DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022 Forum

(Issue areas, International Law, International Public Interest, Public Service in the private sector, Non-Profits, Public Interest Organizations, Government/ government agencies, employment settings)
Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:43 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:57 pm
No interviews here I'm afraid, good luck to all who got them! Anyone have a sense of whether ~top 3rd grades from a lower T14 are competitive for DOJ HP? Depends on the component I imagine.
Similar stats here - mind sharing what components you applied for? Do you have any experience with DOJ in the past?

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 01, 2021 12:36 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:31 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:35 pm
Received two interviews. Does anyone know how competitive civil division subgroups are if you’ve been selected for an interview? For example, how many people do they interview per available spots?
Four per spot plus veterans.

E.g., there are 6 spots open, they will interview 24 people plus veterans.
I thought veterans preference doesn't apply for attorney positions. So how does this work? They pick the 24 best applicants and some veterans on what basis? If the 24 applicants are indeed the best, how are the veterans going to compete against them?

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 01, 2021 1:59 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 6:13 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 10:31 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:35 pm
Received two interviews. Does anyone know how competitive civil division subgroups are if you’ve been selected for an interview? For example, how many people do they interview per available spots?
Four per spot plus veterans.

E.g., there are 6 spots open, they will interview 24 people plus veterans.
I thought there was no veterans preference for attorney positions.
There isn't veterans preference for attorney positions in the usual sense of "veterans preference" in federal hiring, but veterans who apply and are selected for interviews don't count against the 4:1 interview cap. A couple of different people who participate in DOJ HP hiring have confirmed as much this year on the Law School subreddit - you should check their posts out if you haven't seen them. There's some interesting information in there.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 01, 2021 4:34 pm

Is it standard practice to attach a cover page with our writing sample, even if the components do not specifically ask for a cover page?

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 01, 2021 4:59 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Oct 01, 2021 12:36 am
I thought veterans preference doesn't apply for attorney positions. So how does this work? They pick the 24 best applicants and some veterans on what basis? If the 24 applicants are indeed the best, how are the veterans going to compete against them?
Veterans' preference doesn't apply in the same way that it does in other positions, but DOJ does pay attention. Pretty sure it's more that the limit on interviews doesn't apply to veterans. Veterans still need to be qualified/competitive. So it's more like, "we have IDed our top 10 candidates for this position, 3 are vets, so we only need to cut one more person to get the final interview list," rather than interviewing any/all vets who apply.

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Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Oct 03, 2021 3:18 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:43 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:57 pm
No interviews here I'm afraid, good luck to all who got them! Anyone have a sense of whether ~top 3rd grades from a lower T14 are competitive for DOJ HP? Depends on the component I imagine.
Similar stats here - mind sharing what components you applied for? Do you have any experience with DOJ in the past?
I did have a DOJ internship. I am going on the assumption that my essays were not good enough compared to the competition. I mean I did try to write good essays that connected my skills and experience to the components I applied to. But I did not, for example, spend a month perfecting the essays, seek input from others, etc.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Oct 03, 2021 7:49 pm

Does anyone know how the EOIR OCIJ places people in different courts?

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Oct 03, 2021 7:56 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Sun Oct 03, 2021 7:49 pm
Does anyone know how the EOIR OCIJ places people in different courts?
Need and the preferences you gave them. They like to have a balance between experienced clerks and new clerks, I think, so if a court with two clerks hired one last year, they'll hire one this year so the terms are staggered, that kind of thing. Some courts are big and need more new clerks than others; a smaller court may not need to hire this year, or if they have a clerk whose term is expiring, they might go for someone who has more immigration experience if possible. Etc. You're not guaranteed to get offered a top choice and if you said you'd go anywhere, they could offer you anywhere, but they do consider preferences.

Hombrechromeo

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Hombrechromeo » Mon Oct 04, 2021 3:15 pm

I got an interview with EOIR-OCIJ. T50, top 50%, DOJ internship at EOIR-OGC, state appellate clerkship, immigration clinic, and non-profit experience. Does anyone have interview tips? Thanks.

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Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:13 am

Looking for interview advice - specifically for the Civil Division and Tax (Civil).

thewoodsman

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by thewoodsman » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:28 pm

Received my rejection today. I essentially tailored my application to ENRD. Stats are single digit rank at Tier 3/Tier 4 school, extensive public interest background, state court clerkship to keep eligibility, and in hindsight I wish I worked more on the written/essay components.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:03 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:51 pm
Received an interview request today for the Civil Rights Division.
Mind sharing your stats? I’m hoping to apply next year.
HYS, 3 years out of law school, previous internship with the Division.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:33 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:03 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:51 pm
Received an interview request today for the Civil Rights Division.
Mind sharing your stats? I’m hoping to apply next year.
HYS, 3 years out of law school, previous internship with the Division.
If you’re 3 years out, did you do 2 clerkships and a fellowship?

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Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Oct 20, 2021 3:06 pm

Anyone know if there are any resources out there with interview tips or questions for DOJ HP? I haven't been able to find anything substantial. For context, I am interviewing with EOIR. Thank you!

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:46 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:03 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:51 pm
Received an interview request today for the Civil Rights Division.
Mind sharing your stats? I’m hoping to apply next year.
HYS, 3 years out of law school, previous internship with the Division.
If you’re 3 years out, did you do 2 clerkships and a fellowship?
Personally, yes, but there are lots of ways people can string together 3 years of eligibility-preserving activities with one or even zero clerkships, too!

