Fellowships, Funding and Federal Jobs

by Elana Konstant

For all those 3L students out there who are thinking about applying for a public interest fellowship or a government job through the various Federal Honors Programs, this post is for YOU.

If you are considering a fellowship, you should check out PSLawNet’s one-page “dos and don'ts” list for Fellowship Applications. The substance of these tips comes directly from fellows, funders, and host organization staff.

EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
The 2010 Equal Justice Works Fellowship application is available here.

Important reminders:

Review the application ASAP. EJW recommends that prospective candidates review the online application form as soon as possible to familiarize themselves with how it works and to prepare the necessary items required to apply -- the online application, the Certification Form (signed by both candidate and host organization and accompanied this year by a Benefits Summary Sheet) and up to two letters of recommendation.

Begin working on the application early. There are character limits noted for each text box, and character counts may differ between a word processing program and the application. It is therefore important for candidates to paste the text into the application well in advance of the deadline to ensure that the text fits in the allotted space. The server also grows increasingly busy as the deadline approaches.

Hard copy documents must be received by September 17. The deadline for submission of the application, which is done online, is 2 pm PST on September 17th. A signed Certification Form and up to 2 recommendation letter(s) must be received by Equal Justice Works no later than September 17th. These items must be mailed or hand delivered. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

If you have questions, please email fellowships@equaljusticeworks.org or call (202) 466-3686, extension 202.

US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SUMMER & POST-GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
Every year GGU students are hired through the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General's Honors Program and the Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP). These are outstanding opportunities to jumpstart your career as an attorney for the United States. If you are interested in working for the DOJ as a summer intern or after graduation in 2010, NOW is the time to start planning!

The Department of Justice is an excellent place to begin your legal career, with multiple locations and practice areas to explore. Note to 3L students: The Honors Program is the only recruitment program for entry-level attorneys at the DOJ. The application period opens online July 25 and closes September 8, 2009. Click here to learn more.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT HONORS
& INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK
The updated version of this guide is now available here.

This comprehensive directory includes listings and application deadlines for most student and entry-level positions with government agencies nationwide.

In addition to the DOJ, the following agencies also hire both law school graduates and summer interns through honors programs:

Central Intelligence Agency (link)
Commerce Department - Office of the General Counsel (link)
Education Department (link)
Environmental Protection Agency (link)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (link)
Federal Bureau of Investigations (link)
Federal Election Commission (link)
Federal Trade Commission (link)
Homeland Security Department (Honors link ; Summer link)
Housing and Urban Development Department (link)
Interior Department (link)
Internal Revenue Service (link)
Labor Department (link)
Securities and Exchange Commission (link)
Transportation Department (link)
Treasury Department (link)

Information about these positions and others can be found in the Arizona Guide. Please contact LCS (lawcareer@ggu.edu or 415-442-6625) for login information.

If you have any questions about the application process for fellowships or federal positions, please email me at ekonstant@ggu.edu or call (415) 369-5391.

DOJ Honors & Summer Law Intern Programs

by Angela Dalfen

Every year the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) hires entry-level attorneys through their fall hiring process known as the Honors Program. This is the only way to get an entry-level position at the DOJ, which includes the Antitrust Division, Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Civil Rights Division. The DOJ is charged with enforcing federal laws, furnishing legal counsel in federal cases, and construing the laws under which other federal executive departments act.

Many GGU students have obtained these positions, which serve as jumping off points for a career in the public OR private sector. DOJ positions are prestigious, well-paid jobs, and typically offer new attorneys a tremendous amount of training and direct litigation experience. If you are flexible about location, you have an even better chance of obtaining one of these positions, as many of the Honors Program participants are based in Washington, DC. DOJ’s hiring committees look for a commitment to public service and the mission of the agency, in addition to a strong resume and academic record.

Also, 1L and 2L students can apply for internships with DOJ through the Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP). SLIP is the DOJ’s competitive recruitment program for PAID summer internships. Selection for employment is based on a variety of factors including academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time legal employment. DOJ also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience, and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department.

The (strict!) deadline to apply is 9 pm on September 2, 2008. Please click here for more information. LCS can help you with the application process.