SEC Chair's Attorney Honors Program Forum

[Anonymous User]

Received news that I passed background check and can pick a start date. I already had a security clearance from a different federal job so that's why i think it was relatively fast.

same, although I have already recieved the final letter and picked a date as well and pretty much done with the process.

Did you guys pass the SEC's background check or OPM's more intense background check?

[Anonymous User]

Received news that I passed background check and can pick a start date. I already had a security clearance from a different federal job so that's why i think it was relatively fast.

same, although I have already recieved the final letter and picked a date as well and pretty much done with the process.

Did you guys pass the SEC's background check or OPM's more intense background check?

SEC's. I think the OPM one only starts now and takes around 4 months. But you can start working after you pass the SEC interim one. The OPM one is actually just a regular public trust background investigation so it's not all that intense.

[Anonymous User]

Those with final offer, are you still interviewing with other firms/opportunity as a backup since technically this offer is contingent on the OPM background check being completed (even if it is a routine process) and the SEC can revoke the offer if they deem you "unsuitable" after the background check?

[Anonymous User]

Those with final offer, are you still interviewing with other firms/opportunity as a backup since technically this offer is contingent on the OPM background check being completed (even if it is a routine process) and the SEC can revoke the offer if they deem you "unsuitable" after the background check?

You'd have to be extremely paranoid to do this. Unless you have drug use in the last year, bad debt, or a criminal record, you will get a public trust clearance. Unsuitable is a technical term in government jobs that basically means you have one of the things I just listed and can't mitigate it. If you got a final offer that means you got the job! Enjoy the feeling and celebrate (but no drugs).

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone started the public trust background investigation?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone started the public trust background investigation?

If you've submitted your eQIP then you've started the investigation. The only other step is an interview with OPM where they go over your answers on the eQIP. OPM is really backed up right now so it might take around 5 months to get your clearance. For those entering the program from clerkships, you get an interim clearance fom the SEC so you can start working before OPM finishes the full investigation. If you're straight from law school your final clearance will be done long before you start.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone started the public trust background investigation?

If you've submitted your eQIP then you've started the investigation. The only other step is an interview with OPM where they go over your answers on the eQIP. OPM is really backed up right now so it might take around 5 months to get your clearance. For those entering the program from clerkships, you get an interim clearance fom the SEC so you can start working before OPM finishes the full investigation. If you're straight from law school your final clearance will be done long before you start.

Has anyone had their interview with OPM/been contacted by OPM regarding their interview?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how many people the SEC actually hired through this program? Was it more than 10?

[Anonymous User]

To those that secured a job, was there anything in particular that you think really helped or that they seemed interested in talking about in the interviews?

I am really interested in applying this August and want to do what I can to make the stars align. Interning there in the summer, but from what I've read that isn't too much of a boost. Any advice or anecdotal suggestions would be much appreciated, and maybe general school/grade info?

[seizmaar]

To those that secured a job, was there anything in particular that you think really helped or that they seemed interested in talking about in the interviews?

I am really interested in applying this August and want to do what I can to make the stars align. Interning there in the summer, but from what I've read that isn't too much of a boost. Any advice or anecdotal suggestions would be much appreciated, and maybe general school/grade info?

What section are you targeting? Or are you down for w/e?

[Anonymous User]

To those that secured a job, was there anything in particular that you think really helped or that they seemed interested in talking about in the interviews?

I am really interested in applying this August and want to do what I can to make the stars align. Interning there in the summer, but from what I've read that isn't too much of a boost. Any advice or anecdotal suggestions would be much appreciated, and maybe general school/grade info?

What section are you targeting? Or are you down for w/e?

Miami, but any general advice would be great too

[seizmaar]

i meant what section within the SEC. my experiences with interviews in the different components were pretty different and i don't think a one-size-fits-all approach will work.

[Anonymous User]

To those that secured a job, was there anything in particular that you think really helped or that they seemed interested in talking about in the interviews?

I am really interested in applying this August and want to do what I can to make the stars align. Interning there in the summer, but from what I've read that isn't too much of a boost. Any advice or anecdotal suggestions would be much appreciated, and maybe general school/grade info?

What section are you targeting? Or are you down for w/e?

