Government Career Path Forum

[hellohi]

Whats a typical career trajectory for someone in a federal government job such as DOJ?

[anon168]

Whats a typical career trajectory for someone in a federal government job such as DOJ?

There is no typical path.

Some start in DOJ Honors and never leave.

Some will be Bristow Fellows and enter OSG or another DOJ component.

Some go from private practice to DOJ.

Some go from clerkships, to private practice, to USAO, then to DOJ (although it's typically reversed, i.e., DOJ to USAO).

Some will go from other federal agencies (e.g. FTC, EPA or SEC) and go to DOJ.

Some may come from public interest organizations or firms (e.g. NRDC).

Others go from state government (e.g. AGs) to DOJ.

And alot of it will depend on the component you are targeting when you say DOJ -- e.g. civil, criminal, fed programs, torts, tax, enrd, etc.

[WhiteyCakes]

Whats a typical career trajectory for someone in a federal government job such as DOJ?

There is no typical path.

Some start in DOJ Honors and never leave.

Some will be Bristow Fellows and enter OSG or another DOJ component.

Some go from private practice to DOJ.

Some go from clerkships, to private practice, to USAO, then to DOJ (although it's typically reversed, i.e., DOJ to USAO).

Some will go from other federal agencies (e.g. FTC, EPA or SEC) and go to DOJ.

Some may come from public interest organizations or firms (e.g. NRDC).

Others go from state government (e.g. AGs) to DOJ.

And alot of it will depend on the component you are targeting when you say DOJ -- e.g. civil, criminal, fed programs, torts, tax, enrd, etc.

Clerkship to DOJ an option without the private practice in between?

[anon168]

Whats a typical career trajectory for someone in a federal government job such as DOJ?

There is no typical path.

Some start in DOJ Honors and never leave.

Some will be Bristow Fellows and enter OSG or another DOJ component.

Some go from private practice to DOJ.

Some go from clerkships, to private practice, to USAO, then to DOJ (although it's typically reversed, i.e., DOJ to USAO).

Some will go from other federal agencies (e.g. FTC, EPA or SEC) and go to DOJ.

Some may come from public interest organizations or firms (e.g. NRDC).

Others go from state government (e.g. AGs) to DOJ.

And alot of it will depend on the component you are targeting when you say DOJ -- e.g. civil, criminal, fed programs, torts, tax, enrd, etc.

Clerkship to DOJ an option without the private practice in between?

Yup.

[ggocat]

I understood OP to be asking about trajectory AFTER you get DOJ.

That depends. Some stay in DOJ for life; some stay as line attorneys until retirement while others become "reviewers" or section chiefs. Some section chiefs and DAAGs are appointed federal judgeships.

Some stay less than 5 years and go to private practice. Some alternate between private practice and DOJ. Some go "back home" to AUSA jobs in their home district. I do not think it is common to go to state government after DOJ merely because you will have better exit options (unless you are politically connected in the state).