DOJ Honors 2015-16 Megathread Forum

[Anonymous User]

May I ask which region?

I'm also an EOIR finalist, indicated I'd be willing to go anywhere, had all of my references checked before Thanksgiving, and still haven't heard anything. I have 2+ years experience working in Fed Immigration and National Security, so while immensely grateful for this opportunity, I would be sliiiightly disheartened to be sent somewhere like Saipan.

[Anonymous User]

Yes my OCIJ offer was in Texas, which is not really near any of the areas I ranked.

[Anonymous User]

Any other EOIR finalist out there who haven't heard anything and who haven't had their references checked? How long is it going to take for an offer or a rejection? This is driving me nuts.

[Anonymous User]

Any other EOIR finalist out there who haven't heard anything and who haven't had their references checked? How long is it going to take for an offer or a rejection? This is driving me nuts.

Right here man. Pretty bummed.

[Anonymous User]

Are there any LA OCIJ people?

[Anonymous User]

Are there any LA OCIJ people?

Right here! Woo! Are you from California?

[Anonymous User]

I'm still holding out hope for an OCIJ-LA offer...if you don't mind sharing, when did you get your offer, and had you ranked many other locations/was LA your 1st preference??

[Anonymous User]

I'm still holding out hope for an OCIJ-LA offer...if you don't mind sharing, when did you get your offer, and had you ranked many other locations/was LA your 1st preference??

Sorry, didn't mean to be rude :/ I found out the second day of offers and LA was my first choice. I know one other person who has an LA offer but hasn't accepted it yet. I know LA usually takes more people too.

[Anonymous User]

I'm still holding out hope for an OCIJ-LA offer...if you don't mind sharing, when did you get your offer, and had you ranked many other locations/was LA your 1st preference??

Sorry, didn't mean to be rude :/ I found out the second day of offers and LA was my first choice. I know one other person who has an LA offer but hasn't accepted it yet. I know LA usually takes more people too.

No, not rude at all! Congratulations! I also know of one other person who got an LA offer and it was that person's only choice! I still feel like I have a good shot (mainly b/c LA does take so many! Though there is the slight fear that it may be filled soon), but the waiting is driving me crazy and I am still trying to figure out how they issue offers! Ahhh! But Congratulations to you! Very exciting!

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if you were made an OCIJ offer for a location that wasn't on your top five choices if you could try and ask them to switch you to another court that you might like better that hasn't been offered yet?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if you were made an OCIJ offer for a location that wasn't on your top five choices if you could try and ask them to switch you to another court that you might like better that hasn't been offered yet?

I am wondering the same

[Anonymous User]

What court did you get?

[Anonymous User]

What court did you get?

It's in a region where I really don't want to go, I didn't mark that I would go anywhere. Do you think it's worth calling them back and asking for another city? I don't know what the protocol is

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

FYI they won't do that, people have tried in years past.

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

FYI they won't do that, people have tried in years past.

Thanks for letting me know that's so strange if it is really based on a ranking system and if the preferences you put are taken by the time they get to you why would it matter to them if two people want to switch. I really wish I understood their process

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

FYI they won't do that, people have tried in years past.

Thanks for letting me know that's so strange if it is really based on a ranking system and if the preferences you put are taken by the time they get to you why would it matter to them if two people want to switch. I really wish I understood their process

Yeah I thought it was weird too. But the two people I know who tried ended up both loving their courts and went on to other roles in the Government. So if this is the job you want, maybe taking the leap and it might be worth it. They picked you for a reason!

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

FYI they won't do that, people have tried in years past.

Thanks for letting me know that's so strange if it is really based on a ranking system and if the preferences you put are taken by the time they get to you why would it matter to them if two people want to switch. I really wish I understood their process

Yeah I thought it was weird too. But the two people I know who tried ended up both loving their courts and went on to other roles in the Government. So if this is the job you want, maybe taking the leap and it might be worth it. They picked you for a reason!

That's true does anyone know if there is a way to get in contact with the current law clerk at the location you got selected for to ask about the area and best places to live.

Also this may be a silly question of you got a location in a detained area what does that mean regarding job duties is their any difference? I don't have any immigration experience and got a detained area so I'm unsure of what that means.

[Anonymous User]

Any word on ATR?

[Anonymous User]

I have the same problem in a region where I don't want to go and I emailed Celia and she said they can't switch it I think it will mess up their process. I wonder if they would let two people with offers switch locations maybe mine is more near where you want and vice versa if you don't mind sharing what state.

FYI they won't do that, people have tried in years past.

Thanks for letting me know that's so strange if it is really based on a ranking system and if the preferences you put are taken by the time they get to you why would it matter to them if two people want to switch. I really wish I understood their process

They may actually want specific people in specific regions for reasons based on those people's experience and the needs of the region (or preferences of the judges, or all sorts of things).

[Anonymous User]

Any word on ATR?

Not as far as I know. Still a finalist, still no call.

[Anonymous User]

I don't buy the theory that OCIJ ranks people from 1 to 90. If they did they would be done with their offers by now. It doesn't take that long to call 90 people in order.
There's probably a more nuanced process where they rank people with similar geographic preferences, or they try to send a group of law clerks who complement each other to a specific location, etc.

[Anonymous User]

I don't buy the theory that OCIJ ranks people from 1 to 90. If they did they would be done with their offers by now. It doesn't take that long to call 90 people in order.
There's probably a more nuanced process where they rank people with similar geographic preferences, or they try to send a group of law clerks who complement each other to a specific location, etc.

What makes you think OCIJ isn't done with first round offers?

[Anonymous User]

I don't buy the theory that OCIJ ranks people from 1 to 90. If they did they would be done with their offers by now. It doesn't take that long to call 90 people in order.
There's probably a more nuanced process where they rank people with similar geographic preferences, or they try to send a group of law clerks who complement each other to a specific location, etc.

For those wondering I actually called Celia recently because I had another offer and wanted to ascertain my status and she told me I was on "the list" but she was not sure when I would get a call. When I asked if that list meant I could be an alternate she said no I would get an offer and asked if I said I would go anywhere on the sheet because I had the feeling I was lower down on the bottom of the list (closer to 90) and she was worried there was no availability of what I wanted because of that. I did say I would go anywhere and got an offer a few days later for somewhere no where near where I wanted to go or near a location I listed on my sheet. So I do think there is something to this ranking thing and they have to be done with the big cities by now because I ranked mostly big cities (those where interviews were available) and did not get any of those choices so if you are holding out for a small town offer you might be in luck other then that I think they are near the end of first round offers (however if your an alternate for another location because you did not say you would go anywhere and someone turns that down you could still get an offer for a bigger city court). Hope that helps.

[Anonymous User]

I don't buy the theory that OCIJ ranks people from 1 to 90. If they did they would be done with their offers by now. It doesn't take that long to call 90 people in order.
There's probably a more nuanced process where they rank people with similar geographic preferences, or they try to send a group of law clerks who complement each other to a specific location, etc.

What makes you think OCIJ isn't done with first round offers?

The office told me that although some offers were extended, they are still reviewing applications. Also, I'd think Deanna Willis would post an update if they were.