Miami, but any general advice would be great too

Just an FYI, but this year there was only 1 regional office hiring through the program and I think they took very few people. It will be in your best interest to target DC when you apply.

[Anonymous User]

To those that secured a job, was there anything in particular that you think really helped or that they seemed interested in talking about in the interviews?

I am really interested in applying this August and want to do what I can to make the stars align. Interning there in the summer, but from what I've read that isn't too much of a boost. Any advice or anecdotal suggestions would be much appreciated, and maybe general school/grade info?

What section are you targeting? Or are you down for w/e?

Miami, but any general advice would be great too

Just an FYI, but this year there was only 1 regional office hiring through the program and I think they took very few people. It will be in your best interest to target DC when you apply.

Oh I understand. I didn't realize only 1 regional office hired anyone and only stated the location because most regional offices are only enforcement. Do you happen to know which regional office was hiring?

[Anonymous User]

San Francisco. But it'll probably be a different one (or none) next year.

[Anonymous User]

i meant what section within the SEC. my experiences with interviews in the different components were pretty different and i don't think a one-size-fits-all approach will work.

Do you have any suggestions based on the components you interviewed with?

[seizmaar]

i think the consensus is that corpfin is boring as tears but can set you up fairly well for biglaw corporate practice if that's something you want to be set up for. i would always push for enforcement if i were you. but i don't have skin in the fight; follow your heart.

[Anonymous User]

i think the consensus is that corpfin is boring as tears but can set you up fairly well for biglaw corporate practice if that's something you want to be set up for. i would always push for enforcement if i were you. but i don't have skin in the fight; follow your heart.

Can you elaborate on the corpfin comments please

[timmyd]

3L here with d.ct clerkship after. I am very interested in securities litigation and am thinking about applying to the program after my clerkship. What is the consensus as far as qualifications? Do grades/prestige of school outweigh a demonstrated interest in securities law, or is all of this necessary?

[Anonymous User]

3L here with d.ct clerkship after. I am very interested in securities litigation and am thinking about applying to the program after my clerkship. What is the consensus as far as qualifications? Do grades/prestige of school outweigh a demonstrated interest in securities law, or is all of this necessary?

From my impression, school, grades, and clerkship were definitely important and discussed at the interview, but real experience/interest with securities law/or similar financial regulation was the most important factor.

[Anonymous User]

i think the consensus is that corpfin is boring as tears but can set you up fairly well for biglaw corporate practice if that's something you want to be set up for. i would always push for enforcement if i were you. but i don't have skin in the fight; follow your heart.

Can you elaborate on the corpfin comments please

[seizmaar]

i mean, i never worked at corpfin but just look up what they do and you will get a feel for what i'm talking about. i would analogize their work to USPTO lawyers who go through the patent prosecution process, only more boring because you are reviewing financial disclosures. that being said, i think some people find the consumer protection aspect of the job rewarding and all the people i spoke to within the division seemed very pleasant.

[Anonymous User]

I am looking into this program and I am wondering if people pursue this program over their offer with their SA firm because they believe it offers, career wise, a better value than a firm or if people pursue this program because they do not have a firm offer or have no interest in big law to begin with?

[Anonymous User]

I am looking into this program and I am wondering if people pursue this program over their offer with their SA firm because of it offers better value than a firm career wise or if people pursue this program because they do not have a firm offer or have no interest in big law to begin with?

It's just like any federal honors program. For those coming out of law school, it's probably mostly people who were on the federal government track to begin with and didn't really have a strong interest in working at a firm except as a back up. For those with a firm offer, they would have actually had to accept it long ago and rescind their acceptance when they got an offer from this program. There also might be people who did really well at schools where biglaw doesn't recruit many people who got an SEC offer. But I actually think most people who got offers likely had a clerkship so the consideration at that point is totally different.

Personally, with starting salaries at 100k and the ability to grow non-competitively to nearly 200k in around 10 years, this is one of the best employment options out there for law students/clerks who are interested in securities law. Taking PSLFP, SEC and Federal benefits, and the SEC loan repayment program into account, the salary difference vs. biglaw actually isn't nearly as bad as in most government agencies while you still work government hours and have solid exit options.

[Anonymous User]

Any idea how many people were hired? Division breakdown?