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:24 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:46 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:03 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:33 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:51 pm
Received an interview request today for the Civil Rights Division.
Mind sharing your stats? I’m hoping to apply next year.
HYS, 3 years out of law school, previous internship with the Division.
If you’re 3 years out, did you do 2 clerkships and a fellowship?
Personally, yes, but there are lots of ways people can string together 3 years of eligibility-preserving activities with one or even zero clerkships, too!
Were you a December grad? I don’t think May 2018 graduates are eligible for this year’s Honors Program, according to the website: “Law school graduates who received their J.D. prior to October 1, 2018, are not eligible.”

https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/h ... ligibility

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:29 am

Does anyone know at what point (ie how soon after interviews) references may be contacted?

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bnp2676

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by bnp2676 » Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:11 am

I don't know if this helps DOJ Honors people but since they are on the same timeline SLIP offers are coming out. I got my first offer for Antitrust which I will likely be taking and Civil said they will be out soon. I've seen a lot of comments on this thread about how you need to be at a T13 or T1 to get a top tier DOJ component and I can tell you that is nonsense. I'm at the top of my class at an Unranked school and I was told I was one of the top candidate by multiple highly competitive DOJ components. I also was interviewed by a couple lawyers who got DOJ Honors from TTT and TTTT law schools. I will caveat this with I am a Vet with deployments, former Federal Law Enforcement, and I am very involved in law school and the community. However, I had a lot of frank talks with DOJ lawyers about if my school was going to be a negative for them and all of them said it didn't really register as a factor. So if you are a top student at a less than prestigious law school apply for DOJ Honors or SLIP. You have way more of a shot than you think.

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by bnp2676 » Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:20 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:22 pm
In with the first "how should I rank these things" question of the cycle!

I've heard (read in previous years' threads) that certain components, like CRM, do not look kindly on not ranking them first. Does anyone happen to have any inside info or semi-supported suspicions as to how the formally participating USAO (AZ) views the rankings? I'd slightly prefer the USAO over main justice and don't want to shut myself out, but I also don't want to forgo a shot at 9 slots I'd be stoked about for a shot at 2 slots I'd be a tiny bit more stoked about today, but probably wouldn't care in the long run.
I got my first choice which was a main justice regional office in my home town. They looked very highly on me ranking them first. I got the first interview and the first offer. Other components asked me why I ranked that component over them and I was honest. I wouldn't get too cute with the rankings. Just be honest. If I hadn't ranked them first, I probably would not have gotten the job.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Oct 24, 2021 5:31 pm

bnp2676 wrote:
Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:11 am
I don't know if this helps DOJ Honors people but since they are on the same timeline SLIP offers are coming out. I got my first offer for Antitrust which I will likely be taking and Civil said they will be out soon. I've seen a lot of comments on this thread about how you need to be at a T13 or T1 to get a top tier DOJ component and I can tell you that is nonsense. I'm at the top of my class at an Unranked school and I was told I was one of the top candidate by multiple highly competitive DOJ components. I also was interviewed by a couple lawyers who got DOJ Honors from TTT and TTTT law schools. I will caveat this with I am a Vet with deployments, former Federal Law Enforcement, and I am very involved in law school and the community. However, I had a lot of frank talks with DOJ lawyers about if my school was going to be a negative for them and all of them said it didn't really register as a factor. So if you are a top student at a less than prestigious law school apply for DOJ Honors or SLIP. You have way more of a shot than you think.
Honors offers aren't on the same timeline I don't think. I recieved my SLIP offer with ATR around the same time last year, but was told to expect to hear back around Thanksgiving from all the components I interviewed with for Honors

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:08 pm

Yeah, historically SLIP and Honors aren’t quite on the same timeline. Honors offers don’t come out till closer to Thanksgiving.

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:27 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:24 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:46 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:33 pm


If you’re 3 years out, did you do 2 clerkships and a fellowship?
Personally, yes, but there are lots of ways people can string together 3 years of eligibility-preserving activities with one or even zero clerkships, too!
Were you a December grad? I don’t think May 2018 graduates are eligible for this year’s Honors Program, according to the website: “Law school graduates who received their J.D. prior to October 1, 2018, are not eligible.”

https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/h ... ligibility
I am in my third year out of law school, as a 2019 grad.

Anonymous User
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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:40 pm

Anyone know how long you generally have to decide about HP offers?

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:33 am

It’s on one of the info pages:

https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/e ... oyment#c15

That said, anecdotally, people usually accept on the spot. (Less so for the OCIJ gigs I think because you don’t find out where the job is until the offer.)

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Re: DOJ Honors Program 2021-2022

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Oct 27, 2021 11:15 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:33 am
It’s on one of the info pages:

https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/e ... oyment#c15

That said, anecdotally, people usually accept on the spot. (Less so for the OCIJ gigs I think because you don’t find out where the job is until the offer.)
I feel like this has to be somewhat untrue? I’m assuming (maybe incorrectly based on my own situation) that many interviewees are interviewing for multiple divisions and/or sections within that division. I have a strong preference for one of the sections I’m interviewing with and if I received another offer I would want to check with them first.

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