Government
Government jobs for lawyers exist for all areas of substantive legal expertise (e.g., criminal law, securities law, tax law, immigration law, environmental law, admiralty law, labor law). The options for the type of work are similarly varied. Government jobs can focus on litigation (e.g., prosecutor, public defender, enforcement), regulatory work (e.g., food and drug, communications, environmental), policy work (e.g., finance, veterans affairs, health and social services) and transactional work (e.g., antitrust, securities).
There are thousands of job opportunities for lawyers at the federal, state and municipal government levels. Because of the wide variety of government jobs, and because each agency and office has its own highly individualized hiring requirements and processes, much of the information in this section (except for the subsection below entitled Capitol Hill) is necessarily quite general.
The Federal Government
Federal government jobs are located throughout the country in various agencies’ regional offices and field offices. In addition to “permanent” government jobs, the federal government offers “temporary” (up to a year) jobs and “term” jobs (between one and four years), depending on the funding that has been approved for the position. These jobs can be a good way to gain experience, make contacts and get your foot in the door.
Exploring Federal Job Openings
Some agencies and offices post their job openings, while others do not, which means that the only way to learn about those unpublished openings is by networking and/or by contacting each agency/office directly to inquire about possible openings.
While you can and should use normal networking sources (e.g., LinkedIn) to get names of desirable contacts, you should also consult the website USAjobs.gov, the central job posting and application site for the entire federal government, and a great place to start. Setting up an account on this site will allow you to explore (and apply for) job postings and to keep track of the applications you have submitted as they work their way through the hiring process. Be aware that there are many interesting positions appropriate for lawyers that do not necessarily require a law degree. These positions (e.g., contract specialist, policy analyst, claims examiner, compliance analyst, management analyst) may not use the word “lawyer” or “attorney” in the job posting, but candidates with legal backgrounds are considered desirable and will receive favorable consideration.
Other federal government job search resources worth exploring include:
"Yellow Book" Guide (subscription-based but accessible through most law libraries)
Application Process
Unfortunately, there is no standard application form or process for federal jobs; it varies by agency/office and even by job opening. The most important thing to know is that you need to follow every direction listed in the posting or on the agency’s website very carefully, even if it seems onerous or unnecessary (or even ridiculous). While you may not see the value in reporting your SAT scores or the name of your landlord from 16 years ago, the government is picky, and you must comply with the directions to be considered for the job.
Before you begin the application process, it is a good idea to have in your possession (in addition to your resume and cover letter), your writing sample (10-12 pages), your law school and undergraduate transcripts and a letter of good standing from the bar(s) to which you have been admitted. If you have questions about the application process, speak with your counselor.
If you've created an account on USA Jobs and wish to apply for a job you've found there, the website will prompt you to post your resume or to create a more detailed “federal government resume” using the site’s resume-builder. The resume requirements are quite detailed and require applicants to provide references, specific dates of employment, housing, etc. You can create up to five versions of your resume (and you can upload two more). It is advisable to have multiple versions of your resume if you are applying for different jobs with varying requirements.
Timing & Hiring Process
The government hiring process is lengthy, and anyone who applies for a government job should be prepared to wait, often with no communication from the agency at all. Although the government is supposed to decide within 40 days whether to invite a candidate in for an interview, this time frame is often extended, and it may well take months for the entire process – from the date the job posting closes until an offer is made – to conclude.
There are also usually long lag times between each stage of the process; however, you can check your application’s status on USA Jobs. Each government job posting also contains the name of a Human Resources representative or other contact person, and that person should be available to respond to follow-up inquiries about the posting, process and timing. You may need to be persistent in your follow up. Discuss this, if necessary, with your counselor.
Once the deadline for applications has passed, Human Resources or a computerized screening program will review and “grade” the applications, with points assigned for various required and even non-required qualities, such as foreign language ability. The resumes of the candidates with the highest number of points are forwarded to the hiring manager who will move the process forward.
Given the potentially lengthy duration of the hiring process, it's important to keep good records of your government job search and applications. Although USA Jobs allows you to keep track of the applications you submit through that site, you should also create a spreadsheet. As you apply for jobs, print out or save a copy of both the job posting and your application materials – the job posting may well be removed from the site long before the interview process begins. You will want to refer to the posting for your interview preparation and your networking efforts, as well as any follow-up that you need to do with the hiring contact.
