DOJ Honors Program 2024-25 Forum

[Hdgwg]

Anyone a finalist for or hear from UST or Crim TA?

I haven’t heard anything from UST.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from CRT? The lack of updates from Deana this week is killing me

[Anonymous User]

Still radio silence from CRT. I went ahead and accepted an offer from another component because I suspect that if anything, I'd just be an alternate for CRT. Hope you all hear soon!

[808mt]

Has anyone heard from CRT? The lack of updates from Deana this week is killing me

Haven't heard anything from CRT. Same

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from CRT? The lack of updates from Deana this week is killing me

I am also waiting to hear from CRT and also dying internally from Deana's lack of updates. You are not alone!

[Anonymous User]

any offers from civ comm??? still waiting

[Anonymous User]

anyone else still waiting on a few components? I'm not sure whether to cut my losses or if they could still be coming

[Vinny1294]

anyone else still waiting on a few components? I'm not sure whether to cut my losses or if they could still be coming

Went finalist for two components. No offers received yet. Starting to accept I’m an alternate for both and while I’m happy for those who got offers, hoping they had more preferred offers and there is movement over the next few days/weeks.

It’s also just possible that it’s still early and that given the recent election that components have had to slow things down (e.g. turnover, consideration of whether candidates would accept, their calendars being more busy to finalize things/plan their exit, etc.)

I’m curious what others think? But this year of honors seems very unconventional and unique?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone a finalist for or hear from UST or Crim TA?

Nothing from UST. It’s an informal component so I’m curious when we’ll get an update.

[Anonymous User]

Rejected from CRM-TA after following-up via e-mail

[Anonymous User]

This is neither here nor there but someone I trust at the Department told me that there can be some horizontal communication about the status of each interviewed applicant and some horse trading does take place

Maybe something to keep in mind when considering your personal offer/no-offer situation

[Anonymous User]

I got offered last week for Crim Tax. I haven’t heard back anything from my other components (though I know ATR Civil called references). Two questions:

1. Any thoughts on how well regarded Crim Tax is? Is it worth it as a DOJ Honors program over a really good NY firm?
2. Where do people see if they are a finalist for other components? On Avue it says Offer Issued under status but all my other components aren’t in my Selected By. Does that mean I’m out for them?

1. This is going to largely depend on you and what sort of experience you want. At least some honors attorneys (maybe all) from criminal tax go to the USAO, which means stand up experience right away. They’re active in court and grand jury as a general matter so that’s a plus for stand up experience as well.

2. It doesn’t mean you’re no longer a finalist. The avue status checker updates to the farthest along status. So since you got an offer your previous finalist statuses dropped from the portal but you never lose your finalist designation.

[Anonymous User]

I got offered last week for Crim Tax. I haven’t heard back anything from my other components (though I know ATR Civil called references). Two questions:

1. Any thoughts on how well regarded Crim Tax is? Is it worth it as a DOJ Honors program over a really good NY firm?
2. Where do people see if they are a finalist for other components? On Avue it says Offer Issued under status but all my other components aren’t in my Selected By. Does that mean I’m out for them?

1. This is going to largely depend on you and what sort of experience you want. At least some honors attorneys (maybe all) from criminal tax go to the USAO, which means stand up experience right away. They’re active in court and grand jury as a general matter so that’s a plus for stand up experience as well.

2. It doesn’t mean you’re no longer a finalist. The avue status checker updates to the farthest along status. So since you got an offer your previous finalist statuses dropped from the portal but you never lose your finalist designation.

All (most?) crim sections will require new honors hires to SAUSA at either EDVA or the DC USAO. The detail lasts about 6 months. That said, most crim line attorneys are traveling a lot for cases. You will get much more hands on experience doing crim tax than you will at a firm, but I cannot say whether that will be portable if you choose to go private after.

[Anonymous User]

I was really hoping Deana would have posted an update by now confirming that all finalists are out. I'm still kind of hoping (irrationally, I know) that some components missed the deadline and that finalists might still be coming.

[Anonymous User]

Accepted ATR-WASH (Criminal) today--got offer ~two weeks ago. Good luck everyone!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have a finalist component drop of their status? I’ve had two components I’m a finalist for since last week. Just today around 4pm est when I logged into Avue it is only showing one component as a finalist.

Any idea what this means? Doesn’t seem like a positive update.

[ShoTime_17]

I got offered last week for Crim Tax. I haven’t heard back anything from my other components (though I know ATR Civil called references). Two questions:

1. Any thoughts on how well regarded Crim Tax is? Is it worth it as a DOJ Honors program over a really good NY firm?
2. Where do people see if they are a finalist for other components? On Avue it says Offer Issued under status but all my other components aren’t in my Selected By. Does that mean I’m out for them?

I'm in crim tax and have insight. Feel free to message me!

[Anonymous User]

I was really hoping Deana would have posted an update by now confirming that all finalists are out. I'm still kind of hoping (irrationally, I know) that some components missed the deadline and that finalists might still be coming.

Deana's lack of updates this year, compared to her posting nearly daily in years past, strikes me as odd, especially because it seems that there are several components that have not yet posted finalists. Not sure if it has something to do with the upcoming administration change, I've heard some speculation about whether divisions such as CRT might cancel the Honors Program this year due to changes anticipated under Trump. I'm not even sure that a cancellation is allowed at this point, but Deana's silence is, nonetheless, cryptic.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone even gotten finalist status for CRT? I'm sure I'm not a finalist at this point, but without confirmation from Deana (or someone posting here that they got it) I'm having a hard time letting go of hope

[Anonymous User]

Yes got a call from Kristen Clarke yesterday but haven’t gotten a formal email yet so I assume they are still making calls.

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone a finalist for UST?

[Anonymous User]

still waiting for updates on whether offers have gone out for civ comm?

[Anonymous User]

Yes got a call from Kristen Clarke yesterday but haven’t gotten a formal email yet so I assume they are still making calls.

Brutal for me, but thank you so so much for sharing. The confirmation makes it much easier to move on. Good luck with your decision!!

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received an offer yet for the trial attorney position in the criminal division?

[Anonymous User]

Any ATR-WASH-CIV finalists still out there? I got the sense that a small handful of offers immediately went out after finalist designations, but it seemed to quite possibly be fewer than the 14 slots they are purportedly filling. Curious whether we are all alternates or if there is a chance that they are delayed getting first-round offers out.