SEC Chair's Attorney Honors Program 2015-2016 Forum

[macgruber]

Hey guys,

Did I miss this already? Or has it not been posted yet? Last year, the application was posted on Aug 1st.

[Anonymous User]

Looks like the announcement for this year's program is up on USAJobs.

[Anonymous User]

Is it dumb to select all the offices and divisions? I would obviously work in any of them.

[grand inquisitor]

Is it dumb to select all the offices and divisions? I would obviously work in any of them.

corpfin?

[Anonymous User]

Is it dumb to select all the offices and divisions? I would obviously work in any of them.

corpfin?

what?

[grand inquisitor]

you would work for corpfin?

[Anonymous User]

sure. is corpfin bad or something?

[Anonymous User]

Corpfin is pretty notorious within the SEC for being extremely boring, but its definitely not dumb to select all the divisions. And corpfin's reputation is really only the disclosure operations part of the division. The rest is not boring at all.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone been contacted for an interview? The posting said interviews to be conducted in October. Haven't heard anything yet.

[Anonymous User]

Current SEC attorney here. A few things Corp. Fin isn't that bad. I work with a few of the corp fin attorneys on various projects from time to time. Seems interesting to me, especially when you get to work on policy matters. Also, I wouldn't give up hope until December. I know we were still interviewing through November last year.

[sportsstatboy]

Do many folks get into the SEC outside of the Honors Program (e.g., work for 2 years in private practice and then "lateral" in) or do nearly all the young attorneys find their way in through the Honors Program?

[grand inquisitor]

Do many folks get into the SEC outside of the Honors Program (e.g., work for 2 years in private practice and then "lateral" in) or do nearly all the young attorneys find their way in through the Honors Program?

fairly certain the lion's share of personnel come in as laterals; from what i heard/gathered last year, the honors intake was pretty small and limited to clerks and veterans for the most part.

[Anonymous User]

A friend of mine interviewed with the IM Division last week.

[Anonymous User]

Do many folks get into the SEC outside of the Honors Program (e.g., work for 2 years in private practice and then "lateral" in) or do nearly all the young attorneys find their way in through the Honors Program?

fairly certain the lion's share of personnel come in as laterals; from what i heard/gathered last year, the honors intake was pretty small and limited to clerks and veterans for the most part.

Vast, vast majority come in as laterals. The honors program didn't even (formally) exist until last year and there were very few entry level hires.

[Anonymous User]

Did this program take only 3Ls?

[Anonymous User]

I'm pretty sure this is the program for hiring 3Ls/judicial clerks for full time postgrad jobs.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone hear anything?????

[Anonymous User]

Did this program take only 3Ls?

Yes. They have an internship for non-graduating students in the spring posted in USAJOBs

[Anonymous User]

Anyone who applied to the post-clerkship program receive an offer? Or know anything about what the various divisions are doing?

[derbymm]

Has anyone heard anything, if they have already interviewed? I interviewed with the SEC for the Division of Trading and Markets a month and a half ago. Anyone know when they will actually make a selection?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything, if they have already interviewed? I interviewed with the SEC for the Division of Trading and Markets a month and a half ago. Anyone know when they will actually make a selection?

Nothing yet. I interviewed in October for a different division, and I haven't heard anything since then. During the interview, they made it seem as though they would be making a decision soon, but I called only to find out they haven't yet. Better than a ding!

[Anonymous User]

I have heard of one division making offers (not the Division of Trading and Markets). For anyone who has received an offer, do you know whether the 14 month probationary period is just a formality? In other words, is the Chair's Attorney Honors Program designed to be a long-term investment in those who are hired? Thanks in advance. This website has been incredibly useful for me both during and after law school.

[Anonymous User]

I have heard of one division making offers (not the Division of Trading and Markets). For anyone who has received an offer, do you know whether the 14 month probationary period is just a formality? In other words, is the Chair's Attorney Honors Program designed to be a long-term investment in those who are hired? Thanks in advance. This website has been incredibly useful for me both during and after law school.

Current member of the program here. The probationary period is actually 2 years--the 14 months is just for the pre bar passage law clerk appointment. The probationary period is just a formality that applies to every government attorney position. You're basically an at-will employee during the probationary period and then once you pass the probationary period you get tenure. Passing the probationary period just means having acceptable performance which is not a high bar. If you aren't admitted to a state bar within 14 months however, you will be fired.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else hear anything?

To the above poster, and anyone else who might be able to provide insight: If you are entering the program as a former clerk/fellow, and have already been admitted to a state bar, the only applicable probationary period is the generic one that applies to all fed employees, right? Were salaries fairly consistent last year among clerks/fellows beginning the program? Can anyone shed some light on what the process is like after receiving a verbal offer (salary negotiation, if any; background check; formal written offer; start date?) Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

I just received a phone call indicating that Corp. Fin. would like to offer me a position. Nothing from Trading & Markets (where I also interviewed).