DOJ Honors Program 2020-2021 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Received finalist designations for EOIR OP and BIA

Just received a phone call from EOIR HR with an offer from the BIA! Still hoping to hear from Office of Policy.

I really wish I didn't check the forum right now, because I'm so discouraged knowing offers went out

[Anonymous User]

Received finalist designations for EOIR OP and BIA

Just received a phone call from EOIR HR with an offer from the BIA! Still hoping to hear from Office of Policy.

did you by any chance ask if, by getting an offer from BIA, you are precluded from getting an offer from another DOJ component?

[Anonymous User]

Received finalist designations for EOIR OP and BIA

Just received a phone call from EOIR HR with an offer from the BIA! Still hoping to hear from Office of Policy.

did you by any chance ask if, by getting an offer from BIA, you are precluded from getting an offer from another DOJ component?

did you also get a BIA offer??????

[Anonymous User]

Received finalist designations for EOIR OP and BIA

Just received a phone call from EOIR HR with an offer from the BIA! Still hoping to hear from Office of Policy.

did you by any chance ask if, by getting an offer from BIA, you are precluded from getting an offer from another DOJ component?

Anon who posted about BIA offer and waiting on OP. I didn’t ask about preclusion. I know people from previous years who have gotten offers from multiple components, and I don’t see a reason why it would be different this year.

[Anonymous User]

Received finalist designations for EOIR OP and BIA

Just received a phone call from EOIR HR with an offer from the BIA! Still hoping to hear from Office of Policy.

I really wish I didn't check the forum right now, because I'm so discouraged knowing offers went out

Hang in there. I hope you get a position with DOJ Honors if that’s where you want to be, but I also hope you’ll trust that you can and will do amazing legal work wherever you end up. This program is just one path.

[Anonymous User]

Is it possible to negotiate offers? Higher grade or step?

Grade, likely not; unless you meet the specific criteria for the higher starting grade (clerkship, etc.).

Step is even less likely, unless you're already a GS of a higher grade and will transfer without a break in service longer than a year. If that applies they should give you a step increase to match your current salary.

See 5 CFR 531.211 and 212

I worked in government for 8 years before law school, even in HR and as a recruiter for a while. In my experience, that answer is No, unless you for example did a clerkship and they do not notice that when they give you your GS.

For example, I left as a GS 12, step 3 when I worked as a paralegal. And will most likely still have to go in as a GS 11 due to "experience in the sector" since I was not a lawyer.

The salary on my tentative offer is based on one-year clerkship, however, by the time I start, I will have completed two years of clerkship. Anyone has dealt with similar situation before?

[POTATOMAN90]

I feel so dismayed, it's almost unreal. I applied for the USTP, solely, on the recommendation of my summer USTP internship supervisors (in that doing so would make me seem more committed and have a greater chance of getting an offer). While I did get an interview, my status did not to this day change from "Selected for Interview," which, according to Deane's messages, most likely indicates a rejection.

Is there any hope left? I have yet to receive a rejection or anything of the like. I think it's incredibly unfair that even an Assistant US Trustee told me to apply just to the USTP to max out my chances of success, only to not get an offer and to be of course precluded from the other DOJ HP components. I was informed that my work was excellent and superb over the summer, and I thought my interview went well, so I can't seem to think why I've been done this way.

[Anonymous User]

I feel so dismayed, it's almost unreal. I applied for the USTP, solely, on the recommendation of my summer USTP internship supervisors (in that doing so would make me seem more committed and have a greater chance of getting an offer). While I did get an interview, my status did not to this day change from "Selected for Interview," which, according to Deane's messages, most likely indicates a rejection.

Is there any hope left? I have yet to receive a rejection or anything of the like. I think it's incredibly unfair that even an Assistant US Trustee told me to apply just to the USTP to max out my chances of success, only to not get an offer and to be of course precluded from the other DOJ HP components. I was informed that my work was excellent and superb over the summer, and I thought my interview went well, so I can't seem to think why I've been done this way.

That sounds tough. Sorry you’re hurting right now. If you want an honest answer and won’t find it scarring, you can try reaching out to the component and asking if they have feedback they are open to sharing with you so that you can be a more successful applicant in the future. It very well may be that you did absolutely nothing wrong and there was just someone who eeked past you, or there may have been something that happened in your interview that you’d want to know about. Regardless, hope you feel better soon.

[Anonymous User]

I feel so dismayed, it's almost unreal. I applied for the USTP, solely, on the recommendation of my summer USTP internship supervisors (in that doing so would make me seem more committed and have a greater chance of getting an offer). While I did get an interview, my status did not to this day change from "Selected for Interview," which, according to Deane's messages, most likely indicates a rejection.

