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DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 4:06 pm
by Coolgrnmen
Does anyone know what their hiring schedule is? I know they closed their applications on Oct. 12, but I don't know when they will extend offers to interview further.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:01 pm
by Anonymous User
They only do one round of interviews so there is no cb process.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:05 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:They only do one round of interviews so there is no cb process.
Ah, so when do they make decisions?
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:12 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:They only do one round of interviews so there is no cb process.
Ah, so when do they make decisions?
Supposedly December but as with almost every government agency it can take longer. I heard a year or two back, because of budget problems, they basically had no answer until after graduation and then had to rush through the hiring process before they lost funding. Who knows.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 2:06 am
by Anonymous User
Just piling on with the same information. They did OCI at my school. The interviewer said that they would have decisions finished by the beginning of December. He seemed confident that they'd be looking to hire 8-10 at the GC's Office in DC and there would be some hiring at regional offices too. He also said that there would be no further interviews.
But like others have said, depending on what happens with the budget, it could be up the air. I have my fingers crossed on this one. The interviewer said at the end that I was a "very strong" candidate. And for what it's worth, I seemed to have won him over explaining my public interest background. But then again, I'm sure there's a plethora of very qualified candidates in the mix, given the economy.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:34 pm
by Anonymous User
Also piling on: I was told decisions might be made as early as late November. But, the interviewers strongly suggested we probably won't hear anything until January.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:39 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Also piling on: I was told decisions might be made as early as late November. But, the interviewers strongly suggested we probably won't hear anything until January.
So, those are final decisions on hiring? Has anyone who's not at a school where they do screeners heard anything yet?
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:57 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Also piling on: I was told decisions might be made as early as late November. But, the interviewers strongly suggested we probably won't hear anything until January.
So, those are final decisions on hiring? Has anyone who's not at a school where they do screeners heard anything yet?
Yes, final decisions.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 2:11 pm
by Pete Venkman
I'm interested in this kind of work...would anyone be kind enough to share how they have positioned themselves for this kind of employment? Internships with DoL or the NLRB perhaps?
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 2:39 pm
by Anonymous User
Pete Venkman wrote:I'm interested in this kind of work...would anyone be kind enough to share how they have positioned themselves for this kind of employment? Internships with DoL or the NLRB perhaps?
litigation experience for field offices; internships at DOL and/or NLRB and/or NLRA and/or employment law boutiques (I did several); coursework in labor and employment and employee benefits. but who knows; they take so few people each year that I can't imagine there is some formula.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 2:53 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Pete Venkman wrote:I'm interested in this kind of work...would anyone be kind enough to share how they have positioned themselves for this kind of employment? Internships with DoL or the NLRB perhaps?
litigation experience for field offices; internships at DOL and/or NLRB and/or NLRA and/or employment law boutiques (I did several); coursework in labor and employment and employee benefits. but who knows; they take so few people each year that I can't imagine there is some formula.
The process strikes me as a huge black box. For me, it's a background including summer work at a plaintiff's employment boutique, significant coursework, and volunteer work for a public interest labor and employment group.
My interviewer was telling me that the GC's office in Washington generally looks for more "egg-heady" type candidates, because the work they do is a little more high-end / policy focused. Field offices are generally harder to predict, but generally look for more litigation experience and are slightly less grade / academic focused.
Honestly, though, who knows in the end.

Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:38 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Pete Venkman wrote:I'm interested in this kind of work...would anyone be kind enough to share how they have positioned themselves for this kind of employment? Internships with DoL or the NLRB perhaps?
litigation experience for field offices; internships at DOL and/or NLRB and/or NLRA and/or employment law boutiques (I did several); coursework in labor and employment and employee benefits. but who knows; they take so few people each year that I can't imagine there is some formula.
The process strikes me as a huge black box. For me, it's a background including summer work at a plaintiff's employment boutique, significant coursework, and volunteer work for a public interest labor and employment group.
My interviewer was telling me that the GC's office in Washington generally looks for more "egg-heady" type candidates, because the work they do is a little more high-end / policy focused. Field offices are generally harder to predict, but generally look for more litigation experience and are slightly less grade / academic focused.
Honestly, though, who knows in the end.

I've angled for this type of work as follows: Courses in Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, Labor Law, Pretrial Civil Practice, and Civil Trial Practice. I've also completed two internships where I have worked on employment discrimination and wage and hour cases. I'll let you know in January if this is the kind of resume they look for, haha.
But, what I can say is that the interviewers seemed impressed that I had done things that the job entails. If you can tell someone interviewing you for a litigation-oriented position that you have conducted a trial, taken a deposition, drafted pleadings and motions, etc., you probably stand a better chance of getting the job. As such, you should look to acquire the practical skills and substantive knowledge required for any job you want.
Of course, this is just me hoping they're looking for what I'm offering. LOL. What do any of us actually know?
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:01 am
by Anonymous User
So the only interviews were conducted at OCI?
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:44 am
by Anonymous User
I was contacted about scheduling an interview. Anyone else? I wonder how many people get interviews.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:59 am
by Anonymous User
So far, not me!

(Wish I knew how many, too, though.)
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:54 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:So far, not me!

