DOJ Honors Program 2022-2023 Forum

[Anonymous User]

If it makes anyone at all feel slightly less alone in their anxiety, I interviewed with Crim fairly early and my references have not been checked. (For additional info, I have decently competitive stats, federal clerkships, DOJ internships.) I’m basically at the point of throwing in the towel and giving up all hope. Good luck everyone!

As someone who also has semi-competitive stats (for a different division) and also hasn’t had references checked, this did make me feel better. Thank you. You never know! Reference checks do take time.

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with OCIJ, BIA, and OP on 11/3 and my references were checked 11/9. Any other EOIRs out there?

I’ve always wanted to work for EOIR so it doesn’t matter either way, but can someone fill me in on why EOIR seems like the less prestigious component, at least in most forums? Just curious!

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed for ATR/ATR FELLOWSHIP a couple of weeks ago, my references were checked yesterday (11/07). No status change.

Which offices, if you don't mind? I interviewed early last week, heard nothing.

I only interviewed with the DC office.

Not me, hoping that they do reference checks in order of interview and they haven't gotten to me yet because i interviewed in the middle of the interview period.

Comment OP here. Same! Another commenter said some references had already been checked by this time last week. Hopefully they'll continue calling references, even though my interview was late. Anybody have any idea?

I interviewed late in the interview cycle too (ATR, DC office) and my references haven’t been checked either! Going to hope they are doing them in order of interviews. I have a friend who interviewed early and one of his has been checked.

If anyone is interested in testing this theory, my interview was the 28th and my references were checked on Monday (11/07). Would be curious to see where others are? (ATR - DC)

Interviewed before you (ATR-DC) and have not had my references checked. It was nice to believe the theory for a little lol. I’ve given up hope at this point but we should hear something within a week or so.

[Anonymous User]

ATR applicant here. If my references haven’t been contacted at this point, is it over? Interviewed last week for ATR-CHIC

[Anonymous User]

I’m another ATR candidate. My interview went well and I demonstrated clear interest in the particular office’s subject matter and prosecution field. But I didn’t speak to many people in the office before the interview, just a couple people in different offices. Was this a big mistake? Do I still have a chance?

[Anonymous User]

I’m another ATR candidate. My interview went well and I demonstrated clear interest in the particular office’s subject matter and prosecution field. But I didn’t speak to many people in the office before the interview, just a couple people in different offices. Was this a big mistake? Do I still have a chance?

Have your references been checked? I think we're all wondering "if we still have a chance" but the only tangible metric we have right now is that. Based on previous years, it seems as though finalist designations would start going out Monday (Friday being a holiday).

I was a SLIP this past summer and was able to speak with a number of people prior to my interview but I would imagine that's not the norm. Most candidates wouldn't have had any opportunity to speak with anyone prior to their interview (outside of having a pre-existing contact working at DOJ) so I would say any networking you did is a positive.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody in ATR ever get designated a finalist without a reference check?

[Anonymous User]

No clue on this but I interviewed with several components (think 3+) and none of my references have been checked. Feeling pretty bummed, but don’t know if those feelings are too premature.

[Anonymous User]

Anybody in ATR ever get designated a finalist without a reference check?

From my understanding/research last cycle (I was hired through the program as well), some components are very strict about checking references before finalist designations. I believe ATR is one of those. However, it may be possible that alternate finalists won't get checked until right before they get an offer!

I’m another ATR candidate. My interview went well and I demonstrated clear interest in the particular office’s subject matter and prosecution field. But I didn’t speak to many people in the office before the interview, just a couple people in different offices. Was this a big mistake? Do I still have a chance?

Yep! Talking to more people is always better (especially if they were on the interviewing panel/committee) but it's not a necessity. I think it'll signal interest in the job since you already talked to different people and hopefully got permission from them and then name dropped in the interview.

