Government Attorney Jobs Directory: Honors, AUSA, JAG Forum

Post by **TLS** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 3:37 am

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Government Attorney Jobs Directory: DOJ Honors, AUSA, JAG, EOIR and Pay

Short answer: Most new government lawyers come in through one of three doors: an internship, an honors program for 3Ls and judicial clerks, or an experienced-attorney posting (OPM Federal Career Guide, March 2026). DOJ employs more attorneys than any other federal agency (OPM). Its Honors Program lists over 180 openings for the 2026-27 cycle (DOJ Honors posting). A clerkship helps: judicial clerkships in any U.S. court preserve Honors eligibility (DOJ). This directory links a guide for each path, each tied to official pages. Where we could not verify a fact, it says n.a..

Fast facts

Federal attorney job series: most federal attorney jobs are 0905 General Attorney; student legal trainees are usually 0999 (OPM).
Where to search: USAJOBS plus agency career pages (OPM).
Citizenship: a common requirement; EOIR, the U.S. Trustee Program and the FBI hire only U.S. citizens (DOJ).
2026 federal pay raise: 1% for the General Schedule, with locality rates held at 2025 levels (OPM memo). Pay scale guide.
Clerks: DOJ lets graduating students with a clerkship lined up apply to SLIP-Law Clerk instead of Honors (DOJ).

Career paths

DOJ Attorney General's Honors Program: the main entry-level route into DOJ since 1953; the 2026-27 cycle closed Sept. 8, 2026, and interviews run Oct. 26 to Nov. 13, 2026 (DOJ) (DOJ). DOJ Honors guide.
DOJ Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP): paid summer internships, same application and dates as Honors; apply to up to four hiring offices (DOJ) (DOJ).
Other federal honors programs: SEC, FTC, IRS Chief Counsel, OCC, FINRA and FEMA each run their own programs with their own rules (OPM Federal Career Guide, March 2026). Non-DOJ honors guide.
Assistant U.S. Attorney: 93 U.S. Attorneys cover 94 districts (DOJ); most AUSAs are hired with several years of experience (USAO C.D. Cal. posting). AUSA guide.
Immigration courts (EOIR): 32 Honors positions in Falls Church for 2026-27, including 16 at the Board of Immigration Appeals (DOJ). EOIR guide.
Military JAG: five services, five separate applications; Army applications for 2027 closed Oct. 1, 2026, and Navy's fall window runs to Oct. 21, 2026 (Army JAG) (Navy JAG). JAG guide.
Public defenders and legal aid: see the public defender guide and legal aid guide.
Government fellowships: Bristow, Supreme Court Fellows and more in the fellowships directory.

Timeline by year of law school

1L: explore agencies, apply for summer internships and build writing experience (OPM Federal Career Guide).
2L: apply for internships (SLIP opens late August), watch for honors announcements and set a USAJOBS saved search (OPM) (DOJ).
3L or clerk: apply to honors programs, most of which open in late summer and close in early fall (OPM).
Peak internship posting months: July to September and November to February. Not every internship is on USAJOBS; many general counsel offices post on their own sites (OPM).

State and local government

State attorney general and district attorney offices hire on their own schedules. No single official directory was found, so counts and pay are n.a. here.
TLS threads: Where are the best District Attorney's Offices in US?, New York Attorney General's office: salaries?, New York District Attorney's Offices and Best DA's Office to Work for in California?.
Appellate defender offices: Center for Appellate Litigation/Appellate Advocates/Appellate Defender. Trademark examining attorneys at the USPTO: Attorney Advisor (Trademark Examining Attorney) for USPTO.
Federal resumes differ from firm resumes; see Federal Government Resumes.

Discuss on TLS

FAQ

Q: Do I need a clerkship to get a DOJ job?
No. Most Honors hires apply as 3Ls, but a clerkship keeps you eligible after graduation (DOJ).

Q: When do federal honors programs open?
Most open in late summer and close in early fall of your final year (OPM).

Q: Are all federal legal jobs on USAJOBS?
No. Some offices post on their own sites and take direct applications (OPM).

Related guides

For moves from government to a firm or in-house role, talk to BCG Attorney Search.

Last verified: September 26, 2026, against the official agency, court and program pages linked in this guide (older or secondary sources are labeled). Hiring status changes often, so confirm on the court or chambers page before you apply. Spot an error? Reply in the linked discussion thread or PM a moderator.