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8/3/2019 Government Employment
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
An Introduction to Careers in Government
Short-term or long-term
Prepared by Suzanne Schmitz
For the Career Services Office of
Southern Illinois University School of Law
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:an overview
Generally, attorneys who work in governmentconsider their experience as a great one,often as the best job they had.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:an overview
Legal work for the government can be in thecriminal or civil fields, in litigation, transactionalwork, regulatory and investigatory work, policy-
making, administration, and problem-solving atthe local, state, national or international levels,for the judicial, executive or legislative branchesof government. Government legal work can be
politically-connected or quite non-politicaldepending on the position.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:an overview
Almost every skill used by lawyers isemployed by government attorneys.Therefore, most government attorneys can
transfer their experience to the privatesector, should they desire to do so.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:A caveat
Political influence
Some positions in government are political and youare expected to show loyalty to your employer. You
are at risk if your employer loses office. Other positions have civil service or other protections
which protect your position from changes of employeror party.
Ask others in the positions you are interested in whatare the expectations, protections, and risks.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:PROSECUTOR
THE LOCAL COUNTY PROSECUTORDECIDES WHOM TO CHARGE WITHCRIMES AND PROSECUTES THOSECHARGED (called the States Attorney in
Illinois, also called County Attorney,District Attorney in other states).
Offices vary from one to hundreds of
attorneys.
Does some civil work, representing countyboard and officials.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:STATES ATTORNEY
GREAT TRIAL EXPERIENCE
USUALLY GIVEN LOTS OFRESPONSIBILITY EARLY ON
GREAT ENTRY LEVEL JOB FOR
GRADS AT ALL CLASS RANKS EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
TRANSFER TO PRIVATESECTOR
GOOD WAY TO NETWORKWITH COURT PERSONNEL
MANY ATTORNEYS SAY IT WASTHE BEST JOB THEY EVERHAD
USUALLY LOW PAY THOUGHTHERE ARE MANY CAREERPROSECUTORS
OFTEN HIGH CASELOADS
LOTS OF TURNOVER
ASK ABOUT TRAINING ANDSUPERVISION
TURNOVER GENERALLYBECAUSE OF LOW PAY ANDHIGH CASELOADS
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:U. S. ATTORNEY:FEDERAL PROSECUTOR
GENERALLY HIGHER PAY,LONGER TERMS, HIGHSATISFACTION RATE
USUALLY GREAT TRAINING
AND SUPERVISION DEVELOP CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITHFEDERAL AGENCIES ANDCOURTS AND WITH POLICEAGENCIES
NO POLITICAL INFLUENCEDUE TO FEDERAL LAW
OFTEN CAREER POSITIONS
YOUR POLITICALACTIVITIES ARE LIMITEDDUE TO FEDERAL LAW
USUALLY OPEN ONLY TO
ATTORNEYS WITHEXPERIENCE OR WITHVERY HIGH CLASS RANK
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
PUBLIC DEFENDER
REPRESENTS THOSE CHARGED WITHCRIMES AND UNABLE TO RETAIN PRIVATECOUNSEL.
Some states, such as Missouri, Kentucky, andColorado, have statewide systems. In Illinois,each county has its own program ranging fromfull-time attorneys to those on contract.
Office size varies from one to hundreds.
May represent children as Guardian ad Litem.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Public Defender
HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTIONFOR THOSE WHOSE VALUESFIT THE JOB
IN STATEWIDE SYSTEMS,USUALLY GOOD TRAINING ANDSUPERVISION
GOOD COURTROOMEXPERIENCE AND LOTS OFRESPONSIBILITY
GOOD ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONFOR THOSE AT EVERY GRADELEVEL
GOOD WAY TO GET TO KNOW
COURTROOM PERSONNELAND PROCEDURES SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
TRANSFER TO PRIVATESECTOR
USUALLY LOW SALARIES ANDHIGH CASELOADS
TRAINING AND SUPERVISIONMAY VARY ASK ABOUT THESE
FREQUENT TURNOVER DUE
TO LOW SALARIES AND HIGHCASELOADS SOME STATEWIDE SYSTEMS
MAY REQUIRE GEOGRAPHICTRANSFERS
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER
GENERALLY HIGHERSALARIES AND BETTERCASELOADS
GENERALLY GOODTRAINING ANDSUPERVISION
CAREER POSITIONS GOOD TRANSFER OF
SKILLS ANDEXPERIENCE TOPRIVATE SECTOR
NO POLITICALINFLUENCE DUE TOFEDERAL LAW
USUALLY OPEN ONLYTO THOSE WITHEXPERIENCE
LIMITS ON YOURPOLITICAL ACTIVITIESDUE TO FEDERAL LAW
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:CITY ATTORNEY
SOME MUNICIPALITIES HIRE FULL-TIMECITY ATTORNEYS WHILE OTHERS RETAINPRIVATE ATTORNEYS AS NEEDED.
