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The Federal government employs more than 25,000 attorneys, many of them in Washington, DC. These lawyers work on an assortment of issues and for employers as diverse as the Department of Defense and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Starting positions can be stepping-stones to a career with the Federal government, government relations, or someday to partnership in a law firm.

The Department of Justice is seen as one of the premier agencies for attorneys to work for. Other popular agencies include those that issue regulations, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy, to name just a few. For those students with interest in a specific area of the law, the Federal government provides an appropriate venue to build their skills, make contacts, and contribute to the political and policy-making process.

These positions are popular because of the tremendous experience they provide, not because they pay well. Those admitted to the program typically start at the GS-11 level (in Federal government bureaucrat-speak, GS-11 translates into a range of roughly $42,900 to $55,873 for 2003. Specifics tend to vary by program and department, so please use the contacts provided below for current salary levels, application procedures, and employment details.

The Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice bills itself as the nations largest law firm, employing approximately 9,200 attorneys nationwide. The Department of Justice serves as counsel for the citizens of the United States. It prosecutes criminals, ensures the integrity of nation's free market economic system, protects consumers from fraud and other forms of abuse, and enforces drug, immigration and naturalization laws. It also represents the government of the United States before the Supreme Court. The head of the Department, the Attorney General, advises the President and other key executive branch personnel on legal matters.

Employment with the Department of Justice is highly competitive; in 2002 nearly 5,000 law students applied for approximately 150 slots in the Department's Honors Program. Those wishing to begin their careers with the Department can enter through only a few select channels: by gaining experience through an internship or applying through the Department's honors program.

The Honors program is the Department's recruitment program for entry-level attorneys (most departments have honors programs to recruit attorneys from law school; please see below for additional details). It is the only vehicle by which the Department hires graduating law students. It is highly competitive and has a detailed application process. Eligibility is determined by three criteria, which generally are (contact the Department or look at the website for specifics at www.usdoj.gov):

• Third year law students; or
• Full time graduate law students in their final year of study; or
• Judicial Law Clerk's serving prior to the application deadline (and generally no more than nine-months post graduation).

Additionally, the department offers a competitive summer internship program for second year law students (please check eligibility requirements with the DOJ for exceptions). Eight organizations within the Department formally participate in the Summer Law Intern Program: Antitrust Division; Civil Division; Civil Rights Division; Environment and Natural Resources Division; Tax Division; Federal Bureau of Prisons; the Executive Office for Immigration Review; Immigration and Naturalization Service. Interning for the Department can lead to an offer of full time employment upon graduation.

Honors programs
In addition to the Department of Justice, many other departments offers similar opportunities through Honors programs for graduating law students and internship opportunities for those still in school.

Law school career offices should have extensive information on the internship and full-time career opportunities available to law students. Application procedures and requirements vary by department.