Is there any hope left? I have yet to receive a rejection or anything of the like. I think it's incredibly unfair that even an Assistant US Trustee told me to apply just to the USTP to max out my chances of success, only to not get an offer and to be of course precluded from the other DOJ HP components. I was informed that my work was excellent and superb over the summer, and I thought my interview went well, so I can't seem to think why I've been done this way.

I am sorry to hear that no offer has been extended from USTP so far. My reading of your post is that you are upset not because you think you were rejected by USTP but because of a (sort of) ill-advised strategy of solely applying to USTP and losing the opportunity with other DOJ components, right? After talking to bankruptcy practitioners (biglaw lawyers, small-law lawyers and bk judges), my conclusion is that USTP is probably not "the best" start for bankruptcy practice given its relative limited exist opportunity. If it turns out USTP truly rejects you, it is a loss, but I do not think it is a tremendous loss.

[Anonymous User]

wondering the same.

I'm curious about this as well!

I'm a COMM finalist but I haven't received a call, so I'm just assuming I'm an alternate :/

Ditto. Hard not to keep the hope alive, though!

Original poster here -- looks like we are all in the same boat! Someone posted last week that offers were going out, but they never responded to say which section.

Fingers crossed for all of us. I knew this process was competitive but it makes me feel better not to be alone in this.

Ditto!

Just got word from a friend that she got an offer from COMM. Wanted to pass it on!

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious about this as well!

I'm a COMM finalist but I haven't received a call, so I'm just assuming I'm an alternate :/

Ditto. Hard not to keep the hope alive, though!

Original poster here -- looks like we are all in the same boat! Someone posted last week that offers were going out, but they never responded to say which section.

Fingers crossed for all of us. I knew this process was competitive but it makes me feel better not to be alone in this.

Ditto!

Just got word from a friend that she got an offer from COMM. Wanted to pass it on!

Good for her! Did she say which Section/when she heard?

[Anonymous User]

I'm curious about this as well!

I'm a COMM finalist but I haven't received a call, so I'm just assuming I'm an alternate :/

Ditto. Hard not to keep the hope alive, though!

Original poster here -- looks like we are all in the same boat! Someone posted last week that offers were going out, but they never responded to say which section.

Fingers crossed for all of us. I knew this process was competitive but it makes me feel better not to be alone in this.

Ditto!

Just got word from a friend that she got an offer from COMM. Wanted to pass it on!

Congratulations to her. The competition for the COMM spots is fierce.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a COMM finalist but I haven't received a call, so I'm just assuming I'm an alternate :/

Ditto. Hard not to keep the hope alive, though!

Original poster here -- looks like we are all in the same boat! Someone posted last week that offers were going out, but they never responded to say which section.

Fingers crossed for all of us. I knew this process was competitive but it makes me feel better not to be alone in this.

Ditto!

Just got word from a friend that she got an offer from COMM. Wanted to pass it on!

Good for her! Did she say which Section/when she heard?

She doesn't know which section yet. She heard this morning (ET)

[Anonymous User]

I have no cell service at work, checked voicemail on lunch break, got SO excited...then it was from the locksmith who helped me with my car this morning. BIA finalist, officially giving up hope right...now.

[Anonymous User]

I have no cell service at work, checked voicemail on lunch break, got SO excited...then it was from the locksmith who helped me with my car this morning. BIA finalist, officially giving up hope right...now.

Also a BIA finalist who hasn't gotten a call. Has anyone heard from the BIA today?

[Zoobanks]

Has anyone heard from OIL? There was one person who said they got an offer last week. Not sure if I should have hope.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone gotten offers from TAX-CIV yet? I’m assuming I’m an alternate since it’s been so long since finalists were posted.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone got an offer from TAX-CIV yet?

[Anonymous User]

Received an offer via phone call with an offer from EOIR-OCIJ for a smaller court position. Accepted on the spot.

[devidicus]

Just got an offer from ATR! I'm over the moon!!!

[Anonymous User]

Just got an offer for my first choice court with EOIR-OCIJ!

[Anonymous User]

i know this has been asked before, but does anyone know whether fed programs offers have begun yet?

[Anonymous User]

Just got an offer for my first choice court with EOIR-OCIJ!

How did you hear? Phone call? Email?

[Anonymous User]

I did two weeks ago. Acceptance deadline is coming up so alternates may be called this week if offers were rejected.

Has anyone gotten offers from TAX-CIV yet? I’m assuming I’m an alternate since it’s been so long since finalists were posted.

[Anonymous User]

Just got an offer for my first choice court with EOIR-OCIJ!

How did you hear? Phone call? Email?

I got a phone call from HQ and then they followed up with an e-mail!