel lucky about getting an interview. But yes, I generally am a good interviewer but the panel was extremely difficult I thought. Guess back to a few more weeks of waiting.

felt the exact same way going in and coming out. good luck to us both!

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with one of the field offices a few weeks ago and they said the earliest they would be able to extend an offer would be Nov. 24 (since they still have to go through DC for hiring decisions), if that helps.

Do you mind saying which component you interviewed with?

ATR

[Anonymous User]

Has one who has interviewed, have their references checked?

I had my interviews last Wednesday and no references checked yet. Wondering if that's a bad sign.

re: CRIM, i have been given the impression that references are called after all the interviews have been completed. but that, of course, is not gospel.

Yeah, I think most components don't check references until they've identified finalists. It was relatively late in the process when mine were checked.

[Anonymous User]

re: checking references, I think it depends on the office. For example, just looking at last year's spreadsheet, it seems like the Civil Rights Division checked the references of everyone who interviewed, and not just the one person who reported getting an offer.

[Anonymous User]

Finalists and offerees aren't the same. You can be a finalist without getting an offer. Some places (esp if they don't interview a lot of people) designate everyone a finalist so as not to limit themselves, I think.

[Anonymous User]

I understand the difference between finalists and those who receive offers. My point was that it can depend on the office as to how much you can/should read into having your references checked or not.

And, in any event, if you're right that some offices designate everyone as a finalist, that begs the question: are you really a finalist if everyone's a finalist?

[Anonymous User]

You're a finalist because Avue calls you a finalist. Whatever else you think about it is up to you. I heard somewhere that components do this because they can't make an offer to a non-finalist, so they want to make sure they don't get stuck without anyone if their first choices fall through (but this was when you had components interviewing 4 people for 1 position, it may not be the case now that pools are larger).

As to the reference thing - my point was just about timeline, that they often don't start checking until finalists are designated. I didn't mean it as a comment on your references being checked meant you were getting an offer. If they do check all finalists' references, whether that's good or bad depends on how many finalists there are.