HELP - senate office of leg. counsel Forum

[Megatron15]

3L here. Just scheduled a phone interview for Monday with the senate office of leg. counsel for post-graduation Staff Attorney position. Can't find the old job posting I applied to and am now scrambling for info on the job (is there a training period, how are assignments given, salary, etc.) Anybody have any insight into this position? Any advice on questions I should ask about the office during my interview? (I answer questions well but always suck at the asking part of interviews) I am from the mid-west (and go to school in the mid-west) any tips/differences about interviewing for a job out of state?


I am a research/writing nerd and want this job REALLY badly. Any tips/advice would be welcome!! Please and thank you!

[sprezz]

dunno anything about it, but google has a 2012 description of a similar posting [ http://law.wvu.edu/r/download/141216 ] that says:

Staff Attorneys prepare legislation for consideration by the United States Senate. Their work
engages them in all areas of Federal law. Their clients include Senators, Senate committees and
offices, and staff members of Senators and Senate committees and offices. A Staff Attorney
works with 3 to 6 other attorneys under the supervision of a more senior attorney who in turn
reports to the Legislative Counsel. The position of Staff Attorney is full-time and at times requires
substantial overtime. The responsibilities of the Staff Attorney include:
1. Drafting bills, resolutions, conference reports, and amendments for Senators and committees
and offices of the Senate.
2. Analyzing proposed legislation for legal sufficiency and constitutionality.
3. Researching the law and its development in relation to a proposal being analyzed or drafted.
4. Working closely with Senate staff and coworkers to analyze proposed policy and its implications
and produce professional quality draft legislation.
5. Using legal research databases.
6. Editing draft legislation using the Office drafting software on a networked personal computer
system.
The Office is seeking applicants with the following qualities:
1. A record of academic excellence, evidenced by ranking in the upper third of a law school class.
2. An ability to write clearly and concisely.
3. No substantial participation with any political party or cause.
4. A belief that public service can be interesting and challenging and offers the opportunity for a
rewarding lifelong career.
A Staff Attorney must be a law school graduate and a member in good standing of the bar of a
State or become a member within 1 year after joining the Office.


edit: another hit [ http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/C ... Public.pdf ] says

The Offices of Legislative Counsel
The Offices of Legislative Counsel (OLC) are non-partisan offices in each chamber that provide technical expertise in legislative drafting to members and committees. They prepare bill mark-ups and verify proposed language for consistency with the rest of the U.S. Code. These attorneys do not set the policy of the legislation on which they work. In fact, an attorney in the OLC may draft a bill for introduction and draft all of the competing amendments offered to that bill. The attorney is concerned with the legislative policy behind the bill only for the purpose of ensuring that the draft accurately reflects that policy. Because of the nonpartisan nature of the OLC, current substantial political activity may disqualify potential employees from gaining positions. Counsel in these offices will meet with members and their staffs to discuss legislative proposals; attend committee meetings; discuss the legislation with their counterparts in the House, Senate, or Executive Branch; review the Congressional Record and other materials regarding other matters in the subject area; attend floor consideration; research related prior legislation; and draft bills and amendments.


hth

[Megatron15]

THANK YOU!

[Anonymous User]

You ever hear anything after the phone interview?

[catinthewall]

Howdy,

If you need additional info, I split my 2L summer at the House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel. We did HHs with our Senate counterparts, so I have some insight from that. PM me.


Edit: Sorry. Just saw this was from last month. I was probably too bogged down waiting to hear back from the DOJ HP and the Cali Bar to notice.

[Anonymous User]

Bump given that Senate Legislative Counsel is hiring again this year. I sent in an application but have not yet heard back. Anyone with a different story?

[Anonymous User]

Just scheduled a phone interview. Did last year too and it didn't pan out so I'm not holding my breath.

[UnfrozenCaveman]

I thought you meant senate HELP committee!

[Anonymous User]

I just scheduled a phone screener with them too- is it a normal screener(typical questions, etc.)?

[Anonymous User]

Bump for this year's cycle. Anyone hear back yet?