DOJ Honors 2015-16 Megathread Forum

[Anonymous User]

It says Miami/Ft Lauderdale/Pompano Beach FL is $61,963 for Grade 11. I would imagine Orlando should be in that same range rather than the "other areas" salary. Not sure why it's not listed specially.

[Anonymous User]

I did. But I'm having a hard time reading the scale. She said something about 51K on the phone, but i'm hoping that's just the base salary and doesn't include the locality pay.

Yes, for Orlando as well as the other "non big city" offers there is no locality pay it will just be the base of 51K. I guess the cost of living is not considered as high as places like DC, NYC, Boston, Chicago etc.

[Anonymous User]

It says Miami/Ft Lauderdale/Pompano Beach FL is $61,963 for Grade 11. I would imagine Orlando should be in that same range rather than the "other areas" salary. Not sure why it's not listed specially.

Miami area is much more expensive to live in because it is a big city unlike Orlando so that is why there is a pay upgrade for that area.

[Anonymous User]

I did. But I'm having a hard time reading the scale. She said something about 51K on the phone, but i'm hoping that's just the base salary and doesn't include the locality pay.

Did you get the offer today? (morning/afternoon) if you are willing to answer.

[Anonymous User]

It says Miami/Ft Lauderdale/Pompano Beach FL is $61,963 for Grade 11. I would imagine Orlando should be in that same range rather than the "other areas" salary. Not sure why it's not listed specially.

Miami area is much more expensive to live in because it is a big city unlike Orlando so that is why there is a pay upgrade for that area.

Ditto. Miami and Orlando are not the same I used to live in both areas. Besides the Disney area Orlando is very rural and run down looking and inexpensive so the pay will be at the base not the higher one for the Miami area where cost of living in a decent area is a lot more expensive.

[Anonymous User]

It says Miami/Ft Lauderdale/Pompano Beach FL is $61,963 for Grade 11. I would imagine Orlando should be in that same range rather than the "other areas" salary. Not sure why it's not listed specially.

Hey all Deena just confirmed that if your city is not located on locality list it will fall into the "other areas" salary, so that applies to Orlando. Hope that helps.

Here is what she just posted:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Someone emailed asking questions about salary for incoming HP hires. I cannot give a specific number (annual salary) because it varies depending on where you live and what GS grade and step applies to you.

There are salary tables on the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversig ... -schedule/.

Federal GS salaries are a function of the base pay plus locality pay. If you are one of 33 or so identified locality areas, there's a specific table applicable to you.

If you have questions about what your specific salary would be, ask the offering component to assist you.

If you are anywhere else, look at the "rest of the United States" table for the salary plus locality pay numbers based on the applicable GS level and step.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous User]

That's weird, because I just spoke to the woman that called me about the offer, and she said that $51,298 (the base) is the total salary for Orlando, and that orlando doesn't get a locality pay. The '"rest of the United states" lists a different number for GS-11. So is Orlando under the "rest of the United States" or is it just not included in anything at all? What Deana is saying is conflicting with what the EOIR office is saying.

[Anonymous User]

That's weird, because I just spoke to the woman that called me about the offer, and she said that $51,298 (the base) is the total salary for Orlando, and that orlando doesn't get a locality pay. The '"rest of the United states" lists a different number for GS-11. So is Orlando under the "rest of the United States" or is it just not included in anything at all? What Deana is saying is conflicting with what the EOIR office is saying.

I am not sure where you are looking but for a Grade 11, Step 1 on this table https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversig ... 015/GS.pdf is exactly what you said 51,298.

You would look at this link to see if your state falls into a locality: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversig ... saltbl.pdf. There is a separate page for each different city that gets an increase and Orlando is not on there so what EOIR and Deena are saying make sense and $51,298 will be your pay. Hope that helps I navigated this last week when I was made an offer.

