U.S. Department of Justice Legal Hiring Programs
Please see below for different opportunities with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”):
1. The Attorney General’s Honors Program (HP)
- Third-year law students and students who enter judicial clerkships, graduate law programs, or qualifying fellowships within 9 months of law school graduation are eligible
- Participating DOJ components will be listed on the website
- Centralized electronic application
- First opportunity to apply is the summer before the third year of law school
- Each applicant may select and rank order three separate Justice components
- On-line application period opens the end of July; deadline ends the first week of September, specifically the first Tuesday after Labor Day. NOTE: This year, the HP application period opens July 25, 2011, and closes September 6, 2011.
2. Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP)
- Law students who have completed at least one full semester of law school by the application deadline are eligible to apply
- The majority of SLIPs are second-year law students who work at Justice the summer between their second and third years of law school, but the SLIP is also open to recent graduates between graduation and the start of a judicial clerkship or full-time qualifying legal fellowship
- Participating DOJ components will be listed on the website
- Centralized electronic application
- Each applicant may select and rank order three separate DOJ components
- On-line application period opens the end of July; deadline ends the first week of September, specifically the first Tuesday after Labor Day. NOTE: This year, the SLIP application period opens July 25, 2011, and closes September 6, 2011.
3. Volunteer Legal Intern hiring
- Typically, 800 during academic year and 1,000 in summer. Opportunities nationwide 60% of internships are with United States Attorney’s Offices (USAO)
- Law students who have completed 1 semester of law school are eligible
- A listing of volunteer legal intern positions is available on the website
- Decentralized application process. Must submit application materials to each DOJ component and USAO separately
- Each DOJ component and USAO has its own application deadlines, and applicants must adhere to the respective deadlines
- NOTE: Most DOJ components and USAOs have early application deadlines so interested individuals should plan to apply at least four months in advance.
4. Experienced Attorney hiring
- Approximately 650+ experienced attorneys hired every year
- Attorneys who are active members in good standing of a bar of any U.S. jurisdiction and have at least one year of post-J.D. experience are eligible. Some positions require additional experience and specialized expertise
- All attorney opportunities are listed on the website
- Decentralized application process. Submit application materials directly to specific DOJ component or USAO in response to specific vacancy announcements; be sure to submit all application materials requested in the announcement
- DOJ components and USAOs differ in accepting unsolicited resumes
- Specific hiring contacts are listed on DOJ websites.
Eligibility: Each DOJ hiring program has different eligibility requirements. Detailed information is available online on each program’s respective webpage.
What We Look For: Top predictors of success include: demonstrated interest in the mission of the hiring office; demonstrated interest in public service; strong professional and academic track record; and, activities and accomplishments demonstrating character, work ethic, and potential.
Diversity: Justice’s greatest asset is its dynamic and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates whose backgrounds reflect the Nation’s rich diversity. In this regard, one of our goals is to eliminate barriers and make available new opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute to and thrive at DOJ.
Application Tips: Review any application early and begin to collect required information and to draft your responses to any questions. The essay questions at the end of the SLIP and HP applications, in particular, carry a great deal of weight and are considered mini-writing samples. Justice is interested in the full range of your experiences; take time to describe your experiences fully. Successful candidates speak about their personal motivations and demonstrate their knowledge of the components to which they are applying and how they are a good match with their selections.
Where to Find Additional Information: Please visit Justice’s legal career website for detailed information relating to DOJ’s hiring programs, including attorney vacancy announcements for experienced attorney hiring. Hiring estimates for the upcoming Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program will be posted under the links to those programs, then under “Participating Components.”