Government jobs for lawyers
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Anonymous
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I am a lawyer with about seven years of experience -- a few years in big law and a couple of clerkships -- and I am about ready to get off the big law hamster wheel. I keep reading posts here by lawyers who went into government after they got sick of the big law schedule and I am just wondering where in government and which positions you are all in. I don't know anything about government (with my student loans, it was big law or bust after law school), but I want to join you all in the promised land too!
What government jobs are available to former big law litigators other than being an AUSA (which, from what I understand, is every bit as miserable schedule-wise and high pressure as big law)? |
Anonymous
| Pretty please? I see people posting in threads all the time about their government jobs. |
Anonymous
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Check out usajobs and do a search for 'attorney.' If you read through a few position descriptions, you'll quickly get an idea of what they're looking for.
You have a ton of options, especially at DOJ (they aren't all AUSA positions). Also check out the enforcement branches of big agencies. |
Anonymous
| Each agency usually has a Solicitor's Office that represents it. Some Agency's have Offices of General Counsel. There are tons of legal jobs both in litigation, contract work, regulatory, the list goes on. Check out USAjobs.gov. That's your best bet. By the way, these jobs can be very competitive to get. |
Anonymous
| OP here. I guess what I am looking for is more guidance regarding which agencies are best to work for. Which ones are more 9-5 with no weekends? Which ones have the best prospects if one wants to exit government or rise in government? I am afraid to make the leap from big law to government only to be working awful hours for way less pay. |
Anonymous
| For someone with so much experience, you aren't very good at posing questions. What field are you in? |
Anonymous
This is the best advice. Look at your firm's alumni directory and see where people landed. It's not easy to get a government job these days, so you will have do at least a little legwork yourself. |
Anonymous
I didn't post before because I didn't want to be rude, and perhaps my perspective isn't universal, but for what it's worth, if you are coming to the govt solely for better hours with no interest in the agency's work except as it might help you in your career, then my agency is not likely to be all that interested in you. |
Anonymous
OP here. Well, this thread has certainly gone south. I do not mean to give the impression that I am not interested in government work. I am actually interested in multiple agencies, but my interest is tempered, however, by the fact that I have had a very poor quality of life for a long time and want to be careful in making my next move. I am quite sure that anyone who is familiar with big law understands where I am coming from. Thus, the goal of this thread is not to discuss what various agencies do (I can easily google that and I am already quite familiar). My goal is to ask insiders about where I can find a better quality of life without ending up in a dead-end position or doing my career real harm in the long term. |
Anonymous
| OP here again. Can we please avoid the bickering? If you do not know about the quality of life at various government agencies or do not care to share what you know, then you should see your way out of the thread. Thank you. |
Anonymous
| I think you've gotten some good suggestions-- DOJ is likely the best fit for a litigator, but generally (not universally) a higher risk for more hours. Other agencies will likely want to know why you are interested in them and what expertise you have to contribute beyond general litigation. Shopping for an agency based on quality of life concerns is unlikely to be the best way to find a spot. |
Anonymous
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It really does depend on your specialty. For what it is worth, I'm in tax and work at IRS. I work more or less 45 hours a week, with the exception of a couple specific times a year when I do have to work longer hours and weekends.
That said, I'm nearly 9 years out of law school and make much less than my friends at firms. Though, this far out, many washed out before they made partner and moved to smaller firms or in house. |
Anonymous
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Agree with the PP who suggested that you just start reading all the attorney postings on usajobs. Set up an automatic notification, with whatever parameters make sense to you, and you'll get an email every time there is an announcement meeting your terms. I've been in government for 7 years after 3 years of Biglaw, and I still read the daily email of postings just to see what's out there.
Most postings read fairly similarly with some obviously requiring specialized experience, others really focusing on litigation skills, and a few that really are looking for good, smart lawyers who are willing to learn a new area. I focused on postings in the latter group and ended up in a small independent agency I had never heard of before. I learned a ton, never worked more than 40 hrs, and worked at home 3 days/wk after a couple years. I got a little bored and moved up to a higher level, higher stress, higher hours job in the same agency, but it's still tons better than Biglaw life. |
Anonymous
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Hi OP, NP here. I put in 4 years at a firm and am now in my 8th year as a Fed. I agree with PPs who suggested you read the USAJobs adverts -- you'll see a lot of jobs in government-focused support work like FOIA, records, procurement and government contracting, ethics, etc. If you have that kind of experience you can work in almost any agency. Beyond that, many (though not all) agencies have their own litigation divisions that work with DOJ -- so, for example, DOJ actually takes the case to court but there is a whole office at the subject matter agency that knows the issues, supports the litigation, etc.
I imagine that you believe -- correctly! -- that you can learn to do whatever work is at hand. However, agencies generally don't like to train people, so government hiring favors those who have already done government work. If you haven't done anything related to government before, see if you can't find some pro bono work or bar association activities that touch on the topics above. Or, if you have subject matter expertise (say, banking) focus on those agencies. As far as quality of life, there are trade-offs. At any agency including DOJ, you will work fewer hours on average and have a nicer quality of life than you do now; however, at nearly every agency you will have less flexibility in your daily schedule and at some places you may need to clock in/out. Think of it as the difference between the flexibility to take a long lunch during your long law firm day and the flexibility to take a scheduled day off and not worry about the hours. For me that's worth the trade-off and the paycut, but some people chafe at having to behave like an hourly employee with respect to hours and leave. Usually, the headquarters offices of Department-level agencies work slightly longer hours, later hours (think 9-5:30: instead of 7-3:30), and offer less flexibility as far as telework and alternate work schedules; by contrast the sub-agencies usually have nicer and more flexible work environments, particularly those that are not in downtown DC. If you want to see how the agencies compare, there is a "Best Places to Work in Government" survey every year and the results are online. However, this really just looks at morale across the whole agency and doesn't speak to what your experience will be in the legal division of any given agency. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Some agencies don't post on USA jobs for attorney positions, so it is key to monitor those you are looking at closely and know where they post. |