SIZE OF OFFICES VARY FROM ONE TOHUNDREDS.
DUTIES INCLUDES LITIGATION ANDTRANSACTIONAL WORK.
WORK INCLUDES CIVIL, CRIMINAL ANDQUASI-CRIMINAL.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:CITY ATTORNEY
Often good salaries andreasonable caseload
Good experience to transferto private sector
Good contacts throughstatewide municipalorganizations
Lots of variety in the work
Some entry level positions
Some night hours
So much variety thatyou may have a steeplearning curve
Not that many positionsopen
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:CITY ATTORNEY
Work can include: Drafting ordinances and advising city officials
and city departments;
Negotiating union contracts, handlingarbitration disputes and workers comp cases;
Prosecuting city ordinances and suing citizensand others for contract and other disputes;
Reviewing tax issues and bonds; Overseeing construction projects and grants;
Etc.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:ATTORNEY GENERAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL REPRESENTS THE STATE; ADVISESSTATE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES.
PROSECUTES SOME STATEWIDE CRIMES AND MAY ASSISTLOCAL PROSECUTORS AS NEEDED.
MAY HAVE DIVISIONS SUCH AS:
CONSUMER ENVIRONMENT REVENUE COLLECTION OR TAXES CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION DEFENSE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
ETC. OFFICE SIZE CAN VARY; In Illinois, currently over 200 attorneys in
three office locations and some attorneys in regional offices.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:ATTORNEY GENERAL
Work is mainly civil, but some criminal.
Work can be transactional or litigation.
Travel throughout the state may berequired.
Litigators will always be outsiders in the
courtroom.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:ATTORNEY GENERAL
Generally good salaries
Skills and experiencetransfer to private sector
Training program
Ask about this
May be able to transferwithin departments oramong offices
Many career positions Entry level positions often
available
No civil serviceprotectionsserve at thepleasure of the A.G.
May have high caseloads
Supervision and trainingmay vary
Some high turnover
Not as much trialexperience asprosecutors office
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
THE U.S. DOJ REPRESENTS FEDERALGOVERNMENT AND ITS OFFICERSAND AGENCIES WHEN SUED.
CIVIL AND CRIMINAL WORK.
TRAVEL OFTEN REQUIRED.
SOME SPECIALITIES such as civil rightsor drug enforcement, anti-trust, etc.
MAIN OFFICE: Washington, DC.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FAIRLY COMPETITIVE
GREAT EXPERIENCEFOR PRIVATE SECTOR
GOOD PAY AND WORK
CONDITIONS EXCELLENT TRAINING
AND SUPERVISION
MANY CAREER
POSITIONS CIVIL SERVICE
PROTECTIONS
MAY HAVE LOTS OFTRAVEL
USUALLY OPEN TOTHOSE WITH
EXPERIENCE ORGOOD GRADES
SUBJECT TOBUREAUCRATICREGULATIONS
OUTSIDE POLITICALACTIVITIES LIMITEDDUE TO FEDERAL LAW
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:APPELLATE OFFICES
ILLINOIS HAS THE OFFICE OF STATE APPELLATEPUBLIC DEFENDER WHO REPRESENTS CRIMINALSAPPEALING THEIR CONVICTION REPRESENTS CONVICTED PERSONS APPEALING THEIR
CONVICTION
REQUIRES VISITS TO CLIENTS IN STATE PRISONS. AND THE OFFICE OF STATES ATTORNEYS
APPELLATE PROSECUTOR WHO DEFENDS THESEAPPEALS AND MAY ALSO HANDLE SOME CIVILAPPEALS.