Compensation
Most government salaries (except for the financial regulatory agencies and a few other agencies) are set in accordance with the General Scale (GS) pay scale. The most current pay scale may be found here. Each position is assigned a grade, as well as a step within that grade. Cost of living adjustments ("COLA") are made for different localities.
The grade offered is not negotiable, although agencies may have flexibility to change the step within the grade. Federal government compensation packages vary by job/agency, as some agencies that often compete for talent with the private sector (e.g., SEC, FINRA) have more flexibility than others. The negotiation process – including the decision whether to try to negotiate at all – can be complicated, and your counselor is available to help walk you through it.
Background Checks
The federal government requires background checks for all employees. The degree of investigation will depend on the nature of the job. Most legal positions require the lowest level clearance, and you may be able to begin employment without the clearance being completed. For a minority of jobs (e.g., jobs in national security), a Top Secret clearance will likely be required. This process can take many months, and the candidate cannot begin work until he or she receives the clearance.
State & Local Government Jobs
Many legal jobs in the federal government have counterparts in state governments and (less frequently, except in larger cities) in local governments. Like federal government jobs, not all jobs appropriate for lawyers use the word “lawyer” or “attorney” or “J.D.” in the posting or job description. Some jobs do not require a law degree, but lawyers will nevertheless have an edge when applying.
Examples of legal jobs or law-related jobs in most state governments include state attorneys general, public defenders and prosecutors, positions in the courts, solicitors, governors and a variety of legal positions in state offices (e.g., Departments of Insurance, Labor, Elder Affairs, Banking, Transportation, Taxation).
At the local level, depending on the size of the locality, jobs may be available in the city attorneys’ offices, local human rights commission, school district, mayor’s office, office of the corporation counsel and legal services offices.
The work can be interesting, rewarding and meaningful; however, state – and, especially, local – government jobs tend to pay significantly lower salaries than federal government jobs due to funding issues. The flip side is that these positions often provide excellent benefits packages. Each government has its own pay scale and structure.
Some states and localities require their employees to live within the state or locality; others give preference to those who do. Some also require applicants to take a written civil service examination. Check your target agency’s/office’s website to learn about your state’s/locality’s requirements.
If you are interested in working for a specific agency, department or office, but that organization is not hiring, consider volunteering your services so you will be thought of when a need arises or the hiring freeze is lifted.
Exploring State & Local Government Job Postings
It is impossible to list here all of the available resources that can help you find jobs in state and local governments, as each state and municipality has its own government structure. The best way to find jobs in your area (besides speaking with your counselor) is through extensive networking and research. A visit to each of your local law schools’ career services offices is a good place to start.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of other websites and resources that may be helpful:
JOBS ON CAPITOL HILL
For Washington, DC-based attorneys who want to use their law degrees in an alternative manner and who have an interest in lobbying, policy, politics and government, working on Capitol Hill is a great option. One possibility is to work for a committee or for an office (e.g., the Office of Legislative Counsel of the U.S. Senate) that supports the work of the Senate or House. Some of the other traditional positions for lawyers on Capitol Hill include the following:
Press Secretary/Director of Communications
Legislative Director (usually minimum of 5 years of Hill experience)
Legislative Assistant (usually 2-3 years of Hill experience)
Legislative Correspondent
Speechwriter
Chief of Staff
Staff Attorney
Chief Counsel
Counsel
Assistant Counsel
Any lawyer interested in working on Capitol Hill needs to develop and sell his or her research, writing, oral communication and interpersonal skills. More senior attorneys also need to have a background (or demonstrated transferable skills and expertise) in lobbying, politics, media relations, legislative process and procedure or in the substantive issues addressed by the particular member or committee. Capitol Hill job seekers should take advantage of political campaigns as a wonderful way to gain experience and develop contacts in the field. Even if the campaign is unsuccessful, the skills you develop and the contacts you make will prove useful.
Most Capitol Hill jobs are obtained via networking. “Who you know” is the starting point for Hill jobs. Without personal connections or previous work experience on the Hill, the best place to start is with one’s own representatives. Personal contact with actual representatives and staff is increasingly difficult due to security concerns, so try to attend events that offer the opportunity to make networking connections. Volunteering for your representative is a great way to make contacts and add some direct experience to your resume.
Beyond personal connections, there are various websites, publications and newsletters that list job postings. Some of these include: