Interested in a Career in Government?
Working for the government at the federal, state or local level can be extremely rewarding and a great way to start your legal career. Government opportunities present themselves throughout the school year, with some deadlines coming up as soon as next week. To best prepare for a government job search, it is best to sit down with an advisor to discuss the steps you need to take so that you do not miss any important opportunities. In addition, you should consult the following useful resources:
The Government Honors and Internship Handbook provides a thorough list of summer and post graduation opportunities for 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls at the local, state and federal government level. The handbook also provides useful charts listing opportunities by class year, deadline and whether the positions are paid/unpaid (in the case of internships). The site is password protected. For the login information, please contact your advisor.
The NALP Federal Legal Employment Guide contains information on legal jobs with federal agencies, tips on how to conduct a job search and information on government benefits including loan repayment assistance.
Government employers often post opportunities on Symplicity and/or participate in the Fall and Spring OCI, Resume Referral and Direct Contact programs. Be sure to visit Symplicity to review the job postings and OCI offerings often.
Also, remember that applications for the US Department of Justice Honors Program (for 3L students) and Summer Legal Intern Program (for 2L students) are due on September 2, 2008. For more information and the application, please visit www.usdoj.gov/oarm.