Public Interest Career Counselor
Amazing opportunities can come from unexpected places. Interested in employment law? Have you considered working for the United
States Post Office?
Kathryn E. Carroll, a GGU Law's alumna, found a post
graduate Bridge Fellowship working for the USPS, which led to a permanent
position practicing employment and labor law at their Pacific Area Law
Office. She describes the work as
gratifying, challenging, and offering a rewarding work-family balance.
The USPS is looking for Bridge Fellows, externs, and summer
interns. They offer a unique level of
substantive experience early on. Check
them out at LCS online.
And read what Kathryn Carroll has to say about her work and
opportunities at the USPS. "Working as an attorney for the Postal Service is a
rich, rewarding experience because it offers the opportunity to fully litigate
cases in several administrative forums (as well as federal District Court) while
simultaneously filling the role of, essentially, in-house counsel to our
operations clients in the field. So, while handling a full caseload of
employment law cases, U.S. Postal Service field attorneys are also called upon
to offer advice on human resources, labor relations, safety, health, and injury
compensation issues. The opportunity to practice litigation avoidance and to
spend a portion of my time solving clients’ (and therefore employees’) problems
nicely balances out the rigors of litigation."
"Externs in the Law Department get to experience the
full range of tasks that our attorneys are called upon to accomplish. At first,
the extern will work closely with the attorneys in the Law Department to get a
better understanding of the various facets of federal employment law. Because
our office is located in the same building as a mail processing plant, the
extern will also be given a tour of the plant and the carrier annex in order to
get a better understanding of how the Postal Service accomplishes its mission.
Then, the extern will begin reviewing case files and drafting simple pleadings
such as a motion to compel. All externs will perform substantive work, such as
drafting discovery requests, summary judgment motions, and motions to dismiss.
They will also have the opportunity to communicate with Postal Service
management and clients; respond to advice matters that involve interpretation
of Postal Service regulations and policies; participate in settlement
conferences and deposition; and assist in administrative hearings."
