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August 30, 2006
Consider Working for the Government
There are a lot of reasons to consider working for the government – personal satisfaction from serving the public, life/work balance, intellectual challenge, no need to engage in business development, the chance to learn by doing, and good salary and benefits. And there are many types of jobs to choose from. For the federal government you could work with the Department of Justice, including a U.S. Attorney’s Office; various federal agencies such as the IRS, SEC, or HUD; Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program; military JAG; federal clerkship; federal public defender; and more. At the state level consider clerkships, offices of attorneys general, public defenders, and a myriad of state agencies. And at the local level there are prosecutor offices, city law departments, school districts, public defenders, and other local agencies.
The good news is that many of these employers participate in our on-campus, off-campus, resume collect, and resume direct programs. Lots of these opportunities are posted on eAttorney. Application processes and timelines vary, and deadlines range from early fall to late spring. Some want the traditional application materials like resumes, cover letters, and transcripts, and others require that you apply online. Keep an eye on eAttorney, websites of agencies of interest to you, and come to the office to see some of our resources including the 2006-2007 Government Honors & Internship Handbook. It can take time to secure a position with the government – sometimes background checks are required.
Remember that government employers are looking for candidates with knowledge of and experience in relevant practice areas, a commitment to public service, strong research and writing skills, interpersonal skills, and an understanding of the particular agency’s mission. And while you are in law school, take a wide range of classes including substantive law courses; take classes in your areas of interest and that are relevant to government practice; gain solid research and writing skills; take advantage of opportunities to develop trial and advocacy skills; try to get into a clinic your third year; get government experience during the summer and school year; and network with government attorneys.
Another plus – some federal agencies provide loan repayment assistance!!! Go to http://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/StudentLoan/HTML/QandAs.asp.
Posted by smp20 at August 30, 2006 08:48 AM