Deadlines and Key Dates

• July 31 – application opens
• Early September (day after Labor Day) – application deadline
• Late September – interview candidates selected
• Mid. Oct – early Nov. – interviews conducted
• Late Nov. thru Feb. – offers extended

Participating Components

Application Checklist

Office Locations & Practice Areas

• Practice Areas
• Geographic Areas
• Offices by State

Honors Program Interviews

Candidate Selection

Notification of Selection (Information on how candidates are notified of interview selection and a list of Component contacts.)

Interview Scheduling, Pre-Interview Requirements, and Travel (Information on what you must do to schedule your interview, the scheduling process, how and when the Department will notify you of scheduled interviews, instructions on submitting writing samples, transcripts, proof of veterans’ preference eligibility and other documents, special interview requirements.  Travel information includes reimbursement of travel expenses, emergency contacts for the interview period, and detailed information about government travel.  

Travel Memo Required reading for all interview candidates.  This document contains important information about interviews, including schedules, locations, travel, authorized expenses, lodging, and how to request reimbursement.

Interview Dates, Times and Locations

Reimbursable Expenses  Information about meals, lodging, reimbursable expenses, and associated forms.

What To Bring to An Interview

Interviewers

Candidate Selection: Each participating component nominates candidates. The total number of candidates interviewed depends on budget limitations, the ratio of nominations to available positions, and mission requirements.

Notification of Selection:

1. How We Notify Candidates:  The Department issues notice of selection for an interview by e-mail using the e-mail address you provided in your application. All e-mail messages from the Department are issued from mail@avuedigitalservices.com. We recommend that you enter this into your computer’s personal address book to ensure that you receive messages issued on behalf of the Department through our private contractor. A separate message is issued for each component.  If you are selected by more than one component, you will receive more than one notification message. Selection for an interview status will also be posted on the application website.
   
   
2. Attorney Recruitment Coordinators  Component Contacts for questions about interview requirements and emergencies arising during travel.  These individuals do not handle scheduling matters.

Interview Scheduling, Pre-Interview Requirements, and Travel:

1. How To Schedule An Interview:   Complete a Travel Survey form immediately after receiving notice that you were selected for an interview, then fax it to the Department’s Conference Center Staff (CCS) at the number designated on the form.  This alerts the CCS staff to arrange travel and schedule an interview.  Submit only one Travel Survey, even if you were selected by more than one component.  Even local candidates must submit a Travel Survey to schedule an interview.  Instructions are on the survey form.
   
   
2. The Scheduling Process:  The Conference Center Staff (CSS) schedules interviews based on availability of commercial travel at the government rate, the candidate’s preferred interview week and date, the component’s interview schedule, and the number of interviews that the candidate was selected for. Regrettably, due to fiscal issues associated with invitational travel, the Department cannot consider a candidate’s desire to interview with other employers, or plans for a long weekend to take advantage of the visit to the Washington Metropolitan Area when making travel arrangements and/or scheduling interviews. If you have personal issues that may impact on your travel availability (e.g., are a single parent, are a caretaker for an elderly person, require an accommodation, have work conflicts, etc.), please list your concerns on your Travel Survey to alert the CCS staff.
   
   
3. Overnight Stays:  It is our policy to arrange travel that does not require an overnight stay.  However, if your interview schedule  requires one, you will be authorized reimbursement of lodging costs up to the current government “per diem” lodging rate.  Current government rates are available at www.gsa.gov.  You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations.  Be sure to retain a copy of the lodging receipt as it is required for reimbursement.  Visit the Travel Memo for detailed information.   You may ask the hotel whether it will honor the government rates, but be advised that they are not obligated to do so.  If the hotel is willing to honor the government rate, you must explain your circumstances, advise that you do not have a government identification card and are not a current DOJ employee, and ensure you retain the name of the person who confirmed the rate for you.
   
   
4. Pre-Interview Submissions and Requirements:  Some components require interview candidates to submit writing samples, resumes, transcripts, proof of veterans’ preference eligibility and other documents either prior to or at the time of the scheduled interview.  Select Writing Samples, Resumes, and Transcript Requirements for a chart of specific component requirements regarding submission of pre-interview materials, including where to submit requested materials, recommended content, length, format, and subject matter. Do not submit a writing sample or other materials unless you are selected for an interview and the interviewing component lists a requirement.
   
   
5. Your Interview and Travel Schedule:
• How We Send It:  Once you are scheduled, the CCS staff will fax your travel itinerary and/or interview schedule to you using the fax number you listed on your Travel Survey. Please be sure that you check your fax machine frequently and alert other people with access to the fax machine to notify you when your fax arrives.
  