OFFICES LOCATED IN EACH APPELLATE DISTRICT:Chicago, Elgin, Ottawa, Springfield, and Mt. Vernon. Similar offices may exist in other states.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:APPELLATE OFFICES
ALL APPELLATE WORK
READ TRIAL COURT RECORD;
RESEARCH LAW;
WRITE BRIEFS;
ARGUE IN APPELLATE AND SUPREMECOURT;
NO TRIAL WORK;
DEVELOPS WRITING SKILLS.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:APPELLATE ATTORNEYS
GREAT EXPERIENCE INAPPELLATE WORKTRANSFERS TO PRIVATESECTOR
GOOD PAY AND
REASONABLE CASELOADSIN DOWNSTATE OFFICES
SOME ENTRY LEVELPOSITIONS
CAREER POSITIONS
LIMITED GEOGRAPHICALLOCATIONS
LIMITED OPENINGS
WORK LIMITED TOAPPELLATE AND MAINLY
CRIMINAL WORK CASELOADS MAY VARY
BETWEEN OFFICES
INQUIRE RE CASELOADS
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:AGENCY ATTORNEYS
MOST FEDERAL AND STATEAGENCIES AND SOME COUNTYAGENCIES EMPLOY THEIR OWNATTORNEYS; e.g., U.S. Securities andExchange Commission; U.S. Departmentof Army, Illinois State Board of Education.
Agency attorneys advise agency officialsand draft agency legislation, regulations,contracts, and policies.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:AGENCY ATTORNEYS
Size and locations of offices vary. Someagencies have offices throughout the nation orthe state and others only in the capital.
Agency attorneys usually develop expertise insubject of agency; e.g., nuclear safety, revenue,immigration, public health.
Litigation usually handled by Attorney General orDOJ, not by agency attorneys.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:AGENCY ATTORNEYS
OFTEN REASONABLY GOODPAY
BECOME SPECIALIZED INCERTAIN AREAS
SPECIALIZATION WILLTRANSFER TO LIMITEDPRIVATE SECTOR
OFTEN CAREER POSITIONS OPENINGS MAY VARY USUALLY CIVIL SERVICE
PROTECTIONS
CASELOAD MAY BE HIGH TRAINING AND
SUPERVISION MAY VARY ASK ABOUT THIS
FEDERAL POSITIONS ARECIVIL SERVICE AND AREPROTECTED FROMPOLITICAL INFLUENCE BYFEDERAL LAW ASK ABOUT STATE
POSITIONS
OFTEN LIMITED
COURTROOM EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE POLITICAL
ACTIVITIES LIMITED BYFEDERAL LAW
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:LAW ENFORCEMENT
MANY LAWYERS USE THEIR SKILLS IN LAWENFORCEMENT CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL POLICE
AGENCIES
FEDERAL AND STATE BUREAUS OF INVESTIGATION MANY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE THEIROWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS
U.S. Treasury; IL Secretary of State, etc.
MANY AGENCIES HAVE INVESTIGATORY POWERS STATE AND FEDERAL SECURITIES COMMISSIONS
MEDICAL AND LAWYER LICENSING AGENCIES. ELECTED POSITIONS SUCH AS SHERIFF. POLICE ADMINISTRATION.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:JUDICIAL
GENERALLY, THERE ARE TWO TYPESOF JUDICIAL POSITIONS: 1. JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE LIMITED TO THOSE WITH HIGHEST GRADES
OFTEN 1- OR 2-YEAR POSITIONS
SOME CAREER POSITIONS
SOME COURT-WIDE OR STAFF CLERKS COMPETITIVE BUT LESS SO
APPLY TO JUDGE OR TO COURT.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
2. ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
U.S. COURTS HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVEBODY AT EACH LEVEL DISTRICT,APPELLATE AND U.S. SUPREME COURT
STATE COURTS LIKELY HAVE ANADMINISTRATIVE BODY AT SUPREME COURTLEVEL AND POSSIBLY AT LOWER LEVELS INLARGER COURTS
DUTIES, SIZE OF OFFICE, AND LOCATIONSVARY.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OFCOURTS HIRES ATTORNEYS TO OPERATECOURT PROGRAMS AND TO STAFF COURTCOMMITTEES RESEARCH, LIASON WITH JUDGES;
COORDINATE JUDICIAL EDUCATION;
STAFF COMMITTEES OF JUDGES AND OTHERS
OPERATE SPECIAL COURT SERVICES OR
OTHER PROGRAMS PROBATION
TECHNOLOGY.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
REASONABLY GOODPAY AND WORKLOAD
LOTS OF CONTACTS
CAREER POSITIONS
SPECIALIZATIONS INLAW WILL TRANSFERTO PRIVATE SECTOR
LIMITED OPENINGS
DISCRETION CRITICAL
ADMINISTRATIVEEXPERTISE MAY NOTTRANSFER TOPRIVATE SECTOR LAWOFFICES
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:LEGISLATIVE
IN THE LEGISLATIVE ARENA, THERE AREMANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTORNEYEMPLOYMENT: WORKING FOR LEGISLATORS;
WORKING FOR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES;
WORKING FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
DUTIES AND DEGREE OF POLITICALACTIVITIES VARY.