[Anonymous User]

If you look at the GS 11 step 1 locality pay on the "rest of the US" chart it says it is $58,562

That's what is confusing me, is it $51,298 or $58,562 for a city that is not listed?

[Anonymous User]

If you look at the GS 11 step 1 locality pay on the "rest of the US" chart it says it is $58,562

That's what is confusing me, is it $51,298 or $58,562 for a city that is not listed?

I see what you are saying but my state also fell out of the specific list and I was also told $51,298 by EOIR so I think the safest bet is to go off of what the person making the offer said your salary would be.

[Anonymous User]

If you look at the GS 11 step 1 locality pay on the "rest of the US" chart it says it is $58,562

That's what is confusing me, is it $51,298 or $58,562 for a city that is not listed?

It would normally be the $58k number (according to OPM the only GS employees who don't get locality pay are those in foreign territories). But presumably OCIJ can do something different if they choose?

[Anonymous User]

Any phone calls from OCIJ today?

[Anonymous User]

The office just got back to me - it is the $58K number.

Got an offer for the Orlando office today.

[Anonymous User]

The office just got back to me - it is the $58K number.

Got an offer for the Orlando office today.

Congrats! Was that listed as one of your preferences or no and you said you would go anywhere?

[Anonymous User]

No, it was my 4th or 5th. I put that I'm not willing to go anywhere. I live in New Jersey, so I wanted to stay around here. Looks like by the time they got to me all the NY spots were filled. I'm not sure if will accept.

[abc123xyz]

Just curious, but has anyone received an offer from USTP?

No offer from USTP yet. I received the locations e-mail last week. Hopefully offers will come soon! If you don't mind sharing, do you have a preference for East Coast, West Coast, or Midwest?

First-time poster here. I am in the same situation. I received a "tentative offer" from the USTP the week of Thanksgiving, prompting me to rank and return my geographic preferences. No city-specific offer yet, but my application status has been updated from "finalist" to "offer made." My rankings are kind of all over the place, but generally East Coast > West Coast > Midwest.

Has anyone received a city-specific offer from the USTP yet?

[Anonymous User]

No, it was my 4th or 5th. I put that I'm not willing to go anywhere. I live in New Jersey, so I wanted to stay around here. Looks like by the time they got to me all the NY spots were filled. I'm not sure if will accept.

I totally understand that feeling my last two choices were for places I really did not want to go but there was nothing else to pick and I would consider not taking it if I would have gotten one of those just because moving so far for a two year position would make me worry about what I would do after the clerkship ended. I already decided to take the bar in my home state so I would like to stay near it so when the clerkship is over I can find work easier and not deal with the expense of moving again. Best of luck to you with your decision making and congrats on even receiving the offer.

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, but has anyone received an offer from USTP?

No offer from USTP yet. I received the locations e-mail last week. Hopefully offers will come soon! If you don't mind sharing, do you have a preference for East Coast, West Coast, or Midwest?

First-time poster here. I am in the same situation. I received a "tentative offer" from the USTP the week of Thanksgiving, prompting me to rank and return my geographic preferences. No city-specific offer yet, but my application status has been updated from "finalist" to "offer made." My rankings are kind of all over the place, but generally East Coast > West Coast > Midwest.

Has anyone received a city-specific offer from the USTP yet?

I'm the above anon who wrote about the locations e-mail. I haven't heard of any city-specific offers yet. My timeline seems to match yours. I have a friend who also interviewed and our statuses changed to "offer issued" on Friday, but no phone calls yet. I ranked Midwest cities highest (trying to stay near family) and then East Coast and West Coast. It's great to know an offer is coming, but it would be even better to know where they want to send us!

[Anonymous User]

No, it was my 4th or 5th. I put that I'm not willing to go anywhere. I live in New Jersey, so I wanted to stay around here. Looks like by the time they got to me all the NY spots were filled. I'm not sure if will accept.