  
• How We Schedule The Interview Date and Time:  The CCS staff will make every effort to consider the preferred week and day listed on your Travel Survey, but cannot guarantee your preferred schedule because of variables affecting Government-contracted travel (e.g., airline availability, timing of flights, etc.), and component availability. You should hear from the CCS Staff not later than the Wednesday prior to the week in which your interview is scheduled. This may or may not be the first choice you requested. If you have not received a message from DOJ by close of business Tuesday, October 23, 2012, contact OARM immediately at (202) 514-8900 and request assistance.
  
  
• Requesting Interview Schedule Changes: Please do not ask to change your interview schedule except in the case of a major emergency. If an emergency arises, please contact the assigned scheduler indicated on your itinerary. If you are unable to reach the designated scheduler, please call (202) 616-3803. 
  
  
• Travel Itineraries:  If you are traveling outside the local commuting area, you will receive a travel itinerary (commercial travel) by e-mail from SATO/CWT Travel. You will also receive a fax from the Department’s CCS Staff with your interview schedule and a second copy of your travel itinerary. Local travelers will receive only the fax from the CCS staff with their interview schedule. If you do not receive a fax with your interview schedule from the Department by Tuesday, October 23, 2012, then contact the CCS Staff schedulers at (202) 616-3803 for immediate assistance.
  
  
• Travel Changes: If commercial travel is authorized, you are NOT AUTHORIZED to change your travel schedule or modify your flights or rail travel independently. You are NOT authorized to contact airlines or other commercial carriers directly to make changes to your flights or rail travel. Government travel is booked through government contracts. Only authorized DOJ personnel can make changes, and changes incur additional costs, so are limited to emergencies. If you modify your travel arrangements without authorization, you may be disqualified from further consideration and be held personally liable for all travel costs.

Interview Dates, Times, and Locations

1. Dates and Times: Most interviews will take place between October 15 and November 2, 2012, excluding weekends and holidays.  Interviews are conducted during regular business hours.
   
   
2. Locations: The majority of hiring offices will conduct interviews in Washington, D.C. and its surrounding area. See the Comprehensive List of Interview Locations for all Honors Program hiring offices. Specific interview dates, times and directions on where to find interview locations will be faxed to candidates after their interviews are scheduled.
• The Executive Office for Immigration Review will interview in Falls Church, VA (part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area), and also at Immigration Courts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, San Antonio, New York and Miami.
• If you are selected to interview with a U.S. Attorney's Office, you may be asked to travel to a city within their District.
• Components with field offices (e.g., Antitrust) may offer a limited number of interviews in cities other than Washington, D.C.


Comprehensive List of Interview Locations

Reimbursable Expenses  The Department will pre-pay certain costs, such as commercial air or train fare. The Department may authorize mileage reimbursement for candidates who request to travel by personal automobile if it is cost effective to do so.  For additional details, please review the Travel Memo.

1. Meals & Incidental Expenses:  Candidates who are in a travel status in excess of 12 hours will receive a pro-rated per diem allowance to cover costs of meals and other incidental expenses, subject to the rates specified in the Federal Travel Regulations. For current per diem amounts, see www.gsa.gov.
   
   
2. Lodging:  The Department’s policy is to schedule all interviews so that an overnight stay is not required; however, if an overnight stay is necessary, the Department will authorize reimbursement for lodging at the current federal government per diem rate. You can tell if an overnight stay is required by looking at your travel reservations. Candidates whose flights arrive and depart on the same date are not authorized an overnight stay. You may not contact the airline to rebook your flight to justify an overnight stay. You will be responsible for making your own hotel or lodging reservations and retaining a copy of the original receipt to submit with your reimbursement request.  If you stay with family or friends, then no reimbursement is possible.  Reimbursement entitlements will be approved in advance on a case-by-case basis.  Not all candidates will qualify for all possible authorized reimbursements. The Department will provide specific travel information to individual candidates with their travel itinerary and invitational travel orders.
   
   
3. How to Request Reimbursement:  Reimbursement is not automatic - you must submit a reimbursement request within 5 business days after your interview using this reimbursement form. You may be required to submit original receipts for lodging and expenses totaling $75 or more.

What To Bring to an Interview: We suggest the following:
— Travel Itinerary (non-local travelers only)
— Your scheduler’s name and telephone number (in case of emergency)
— The name and telephone number of the Attorney Recruitment Coordinator for each component with which you are interviewing
— Addresses of Component Interview Sites
— Updated resume and law school transcript (in case the interviewer requests a copy)
— Two forms of photo identification (for access to buildings)
— An umbrella (recommended)
— Writing sample (if specified in Writing Samples, above)
— Copy of the Travel Memo (in case you need emergency guidance)
— Notepad and pen

Interviewers: Due to the number of interviews and the decentralized interview process, OARM is unable to provide the names of specific interviewers. We recommend that you request a business card from your interviewer(s) at the close of your interview.