(Wish I knew how many, too, though.)
Okay, I get to take this back! I have an interview too. Got a phone call. Interview will be next week.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:56 pm
by Anonymous User
To the people saying they just got interviews, did you have a screener at OCI and this is a callback, or did you send stuff in and this is your screener? I had an OCI screener and am eager to hear about the next step. Thanks.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:08 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:To the people saying they just got interviews, did you have a screener at OCI and this is a callback, or did you send stuff in and this is your screener? I had an OCI screener and am eager to hear about the next step. Thanks.
I didn't have a screener (am not in law school anymore, but even if I were, I don't think they come to my school) - just sent in stuff. If you had an OCI screener, it sounds like that's it and you wait for the final decision.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:33 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:I was contacted about scheduling an interview. Anyone else? I wonder how many people get interviews.
My understanding is that if you weren't interviewed at your school's OCI, they'll contact you individually for phone interviews. So, to answer your question, everyone gets interviews. There is only one stage of interviewing, as mentioned above.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:37 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:Pete Venkman wrote:I'm interested in this kind of work...would anyone be kind enough to share how they have positioned themselves for this kind of employment? Internships with DoL or the NLRB perhaps?
litigation experience for field offices; internships at DOL and/or NLRB and/or NLRA and/or employment law boutiques (I did several); coursework in labor and employment and employee benefits. but who knows; they take so few people each year that I can't imagine there is some formula.
The process strikes me as a huge black box. For me, it's a background including summer work at a plaintiff's employment boutique, significant coursework, and volunteer work for a public interest labor and employment group.
My interviewer was telling me that the GC's office in Washington generally looks for more "egg-heady" type candidates, because the work they do is a little more high-end / policy focused. Field offices are generally harder to predict, but generally look for more litigation experience and are slightly less grade / academic focused.
Honestly, though, who knows in the end.

I've angled for this type of work as follows: Courses in Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, Labor Law, Pretrial Civil Practice, and Civil Trial Practice. I've also completed two internships where I have worked on employment discrimination and wage and hour cases. I'll let you know in January if this is the kind of resume they look for, haha.
But, what I can say is that the interviewers seemed impressed that I had done things that the job entails. If you can tell someone interviewing you for a litigation-oriented position that you have conducted a trial, taken a deposition, drafted pleadings and motions, etc., you probably stand a better chance of getting the job. As such, you should look to acquire the practical skills and substantive knowledge required for any job you want.
Of course, this is just me hoping they're looking for what I'm offering. LOL. What do any of us actually know?
Exactly. I think if you can show that you've done the kind of work that they do, you're putting yourself in a good position. For me, it allowed me to really discuss, substantively, what I like about employment and labor law. And it allowed me to discuss some of the discrimination and wage and hour work I had done over the summer (trials, appellate brief work, etc.). If you can talk about this stuff, it'll go better. My interviewer loves L&E, and we ended up going for about 50 minutes (30 minutes allotted for the interview).
I'd say try to get the experience at a plaintiff's firm or government organization, however. It's a little more difficult to translate defense work. Not impossible, but you will face a little more skepticism.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:18 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:I was contacted about scheduling an interview. Anyone else? I wonder how many people get interviews.
My understanding is that if you weren't interviewed at your school's OCI, they'll contact you individually for phone interviews. So, to answer your question, everyone gets interviews. There is only one stage of interviewing, as mentioned above.
Everyone? As in, they're interviewing everyone who applies? Maybe they don't get as many applications as the other Honors programs, but that seems awfully inefficient.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:17 pm
by Anonymous User
No, I think that they interview promising candidates either through on-campus interview or if DOL doesn't do OCI at your school, then if you're a promising candidate, they'll contact you to have a telephone interview. Not everyone who applies will get an interview.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:36 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:No, I think that they interview promising candidates either through on-campus interview or if DOL doesn't do OCI at your school, then if you're a promising candidate, they'll contact you to have a telephone interview. Not everyone who applies will get an interview.
Just checking.

Still would like to know how many people they interview - would be nice to know the odds!
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:38 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:No, I think that they interview promising candidates either through on-campus interview or if DOL doesn't do OCI at your school, then if you're a promising candidate, they'll contact you to have a telephone interview. Not everyone who applies will get an interview.
Dunno about the promising candidate part ... there were empty interview slots at my school's OCI. And we weren't pre screened. Maybe some self selection though.
That might be true for mail in applicants, but it seems to me most people get screeners.
Re: DoL (Labor) 2013 Honors Attorney Program
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:44 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:No, I think that they interview promising candidates either through on-campus interview or if DOL doesn't do OCI at your school, then if you're a promising candidate, they'll contact you to have a telephone interview. Not everyone who applies will get an interview.
Dunno about the promising candidate part ... there were empty interview slots at my school's OCI. And we weren't pre screened. Maybe some self selection though.
That might be true for mail in applicants, but it seems to me most people get screeners.
Which may well be true - especially depending on the schools where they do screeners - but they had over 1000 applicants last year, so I can't imagine they actually interview everyone (especially since the screener is it - there isn't a callback round, just one round of interviews).