ATR applicant here. If my references haven’t been contacted at this point, is it over? Interviewed last week for ATR-CHIC

Not necessarily. The program runs on a tight deadline and sometimes offices might get busy/have a hard time reaching your references. Also you might still be an alternate finalist and that keeps you in the races for a bit longer.

[Anonymous User]

No clue on this but I interviewed with several components (think 3+) and none of my references have been checked. Feeling pretty bummed, but don’t know if those feelings are too premature.

I interviewed for EOIR and got an email a few days ago saying they were doing reference checks and needed me to provide an email address for one of my references (I didn't list an email for one of my three references).

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Crim has checked references? If they haven’t checked my references yet does that mean it’s over?

[okyesokyes]

My references were checked my criminal

Anyone know if Crim has checked references? If they haven’t checked my references yet does that mean it’s over?

[Anonymous User]

Anybody in ATR ever get designated a finalist without a reference check?

From my understanding/research last cycle (I was hired through the program as well), some components are very strict about checking references before finalist designations. I believe ATR is one of those. However, it may be possible that alternate finalists won't get checked until right before they get an offer!

I’m another ATR candidate. My interview went well and I demonstrated clear interest in the particular office’s subject matter and prosecution field. But I didn’t speak to many people in the office before the interview, just a couple people in different offices. Was this a big mistake? Do I still have a chance?

Yep! Talking to more people is always better (especially if they were on the interviewing panel/committee) but it's not a necessity. I think it'll signal interest in the job since you already talked to different people and hopefully got permission from them and then name dropped in the interview.

ATR applicant here. If my references haven’t been contacted at this point, is it over? Interviewed last week for ATR-CHIC

Not necessarily. The program runs on a tight deadline and sometimes offices might get busy/have a hard time reaching your references. Also you might still be an alternate finalist and that keeps you in the races for a bit longer.

Thank you for the responses! None of my references have been contacted in the slightest, as they've said. I was really hoping I'd get the job! Maybe they'll contact them this week. But surely I wouldn't have been screwed before the interview started just because I hadn't spoken to people, right?

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

But surely I wouldn't have been screwed before the interview started just because I hadn't spoken to people, right?

No, you wouldn't. As with everything, if you know people or have connections and can work them, that can be helpful. But I don't think connections are anywhere near common enough to rule you out if you don't have them. Unless you previously interned for one of the hiring components, it can be hard even to find someone to talk to, since DOJ isn't like law firms where you can just go to their website and look up who works where.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from FP?

[Anonymous User]

But surely I wouldn't have been screwed before the interview started just because I hadn't spoken to people, right?

I got hired by ATR last year. I had spoken to 0 people in ATR before my interview. I'm sure it couldn't hurt if they knew you in a positive way, like if you were one of their SLIP people and were good, but it is hardly a requirement/expectation.

[Anonymous User]

But surely I wouldn't have been screwed before the interview started just because I hadn't spoken to people, right?

I got hired by ATR last year. I had spoken to 0 people in ATR before my interview. I'm sure it couldn't hurt if they knew you in a positive way, like if you were one of their SLIP people and were good, but it is hardly a requirement/expectation.

What were your credentials (anonymously, of course)? And when were your references contacted? Also waiting on ATR Chicago and Washington.

[anfox]

Has anyone heard from FP?

Assuming you mean Federal Programs? If so, at least one of my references was contacted last week.

[Anonymous User]

I had EOIR check references over the weekend I believe

[Anonymous User]

It appears one of the components I interviewed with disappeared from my DOJ application status portal, while the other component is still listed under “selected for interview.”

[Anonymous User]

When are components allowed to contact for offers?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone had their references checked this week? If so, which division? Don’t mind me trying to hold out hope over here

[anfox]

Has anyone heard from FP?

Does FP stand for Federal Programs? If so, I had at least one reference for Federal Programs checked last week. But I haven’t heard anything else.

[Anonymous User]

Crickets from Civil Appellate