Government Employment

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.



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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

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/


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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.

Documents

Government Employment