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

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
an overview

Generally, attorneys who work in government consider their experience as a great one, often as the best job they had.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
an overview

Legal work for the government can be in the criminal or civil fields, in litigation, transactional work, regulatory and investigatory work, policymaking, administration, and problem-solving at the local, state, national or international levels, for the judicial, executive or legislative branches of government. Government legal work can be politically-connected or quite non-political depending on the position.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
an overview

Almost every skill used by lawyers is employed by government attorneys. Therefore, most government attorneys can transfer their experience to the private sector, should they desire to do so.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
an overview

Government legal jobs usually offer regular hours, sick leave, vacation pay, paid holidays, and a regular paycheck, but may be subject to lay-off due to budget cuts or to changes in political fortunes or both. Pay is generally less than that in the private sector for an attorney in the private sector who does well financially. On the other hand, there are many attorneys in the private sector who struggle financially. Those with good legal and people skills are likely to create bonds with co-workers and supervisors that can last for decades.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
A caveat

Political influence
Some positions in government are political and you are 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 employer or party. Ask others in the positions you are interested in what are the expectations, protections, and risks.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
an overview

Several examples follow to illustrate the range of positions available at entry or near-entry level, some of the advantages and disadvantages of different positions, and some of the issues to consider. These are just examples. More information is available from Career Services and from those in the fields of interest to you. Resources for obtaining government jobs appear toward the end of the slides. Many more resources are available in the library in the Career Services office.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
PROSECUTOR

THE LOCAL COUNTY PROSECUTOR DECIDES WHOM TO CHARGE WITH CRIMES AND PROSECUTES THOSE CHARGED (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 county board and officials.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
STATES ATTORNEY
GREAT TRIAL EXPERIENCE USUALLY GIVEN LOTS OF RESPONSIBILITY EARLY ON GREAT ENTRY LEVEL JOB FOR GRADS AT ALL CLASS RANKS EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS TRANSFER TO PRIVATE SECTOR GOOD WAY TO NETWORK WITH COURT PERSONNEL MANY ATTORNEYS SAY IT WAS THE BEST JOB THEY EVER HAD USUALLY LOW PAY THOUGH THERE ARE MANY CAREER PROSECUTORS OFTEN HIGH CASELOADS LOTS OF TURNOVER
ASK ABOUT TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

TURNOVER GENERALLY BECAUSE OF LOW PAY AND HIGH CASELOADS

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
U. S. ATTORNEY: FEDERAL PROSECUTOR
GENERALLY HIGHER PAY, LONGER TERMS, HIGH SATISFACTION RATE USUALLY GREAT TRAINING AND SUPERVISION DEVELOP CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES AND COURTS AND WITH POLICE AGENCIES NO POLITICAL INFLUENCE DUE TO FEDERAL LAW OFTEN CAREER POSITIONS YOUR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED DUE TO FEDERAL LAW USUALLY OPEN ONLY TO ATTORNEYS WITH EXPERIENCE OR WITH VERY HIGH CLASS RANK

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
PUBLIC DEFENDER

REPRESENTS THOSE CHARGED WITH CRIMES AND UNABLE TO RETAIN PRIVATE COUNSEL. Some states, such as Missouri, Kentucky, and Colorado, have statewide systems. In Illinois, each county has its own program ranging from full-time attorneys to those on contract. Office size varies from one to hundreds. May represent children as Guardian ad Litem.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
Public Defender
HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION FOR THOSE WHOSE VALUES FIT THE JOB IN STATEWIDE SYSTEMS, USUALLY GOOD TRAINING AND SUPERVISION GOOD COURTROOM EXPERIENCE AND LOTS OF RESPONSIBILITY GOOD ENTRY LEVEL POSITION FOR THOSE AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL GOOD WAY TO GET TO KNOW COURTROOM PERSONNEL AND PROCEDURES SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TRANSFER TO PRIVATE SECTOR

USUALLY LOW SALARIES AND HIGH CASELOADS TRAINING AND SUPERVISION MAY VARY
ASK ABOUT THESE

FREQUENT TURNOVER DUE TO LOW SALARIES AND HIGH CASELOADS SOME STATEWIDE SYSTEMS MAY REQUIRE GEOGRAPHIC TRANSFERS

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER GENERALLY HIGHER SALARIES AND BETTER CASELOADS GENERALLY GOOD TRAINING AND SUPERVISION CAREER POSITIONS GOOD TRANSFER OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO PRIVATE SECTOR NO POLITICAL INFLUENCE DUE TO FEDERAL LAW USUALLY OPEN ONLY TO THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE LIMITS ON YOUR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES DUE TO FEDERAL LAW

