AUSA/USAO hiring Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how many rounds USAO DC takes to hire?

From what I hear, it's three rounds.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how many rounds USAO DC takes to hire?

I believe it's three rounds.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how many rounds USAO DC takes to hire?

I believe it's three rounds.

Is that different for the Superior Court division?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know how many rounds USAO DC takes to hire?

I believe it's three rounds.

Is that different for the Superior Court division?

Not that I'm aware of. From my understanding, the first round is basically a screener, second deals with more practical matters, and third is a one-on-one meeting with the USA/Chief.

[Anonymous User]

For USAO superior court division, I went through 3 rounds. Met with US attorney last week and now waiting to hear back.

[Anonymous User]

For USAO superior court division, I went through 3 rounds. Met with US attorney last week and now waiting to hear back.

What was your timeline from second round to third round?

[Anonymous User]

One day.

[Anonymous User]

One day.

The general timeline for AUSA positions in DC takes months, and usually weeks between stages. That's been the experience of everyone I've spoken to who has worked at the office, aside from some people who were talking about their internship hiring. I'm not saying you're lying, but this would be wildly inconsistent with the numerous hiring stories I've heard coming out of the DC USAO.

[Anonymous User]

One day.

The general timeline for AUSA positions in DC takes months, and usually weeks between stages. That's been the experience of everyone I've spoken to who has worked at the office, aside from some people who were talking about their internship hiring. I'm not saying you're lying, but this would be wildly inconsistent with the numerous hiring stories I've heard coming out of the DC USAO.

Agreed with this. I have not heard of such a short turn around between interview rounds.

[Anonymous User]

Received an offer, here was my timeline:

Applied on May 3
First interview on June 13
Second interview on July 5
Third Interview on July 7
Offer (By phone) on July 18

[Anonymous User]

Congratulations!

Received an offer, here was my timeline:

Applied on May 3
First interview on June 13
Second interview on July 5
Third Interview on July 7
Offer (By phone) on July 18

[Anonymous User]

Any insights on GAN? I see they keep posting openings.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have a sense of how quickly EDVA moves between first and second round? I am a couple of weeks out from my first round panel and it has been radio silence...

[Anonymous User]

Hi there -- I'm interviewing for a civil AUSA position in a mid-sized office. Had a first round interview a few weeks ago and was just asked to interview with the U.S. Attorney next week. I know that each office is different, but can anyone tell me what their final USA interview has been like? My panel interview was very structured, with each panelist in turn asking pre-determined questions. Wondering if the USA interview will be the same, or a more informal "let's make sure you aren't crazy and are a good fit for the office" conversation?

[Anonymous User]

I work in a very large USAO but my final interview with the US Attorney was very much a “let’s make sure this person isnt crazy” type deal. There were some pointed questions from my resume but those were easy enough. I think it lasted 15 minutes. Nothing like the hour and a half grilling from the panel interview. At the end US Attorney said “well the division chief says she wants you and I trust her so you’re in.”

quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10528307 time=1659551541 user_id=45852]
Hi there -- I'm interviewing for a civil AUSA position in a mid-sized office. Had a first round interview a few weeks ago and was just asked to interview with the U.S. Attorney next week. I know that each office is different, but can anyone tell me what their final USA interview has been like? My panel interview was very structured, with each panelist in turn asking pre-determined questions. Wondering if the USA interview will be the same, or a more informal "let's make sure you aren't crazy and are a good fit for the office" conversation?
[/quote]

[Anonymous User]

I work in a very large USAO but my final interview with the US Attorney was very much a “let’s make sure this person isnt crazy” type deal. There were some pointed questions from my resume but those were easy enough. I think it lasted 15 minutes. Nothing like the hour and a half grilling from the panel interview. At the end US Attorney said “well the division chief says she wants you and I trust her so you’re in.”

quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10528307 time=1659551541 user_id=45852]
Hi there -- I'm interviewing for a civil AUSA position in a mid-sized office. Had a first round interview a few weeks ago and was just asked to interview with the U.S. Attorney next week. I know that each office is different, but can anyone tell me what their final USA interview has been like? My panel interview was very structured, with each panelist in turn asking pre-determined questions. Wondering if the USA interview will be the same, or a more informal "let's make sure you aren't crazy and are a good fit for the office" conversation?

[/quote]

OP here -- thank you so much for the quick response! Really keeping my fingers crossed that my USA interview is similar

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any interview experience with the WDWA? Would be curious to hear both about # of rounds, what they were like, and overall timeline.

