DOJ Honors Program 2023-24 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any news?

Had my background check interview about a month ago. Nothing yet on start dates. There’s a directory for incoming hires circulating, but that’s all I’ve seen. No clue if there’s any other hiring going on.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone received start date for EOIR? How many EOIR folks are coming on this year?

[Anonymous User]

You know anything about EOIR?

[Anonymous User]

I'm hearing they're starting all doj honors attorneys on september 9.

[Anonymous User]

I'm hearing they're starting all doj honors attorneys on september 9.

I don't think there's any one start date, my group is starting in Oct/Nov

[Anonymous User]

I'm hearing they're starting all doj honors attorneys on september 9.

I am also someone who falls outside that window, so I didn’t hear that either.

[Anonymous User]

I do not have a start date yet, do most people have one?

[Anonymous User]

I do not have a start date yet, do most people have one?

I don’t either.

[Anonymous User]

If we're assigned to a SAUSA post in EDVA as part of the Honors Program, do we have to move to Virginia for 6 months? Or is it commutable?

Where will you be commuting from?

Probably from downtown DC. Planning on living near the office there if possible

Yes, it's commutable via metro or driving if you have a car.

[Anonymous User]

I still don't have a start date. Anyone in the same boat?

[Anonymous User]

I still don't have a start date. Anyone in the same boat?

Same here, but I am not even available to start until late fall. From that email that went out a little while ago, it seems like we might not hear anything until a few weeks before we are supposed to start.

[Anonymous User]

Have you heard anything since submitting screening paperwork? Radio silence on my end.

[Anonymous User]

Have you heard anything since submitting screening paperwork? Radio silence on my end.

Do you mean the paperwork alongside the SF-86? I had my background interview, if that’s what you’re asking.

[Anonymous User]

Have you heard anything since submitting screening paperwork? Radio silence on my end.

Same here, hopefully more info soon

[Anonymous User]

Change in topic but anyone apply to, or hear back from, the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program?

[Anonymous User]

Change in topic but anyone apply to, or hear back from, the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program?

I can’t help you but I have a related question. If you transition from a term position (hired through HP) to a full position, do you qualify for ASLRP?

[Anonymous User]

Change in topic but anyone apply to, or hear back from, the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program?

I can’t help you but I have a related question. If you transition from a term position (hired through HP) to a full position, do you qualify for ASLRP?

You should; AUSAs are eligible to apply, so it should be available to all full time people DOJ-wide.

[Anonymous User]

Change in topic but anyone apply to, or hear back from, the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program?

I can’t help you but I have a related question. If you transition from a term position (hired through HP) to a full position, do you qualify for ASLRP?

You should; AUSAs are eligible to apply, so it should be available to all full time people DOJ-wide.

Thanks for the insight. I was hired with the promise that this would convert to a permanent position, so here’s hoping I’ll be able to take advantage of ASLRP in the future.

[Anonymous User]

Question for litigating components. If we're taking the bar next week and won't hear back until October or November, will we be a burden or fall behind at work? Or do they know that and plan ahead of time?

[Anonymous User]

Question for litigating components. If we're taking the bar next week and won't hear back until October or November, will we be a burden or fall behind at work? Or do they know that and plan ahead of time?

They should know that. Depends on your component, but there should be plenty of things for you to do that don’t require you to sign anything or show up in court until you’ve heard back. I don’t know when you’re starting (or what component you’re joining) but it takes a little time to build up a caseload or integrate you into cases.

[Anonymous User]

Question for litigating components. If we're taking the bar next week and won't hear back until October or November, will we be a burden or fall behind at work? Or do they know that and plan ahead of time?

They should know that. Depends on your component, but there should be plenty of things for you to do that don’t require you to sign anything or show up in court until you’ve heard back. I don’t know when you’re starting (or what component you’re joining) but it takes a little time to build up a caseload or integrate you into cases.

Former DOJ Honors hire in a litigating component. This wasn't an issue for me since I clerked prior and fortunately passed the bar before onboarding with the DOJ. It's been awhile but I recall the first few months were focused on onboarding, attending loads of trainings, and research and writing assignments. I don't believe I enrolled as counsel in any of the cases I worked on until around October or November, but only after I provided my bar no. and certification of good standing. I did attend status conferences, hearings, and a trial opening and closing during that interim period but it was from an observational capacity. And Internally, I was staffed as second chair on cases which was mostly preparing research memos and doing the first draft at discovery, motions, and the like.

Then around December when all the attorneys suddenly took leave for the holidays, my caseload started ramping up and I've been fairly busy since then. As you'll soon learn, you won't have much leave accrued your first year so it might be tough for you to take time off during the holidays your first year. I didn't mind too much since I got a lot of "ownership" on my cases.

In hindsight, I think this progressive assignment of responsibilities really helped me succeed. YMMV depending on component\, check with hiring official. Goodluck, it's a blast!

[Anonymous User]

Since other folks were curious a few months ago, I was contacted about and arranged my start date last week.

[Anonymous User]

Have people received notification of OARM approval?

[Anonymous User]

Have people received notification of OARM approval?

Don’t expect to hear on this before you start. It took over eighteenth months after my start date for me to receive a suitability determination by OARM.

If you are concerned about something in your check, contact an OARM attorney. They can give you an informal (and nonbinding) opinion on whether you will be determined suitable (or not).