CFPB attorney

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are lucky you share offices. Most people are in cubes. Telecommuting is permitted, though no more than once per week. It sucks, but the rest makesdon't np for it. Cordray is really pushing for an open space plan against offices.

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

[Anonymous]

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

Sort of off topic, but I am in DOJ civil and we just had a big meeting about how GSA has determined that our offices are too big, and that our next lease will involve smaller offices. I don't really think they are big at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are lucky you share offices. Most people are in cubes. Telecommuting is permitted, though no more than once per week. It sucks, but the rest makesdon't np for it. Cordray is really pushing for an open space plan against offices.

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

Just want to clarify because somebody quoted an old poster. Most, if not all, CFPB Enforcement attorneys will be in shared offices--not cubes--in the next couple of months. Routine telework is permitted up to two days per week and approval for additional ad hoc telework is liberally granted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are lucky you share offices. Most people are in cubes. Telecommuting is permitted, though no more than once per week. It sucks, but the rest makesdon't np for it. Cordray is really pushing for an open space plan against offices.

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

I'm not sure this argument holds water for most federal attorneys. DOJ is slightly different. At most federal agencies, and in most divisions (including the office at issue in this post) everybody has the same client. There is no chance of inadvertent waiver of privilege in these legal shops. And while there is a lot of confidential consumer and banking information, that is true throughout the agency. There is nothing special about the legal work in that regard. The risk is of disclosure outside the Bureau, not among your colleagues.

I agree that the need for private conversations is persuasive, but again that is not about being an attorney. And many open concept offices accommodate for that by having a LOT of quiet rooms and conference rooms.

[Anonymous]

An open office might be nice in some respects, but how could you ever write a brief??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An open office might be nice in some respects, but how could you ever write a brief??

Noise canceling headphones. - fed lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are lucky you share offices. Most people are in cubes. Telecommuting is permitted, though no more than once per week. It sucks, but the rest makesdon't np for it. Cordray is really pushing for an open space plan against offices.

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

I'm not sure this argument holds water for most federal attorneys. DOJ is slightly different. At most federal agencies, and in most divisions (including the office at issue in this post) everybody has the same client. There is no chance of inadvertent waiver of privilege in these legal shops. And while there is a lot of confidential consumer and banking information, that is true throughout the agency. There is nothing special about the legal work in that regard. The risk is of disclosure outside the Bureau, not among your colleagues.

I agree that the need for private conversations is persuasive, but again that is not about being an attorney. And many open concept offices accommodate for that by having a LOT of quiet rooms and conference rooms.

All of this might be true, but I didn't go to law school to sit in a cube or share an office with another attorney. I'm already taking a bit hit financially working for government, my own office is the least of the job perks they can provide.

And noise cancelling headphones? I mean, seriously. I feel for you that that's required for you to get your work done, but I'd blame the agency for inadequate space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I seriously don't understand agencies who think that attorneys, who deal with privileged/confidential information, and who need to have private conversations/phone calls, don't need their own offices. My job at DOJ drives me crazy sometimes, but even our interns have private offices!

Sort of off topic, but I am in DOJ civil and we just had a big meeting about how GSA has determined that our offices are too big, and that our next lease will involve smaller offices. I don't really think they are big at all.

Oh hai. Do we work in the same building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were in FERS, you can stay in FERS or switch to the Federal Reserve Bank Plan (FRS). FRS is better, there is no employee contribution and the payout is 1.3% of final avg salary up to $67,308 and 1.8% of final salary in excess of $67,308. The FRS thrift plan pays automatic 1% agency contribution and matches up to an additional 7%.

Wow, that's really incredible! My agency is phasing in the additional 7% but that pension plan sounds great! Seems a little backwards that the % increases as you get above $67K.

[Anonymous]

NP here. I'm an attorney considering the CFPB too and am interested in the question a few people have asked but no one has answered - is it family friendly? How much travel is there, what are the hours like, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I'm an attorney considering the CFPB too and am interested in the question a few people have asked but no one has answered - is it family friendly? How much travel is there, what are the hours like, etc.?

Depends on the Office. Which are you considering?

[Anonymous]

NP here. I'm an attorney considering the CFPB too and am interested in the question a few people have asked but no one has answered - is it family friendly? How much travel is there, what are the hours like, etc.?


Depends on the Office. Which are you considering?

Different NP here, but I also am curious. I am wondering about Enforcement (as an attorney). Same questions as above: is it family friendly; how much travel is there; what are the hours like? Basically is there work/life balance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I'm an attorney considering the CFPB too and am interested in the question a few people have asked but no one has answered - is it family friendly? How much travel is there, what are the hours like, etc.?

Depends on the Office. Which are you considering?

Office of Law and Policy, General Law.

[Anonymous]

Very family friendly. No travel for the Legal Division, unless it's for a speaking engagement or something.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by "family friendly"? No travel? Flexible starting/ending times? Do you expect to work no more than 40 hours a week?