[Anonymous User]

My experience interviewing with USAs has been that it’s pretty much “is this person a good fit.” It’s also very personality dependent - one was so laid back I ended up just giving a running narrative, the other had many more specific questions and was more engaged. I agree that you’ll likely get some questions about your resume or why this office and such, but you will have probably answered them already anyway.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone ever received an offer without request for references? I had a USA interview a few days ago -- no references were requested before and none have been requested since. Reading through this thread, the vast majority of people seem to go through a reference-check process pre-offer but all the offices are different so wondering if there are any out there that skip reference checks. Obviously anxiously awaiting news, and killing time by trying to read tea leaves

[Anonymous User]

Anyone ever received an offer without request for references? I had a USA interview a few days ago -- no references were requested before and none have been requested since. Reading through this thread, the vast majority of people seem to go through a reference-check process pre-offer but all the offices are different so wondering if there are any out there that skip reference checks. Obviously anxiously awaiting news, and killing time by trying to read tea leaves

I can’t speak for all offices, so never say never, but I’ve not encountered anyone who didn’t get their references checked. I suppose there are circumstances in which it might not happen - for instance, you’d applied before and they checked your references at that point, or you previously worked with someone at the office who can speak directly to your abilities - but otherwise I’d be surprised if they didn’t contact any references, I’m afraid. (But hopefully for your sake someone will post that I’m wrong!) (also, depending on how many people met with the USA you’re definitely not out of the running yet).

[Anonymous User]

Anyone ever received an offer without request for references? I had a USA interview a few days ago -- no references were requested before and none have been requested since. Reading through this thread, the vast majority of people seem to go through a reference-check process pre-offer but all the offices are different so wondering if there are any out there that skip reference checks. Obviously anxiously awaiting news, and killing time by trying to read tea leaves

I can’t speak for all offices, so never say never, but I’ve not encountered anyone who didn’t get their references checked. I suppose there are circumstances in which it might not happen - for instance, you’d applied before and they checked your references at that point, or you previously worked with someone at the office who can speak directly to your abilities - but otherwise I’d be surprised if they didn’t contact any references, I’m afraid. (But hopefully for your sake someone will post that I’m wrong!) (also, depending on how many people met with the USA you’re definitely not out of the running yet).

Turns out you were right (and I jumped the gun with my anxiety-fueled post) -- got a request for references yesterday afternoon!

[Anonymous User]

Do all applicants either get an application referred or not referred response from USAJobs?

My app has been stuck on "reviewing applications" for a few months. Curious if that means they are actually reviewing or may have already referred the top candidates.

[Anonymous User]

Do all applicants either get an application referred or not referred response from USAJobs?

My app has been stuck on "reviewing applications" for a few months. Curious if that means they are actually reviewing or may have already referred the top candidates.

I think you should get a referred/not referred response. Is there a closing date on USAjobs? Occasionally an office will post an open listing to sort of trawl for likely candidates when they can hire. So if there's a long hiring timeline - like the listing was posted and expires a year later - they may not have a firm timeline for hiring. (Also, generally the "reviewing applications" stage means that the USAfx people are making sure applicants meet the requirements wrt years of practice/bar admission etc, rather than that the USAO is making cuts, although it's possible that the USAO gave the USAfx people additional criteria for cutting. My point is that the USA hiring people don't generally see applications until they get referred.)

[Anonymous User]

Hello. I have a quick question about transferring from Main Justice to a USAO - has anyone gone through the process and could offer some advice?

I haven’t done this exact thing, but I have had what should have been an ideal resume get rejected over and over because I was out of sync with what the usa wanted in the one office I was applying to (biglaw + fed clerk v ADA). Applying to 5+ USAOs makes you likely to catch on to one. But if there’s only 1 you want, you may age out before they stop hiring the profile they want.

How old is "aging out?"

[andythefir]

Hello. I have a quick question about transferring from Main Justice to a USAO - has anyone gone through the process and could offer some advice?

I haven’t done this exact thing, but I have had what should have been an ideal resume get rejected over and over because I was out of sync with what the usa wanted in the one office I was applying to (biglaw + fed clerk v ADA). Applying to 5+ USAOs makes you likely to catch on to one. But if there’s only 1 you want, you may age out before they stop hiring the profile they want.

How old is "aging out?"

Depends on the US Attorney, but the pay scale really starts escalating at year 5. That means that 1 you can hire more attorneys if you hire 4 year folks compared to 7 year folks, and most USAs know their hires are the main thing about them that will stick, and 2 the pay scale maxes at year 9, so you can hire a 20 year specialist in, say, computer crime or murder trial specialist for the same salary as a 9 year ADA. You absolutely can still get hired that far out, just like holding out for one specific office can work out. But a 4-6 year attorney applying all over the country has a way better shot than an 8 year attorney applying to one office.