Government Honors Programs 2014-2015 Cycle Forum

[Anonymous User]

This is, ideally, a place for people interested in all government honors programs to discuss the cycle together and provide (probably anonymous) support/advice for each other.

I know there is a thread specifically for DOJ honors (http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=232480) and a thread for last year's cycle (http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=215603) but I haven't seen one for this year yet, and I know applications for most programs are opening soon. Feel free to let me know if this is redundant.

Mods: I know this OP doesn't have any personal info, but I'd prefer to stay anon if possible since I'll be applying for honors programs myself and I'm paranoid.

Application links:

Army Corp of Engineers: --LinkRemoved-- (Deadline Oct 15, 2014)
Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/careers/opportuniti ... orney.html
Department of Homeland Security: --LinkRemoved-- (Aug 1, 2014 - Sep 15, 2014)
Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/en ... -attorneys (Jul 31, 2014 - Sep 2, 2014)
Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov/sol/jobs/honorsprogram.htm (Jul 1, 2014 - Oct 1, 2014)
Department of State: http://www.state.gov/s/l/3190.htm (Deadline Sep 1, 2014)
Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.gov/mission/administrati ... ey-program
Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/ogc/fellowship.htm
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/jobs/honorprogram.cfm
Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/attorney-honors-program
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: http://www.fdic.gov/about/legalhonors/index.html (Jul 1, 2014 - Sep 30, 2014)
Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/careers-ft ... al-program
Food & Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFD ... 112708.htm
Housing & Urban Development: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documen ... ochure.pdf (Deadline Sep 5, 2014)
Internal Revenue Service: http://jobs.irs.gov/midcareer/occ-law-s ... orsprogram
National Labor Relations Board: https://apps.nlrb.gov/honors (Aug 15, 2014 - Oct 28, 2014)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/employment/honor-law.html
Presidential Management Fellows: http://www.pmf.gov/become-a-pmf/2015-application.aspx
Securities Exchange Commission: http://www.sec.gov/jobs/jobs_students.shtml
U.S. Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/careers/career-ringer.html (Aug 1, 2014 - Nov 15, 2014)

If you have links to another application source, please comment with a link & the application dates (if possible) and I'll add it to the OP. TYIA.

[Anonymous User]

I know there is a thread specifically for DOJ honors (http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=232480) and a thread for last year's cycle (http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=215603) but I haven't seen one for this year yet, and I know applications for most programs are opening soon. Feel free to let me know if this is redundant.

This is, ideally, a place for people interested in government honors programs to discuss the cycle together and provide (probably anonymous) support/advice for each other.

Mods: I know this OP doesn't have any personal info, but I'd prefer to stay anon if possible since I'll be applying for honors programs myself and I'm paranoid.

Considering applying to DOJ honors for criminal work. Fed Clerkship, median at t30 (but hoping the clerkship makes that less of a big deal), a bunch of others sweet softs including a ton of criminal work during LS.

If you do one of the components that is not a USAO/specific city, that means you will be in DC, right? Or are they just gonna send you to some random USAO?

[Anonymous User]

Is this for rising 3Ls, correct?

[Anonymous User]

To add to the original list:

U.S. Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/careers/career-ringer.html (Aug 1, 2014 - Nov 15, 2014)

Also, I believe it's "internal" rather than "international" revenue service

[Anonymous User]

Not technically an honors program, but has entry-level positions:

Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Law Recruit Program; http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/opportunitie ... cruit.html (Deadline Nov 1, 2014)

[Anonymous User]

Seems like the EEOC hasn't had an honors program in years, I know it is all budget related but surprising that the EEOC has not had a program while the NLRB has.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Seems like the EEOC hasn't had an honors program in years, I know it is all budget related but surprising that the EEOC has not had a program while the NLRB has.

My understanding is that it was purely budget. They're completely different agencies funded differently.

[Anonymous User]

Haven't been able to find a lot of info about this but generally speaking

1) How competitive is DOJ Honors? How competitive in regard to national security related components (I see they hire very few numbers)?

2) How does DOJ treat biglaw work? My resume (in law school) has only biglaw work (no clinics or public interest stuff) though pre-law school I had a lot of public interest including USAO. Additionally, my resume has a lot of experience related to national security stuff.

Stats: HYS, above median, probably around top 1/3 of class. I also have COA clerkship after graduation for non-feeder in non-2/9/DC circuit.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if any of these agencies recognize veterans' preference? I know DOJ does.

