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Building a Better Legal Profession

Building a Better Legal Profession

9/30/2009 8:13:10 PM EST

Landing a Government Job in D.C. and Beyond

By Mira Serrill-Robins

Posted by BBLP

Given the difficulty of obtaining (and keeping) a firm offer this year, particularly the elusive 1L firm offer, government jobs are an even more attractive option than usual. With this in mind, you should consider early and careful action.

A recent conversation with Anna Wang, the Deputy Director of the John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law at Stanford Law School, yielded a bounty of tips for the law student’s summer government job search. Wang first suggests that students broaden their search beyond the usual federal government jobs that catch the eye, like the Department of Justice or U.S. Attorney’s Office. Interesting experiences often await those who work at other organizations like public defenders’ offices, local district attorneys’ offices, other local or state level organizations, or international agencies.

There are also other paths to consider in the federal sphere, including politicians’ offices, committees on Capitol Hill, and the broad realm of civil governmental legal offices that work on diverse issues from antitrust to land use to public benefits. Enterprising 1Ls can also go in another direction and look towards non-governmental policy work through think tanks or lobbying groups.

Wang suggests that you take a short study break from outlining to look at a few of their top job choices to check the deadlines. It would be pretty lame to finish finals in mid-December only to find out that some deadlines had passed on December 1 or December 15. Some good resources for the initial search include:

The University of Arizona’s Government Honors & Internship Handbook (“One-stop shopping” for government legal jobs, updated constantly, the Web site is password-accessible through law school career offices: http://www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm)
National Legal Aid & Defender Association (defense-side jobs): http://www.nlada.org/Jobs

Once you have identified some potential jobs, try to distinguish yourself from the rest of the résumés stacked on a bureaucrat’s desk somewhere in Washington, D.C. Seek to establish a personal connection through alumni, personal contacts, or even speakers who presented on campus throughout the semester. Another important resource to keep in mind are 2Ls and 3Ls who have worked in the government offices that interest you. Professors are yet another sometimes-forgotten asset. All of these people also make great subjects for an informational interview. These informal talks can help forge relationships, figure out if the position is a good fit, and gain knowledge of what the employer looks for in application materials and interviews.

The cover letter is another key way to stand out. Customize the cover letter for each job to display knowledge of the organization and interest in the employer. A cover letter should not be a reprise of the résumé; it should highlight a few key experiences and tie them to the summer position you are seeking. If you’ll be in the area and available for an interview over winter vacation, mention that in the cover letter, too.

For most government job applicants, the next step is a long wait. If the deadline has not yet passed, it is appropriate to wait about two weeks after sending the application before making a follow-up call. Remember, timelines will vary widely depending on the job.

A successful applicant will then move on to the interview, which is likely to be conducted via telephone. A mock interview with a volunteer from the real work world or a career counselor is a great resource. The art of the phone interview can be difficult to master. It deprives interviewees of the aid of body language and facial cues. Wang’s tips focus on keeping your energy level high and professional: dress to impress; stand or move around; be prepared with a copy of a résumé and maybe even talking points (that’s one potential advantage of a phone interview over an in-person interview); conduct the interview in front of a mirror; and find a quiet place with a landline or solid cellular service. The questions and small talk should cover the same ground as an in-person interview, and interviews will generally be about institutional fit—they have your résumé and know your credentials.

The final step is getting the offer. First off, congratulations! Thank the caller and express excitement about the job. Then ask about a decision deadline, the timeline for your summer work, and any questions you still have about the job. It’s also the time to ask about splitting if necessary, or to bring up other scheduling issues. Firms are much more likely to allow a split with a government agency or another non-firm entity (not direct competition), but the fact is that no employers favor splitting.

Remember the governmental job application process can be exciting, and far more varied than students often realize. Start early, look broadly, and work to distinguish your application by crafting it carefully and keeping an eye out for personal connections.

Updated September 30, 2009

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