POSITIONS EXIST AT LOCAL (CITY ANDCOUNTY), STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:LEGISLATIVE
WORKING FOR A LEGISLATOR
CAMPAIGN STAFF
POLICY STAFF.
LOYALTY TO LEGISLATOR CRITICAL.
JOB DEPENDS ON SUCCESS OFLEGISLATOR OR PARTY.
MASTER THE LEGISLATIVE ANDELECTIVE PROCESS.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:LEGISLATIVE
WORKING FOR A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE:
Most legislatures (state and federal) have committeessuch as banking and commerce, labor, or agriculture.Most committees have staff aligned along party lines.
Research legislation, read proposed bills, draft bills,advise legislators.
Position depends on success of party to whom youare aligned.
Workload can vary and involve long hours duringpeak times in legislative year.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:LEGISLATIVE
Working for the legislature itself.
Illinois has Legislative Reference BureauDrafts legislation for any legislators.
Reviews all legislation for proper form.Non-partisan.
Workload and hours are extremely long during peakperiods of legislative year long days, seven daysstraight during peak periods.
May develop specialty in certain fields, such as tax orschool code.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Questions to ask
For anygovernment position, you will wantto ask about:
Training and supervision
Restrictions, if any, on outside activities
Caseload and other responsibilities
Chances for promotion or transfer
Expectations for success in the position
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Questions to consider
VALUES: do I want to live out certain values?
Protect veterans
Enforce law and order, make community safe
Protect individual rights and liberties INTEREST: do I want to focus on certain
interest areas?
Elections
Consumer rights
International trade
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Questions to consider
SKILLS: what are my strengths?
Trial work Writing
Speaking Persuading
Administration Investigation
Problem-solving Research
WORK CONDITIONS?
Do I prefer working alone or as part of team?
Can I travel?
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:How to find a position
Answers to these questions will help youdetermine where to look Is your geographic location pre-determined?
If so, look at what positions are available in thatlocation.
Do you prefer litigation, transactional, judicial,regulatory, legislative, or administrative work?
Do you have a strong preference for criminalor civil work or for a special type of work likework related to children or environment?
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:How to decide
To help you decide and to enhance your resumebefore applying: Volunteer to work in one of these government
agencies;
Obtain a temporary, part-time or summer job; Enroll in Extern Clinic and get placed in one of thesepositions during your third year
Summer before your third year is a good time because youcan select locations away from Carbondale.
Interview people in these positions; Visit the websites of these agencies; Read about the positions.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
The Future
In the future, there are even more opportunitiesin government:
Legislator;
Executive governor, county chair, mayor; Agency director or chief legal counsel;
Members of prestigious panels and commissions;
Judge or administrative law judge.
But you have to start somewhere and theseslides are meant to focus on entry or near-entrylevel positions.
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Resources for finding employment
Career Services Library references
2002 Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide
Directory of Federal Jobs & Employers
Government Job Finder Federal & State Judicial Clerkship Director
State & Local Government Directory of Resources
And much more in the Career Services Library See Patty Lynn in the Career Services Office
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:Resources for finding employment
Websites to visit
www.firstgov.gov
Links by organization to various types of governmentemployment federal, state & local
www.usajobs.opm.gov
Allows you to create a free search account that will notify youvia e-mail about federal jobs that match your criteria
www.fedjobs.com
Link to current jobs; Link on Legal and Kindred/GSO901-GSO999)
Look for websites by state or local governments
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
http://www.firstgov.gov/http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/http://www.fedjobs.com/http://www.fedjobs.com/http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/http://www.firstgov.gov/8/3/2019 Government Employment
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GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:HelpfulCourses
State and Local Government Federal Courts Administrative Law Statutory Interpretation Course in the substantive areas of interest
Environmental Law -- Family Criminal -- School Law International Law -- Tax
Intellectual Property -- Securities Regulation Health Law -- Bankruptcy Immigration -- Labor, etc.