[A. Nony Mouse]

From somewhere on their web page:

The Department’s policy in excepted service career attorney hiring is to select the best qualified applicant for the position in terms of skills, background, knowledge, and relevant experience. Excepted service attorney positions within Justice are wholly exempted from the appointment procedures of 5 C.F.R. Part 302; however, Justice follows the principle of veterans’ preference in its attorney hiring procedures as far as administratively feasible and treats veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor at all stages in the hiring process. If you are a veteran and wish to contact someone in the Department’s Veterans Employment Program Office, contact Cortez Puryear or call (202) 514-0349.

[Anonymous User]

Sent off my USACE app the other day (since I know it can take them awhile to go through the process, since every office is separate). Getting ready to work on my DOJ app once the site opens, and edit up my DHS and State apps.

Good luck to everyone else this upcoming month.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else applying to the SEC Honors program?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else applying to the SEC Honors program?

Bump. Anyone else out there? I know it's a new program, so we don't know anything about timing yet, but it might be good to keep track for posterity and all that.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else applying to the SEC Honors program?

Dropped in my app this weekend as a current PMF not the 3L one though.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else applying to the SEC Honors program?

Dropped in my app this weekend as a current PMF not the 3L one though.

Applied as a law clerk. Good luck, dude.

[jamesm722]

I've applied to several of the Honors programs so far. Did get an interview for the DOL next week down in DC. Not getting my hopes up because they hire approximately 10 a year on 700+ applications.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any insight on how many they are looking to hire for this new SEC Chair's honors program or timeline. I don't think I have a shot SEC is basically best attorney gig in government as far as pay and benefits goes. I'm just hoping they are looking to hire a lot for some reason and there is a limited applicant pool because its new and the app window was only open for like 10 days.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any insight on how many they are looking to hire for this new SEC Chair's honors program or timeline. I don't think I have a shot SEC is basically best attorney gig in government as far as pay and benefits goes. I'm just hoping they are looking to hire a lot for some reason and there is a limited applicant pool because its new and the app window was only open for like 10 days.

No idea (just another applicant like you), but I'm hopeful for relatively quick turn-around (by government standards). Given that they closed out at 500 applications or less, and all that, I would imagine it won't take as much time to sort as in some other agencies. The posting said they expected to do interviews in September and make offers in October, but it's hard to know how accurate that will end up being.

[Anonymous User]

Most of these programs are open to 3Ls or judicial clerks. Does anyone know if this implies that taking time off between law school and a clerkship removes you from contention? I.E. Could I work for a year or two, clerk, and still apply?

[A. Nony Mouse]

Most of these programs are open to 3Ls or judicial clerks. Does anyone know if this implies that taking time off between law school and a clerkship removes you from contention? I.E. Could I work for a year or two, clerk, and still apply?

It does disqualify you. The programs are for people coming straight out of grad school or who've held a fellowship or judicial clerkship since graduation, but not people who have held full time employment since graduation. (DOJ at least has added a time limit - you must be within so many years of graduation - I forget how many - so e.g. a career clerk would be disqualified.) The idea is that they are entry-level positions.

[Anonymous User]

Most of these programs are open to 3Ls or judicial clerks. Does anyone know if this implies that taking time off between law school and a clerkship removes you from contention? I.E. Could I work for a year or two, clerk, and still apply?

It does disqualify you. The programs are for people coming straight out of grad school or who've held a fellowship or judicial clerkship since graduation, but not people who have held full time employment since graduation. (DOJ at least has added a time limit - you must be within so many years of graduation - I forget how many - so e.g. a career clerk would be disqualified.) The idea is that they are entry-level positions.

Thanks. I'm a rising 2L and this is highly relevant to my planning. When you note that it's for those who have held a fellowship or clerkship, what kind of fellowships are included? Could you, for example, do a school-specific one-year fellowship and still qualify?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I'm not sure about school-sponsored fellowships; it appears that it depends. (The DOJ Honors page basically says people on fellowships will have to apply and see if what they're doing counts.) My sense is that the more it's an established program and the less it's a "let's fund our students so our employment numbers look good" kind of thing, the better shot you have.

But not all honors programs will take people on fellowship; DHS takes only rising 3Ls and clerks (to be fair, it doesn't say you have to have clerked straight from school, but that has been the traditional model, and again, these are supposed to be entry level). So it will also depend on the program.

[CHIWASHDC879]

any word on callbacks?

[Anonymous User]

Department of Labor is reaching out to interviewees for the first round.

[Anonymous User]

I'm currently clerking, and there is an agency to which I am interested in applying. However, I've already accepted an offer at a firm. Does anyone have any thoughts to offer about applying to an honors program after already accepting at a firm? My concern is the agency will reach out to my firm, and I don't want to have to inform the firm about it until I'm further along in the process. At the same time, I am interested in applying, and the only reason I haven't is I'm concerned about creating bad blood at the firm (bird in hand and whatnot).