I totally understand that feeling my last two choices were for places I really did not want to go but there was nothing else to pick and I would consider not taking it if I would have gotten one of those just because moving so far for a two year position would make me worry about what I would do after the clerkship ended. I already decided to take the bar in my home state so I would like to stay near it so when the clerkship is over I can find work easier and not deal with the expense of moving again. Best of luck to you with your decision making and congrats on even receiving the offer.

[Anonymous User]

Eh, I don't think you can read into anything. They might prefer to send highly qualified candidates to smaller courts with few clerks, and keep the less-experienced in places where they have more people to rely on.

[abc123xyz]

Just curious, but has anyone received an offer from USTP?

No offer from USTP yet. I received the locations e-mail last week. Hopefully offers will come soon! If you don't mind sharing, do you have a preference for East Coast, West Coast, or Midwest?

First-time poster here. I am in the same situation. I received a "tentative offer" from the USTP the week of Thanksgiving, prompting me to rank and return my geographic preferences. No city-specific offer yet, but my application status has been updated from "finalist" to "offer made." My rankings are kind of all over the place, but generally East Coast > West Coast > Midwest.

Has anyone received a city-specific offer from the USTP yet?

I'm the above anon who wrote about the locations e-mail. I haven't heard of any city-specific offers yet. My timeline seems to match yours. I have a friend who also interviewed and our statuses changed to "offer issued" on Friday, but no phone calls yet. I ranked Midwest cities highest (trying to stay near family) and then East Coast and West Coast. It's great to know an offer is coming, but it would be even better to know where they want to send us!

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I'm hoping we all hear something soon!

[Anonymous User]

Any calls from OCIJ made today yet? Need something to keep hope alive lol

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, but has anyone received an offer from USTP?

No offer from USTP yet. I received the locations e-mail last week. Hopefully offers will come soon! If you don't mind sharing, do you have a preference for East Coast, West Coast, or Midwest?

First-time poster here. I am in the same situation. I received a "tentative offer" from the USTP the week of Thanksgiving, prompting me to rank and return my geographic preferences. No city-specific offer yet, but my application status has been updated from "finalist" to "offer made." My rankings are kind of all over the place, but generally East Coast > West Coast > Midwest.

Has anyone received a city-specific offer from the USTP yet?

I'm the above anon who wrote about the locations e-mail. I haven't heard of any city-specific offers yet. My timeline seems to match yours. I have a friend who also interviewed and our statuses changed to "offer issued" on Friday, but no phone calls yet. I ranked Midwest cities highest (trying to stay near family) and then East Coast and West Coast. It's great to know an offer is coming, but it would be even better to know where they want to send us!

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I'm hoping we all hear something soon!

I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one... USTP finalist changed to "Offer Issued" last week - followed by complete silence. I hope we hear soon!

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, but has anyone received an offer from USTP?

No offer from USTP yet. I received the locations e-mail last week. Hopefully offers will come soon! If you don't mind sharing, do you have a preference for East Coast, West Coast, or Midwest?

First-time poster here. I am in the same situation. I received a "tentative offer" from the USTP the week of Thanksgiving, prompting me to rank and return my geographic preferences. No city-specific offer yet, but my application status has been updated from "finalist" to "offer made." My rankings are kind of all over the place, but generally East Coast > West Coast > Midwest.

Has anyone received a city-specific offer from the USTP yet?

I'm the above anon who wrote about the locations e-mail. I haven't heard of any city-specific offers yet. My timeline seems to match yours. I have a friend who also interviewed and our statuses changed to "offer issued" on Friday, but no phone calls yet. I ranked Midwest cities highest (trying to stay near family) and then East Coast and West Coast. It's great to know an offer is coming, but it would be even better to know where they want to send us!

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad I'm not the only one, but I'm hoping we all hear something soon!

I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one... USTP finalist changed to "Offer Issued" last week - followed by complete silence. I hope we hear soon!

[Anonymous User]

Just got an offer from OCIJ for a location not in my top 5 and I did say I would go anywhere.