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
CITY ATTORNEY

SOME MUNICIPALITIES HIRE FULL-TIME CITY ATTORNEYS WHILE OTHERS RETAIN PRIVATE ATTORNEYS AS NEEDED. SIZE OF OFFICES VARY FROM ONE TO HUNDREDS. DUTIES INCLUDES LITIGATION AND TRANSACTIONAL WORK. WORK INCLUDES CIVIL, CRIMINAL AND QUASI-CRIMINAL.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
CITY ATTORNEY Often good salaries and Some night hours reasonable caseload So much variety that Good experience to transfer you may have a steep to private sector learning curve Good contacts through Not that many positions statewide municipal open organizations Lots of variety in the work Some entry level positions

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
CITY ATTORNEY

Work can include:

Drafting ordinances and advising city officials and city departments; Negotiating union contracts, handling arbitration disputes and workers comp cases; Prosecuting city ordinances and suing citizens and others for contract and other disputes; Reviewing tax issues and bonds; Overseeing construction projects and grants; Etc.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
ATTORNEY GENERAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL REPRESENTS THE STATE; ADVISES STATE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES. PROSECUTES SOME STATEWIDE CRIMES AND MAY ASSIST LOCAL 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.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
ATTORNEY GENERAL

Work is mainly civil, but some criminal. Work can be transactional or litigation. Travel throughout the state may be required. Litigators will always be outsiders in the courtroom.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
ATTORNEY GENERAL Generally good salaries Skills and experience transfer to private sector Training program
Ask about this

May be able to transfer within departments or among offices Many career positions Entry level positions often available

No civil service protectionsserve at the pleasure of the A.G. May have high caseloads Supervision and training may vary Some high turnover Not as much trial experience as prosecutors office

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

THE U.S. DOJ REPRESENTS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS OFFICERS AND AGENCIES WHEN SUED. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL WORK. TRAVEL OFTEN REQUIRED. SOME SPECIALITIES such as civil rights or drug enforcement, anti-trust, etc. MAIN OFFICE: Washington, DC.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FAIRLY COMPETITIVE GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR GOOD PAY AND WORK CONDITIONS EXCELLENT TRAINING AND SUPERVISION MANY CAREER POSITIONS CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS MAY HAVE LOTS OF TRAVEL USUALLY OPEN TO THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE OR GOOD GRADES SUBJECT TO BUREAUCRATIC REGULATIONS OUTSIDE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES LIMITED DUE TO FEDERAL LAW

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
APPELLATE OFFICES ILLINOIS HAS THE OFFICE OF STATE APPELLATE PUBLIC DEFENDER WHO REPRESENTS CRIMINALS APPEALING 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 THESE APPEALS AND MAY ALSO HANDLE SOME CIVIL APPEALS. OFFICES LOCATED IN EACH APPELLATE DISTRICT: Chicago, Elgin, Ottawa, Springfield, and Mt. Vernon. Similar offices may exist in other states.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
APPELLATE OFFICES

ALL APPELLATE WORK

READ TRIAL COURT RECORD; RESEARCH LAW; WRITE BRIEFS; ARGUE IN APPELLATE AND SUPREME COURT; NO TRIAL WORK; DEVELOPS WRITING SKILLS.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
APPELLATE ATTORNEYS
GREAT EXPERIENCE IN APPELLATE WORK TRANSFERS TO PRIVATE SECTOR GOOD PAY AND REASONABLE CASELOADS IN DOWNSTATE OFFICES SOME ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS CAREER POSITIONS LIMITED GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS LIMITED OPENINGS WORK LIMITED TO APPELLATE AND MAINLY CRIMINAL WORK CASELOADS MAY VARY BETWEEN OFFICES INQUIRE RE CASELOADS

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
AGENCY ATTORNEYS

MOST FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND SOME COUNTY AGENCIES EMPLOY THEIR OWN ATTORNEYS; e.g., U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; U.S. Department of Army, Illinois State Board of Education. Agency attorneys advise agency officials and draft agency legislation, regulations, contracts, and policies.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
AGENCY ATTORNEYS

Size and locations of offices vary. Some agencies have offices throughout the nation or the state and others only in the capital. Agency attorneys usually develop expertise in subject of agency; e.g., nuclear safety, revenue, immigration, public health. Litigation usually handled by Attorney General or DOJ, not by agency attorneys.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
AGENCY ATTORNEYS
OFTEN REASONABLY GOOD PAY BECOME SPECIALIZED IN CERTAIN AREAS SPECIALIZATION WILL TRANSFER TO LIMITED PRIVATE 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 ARE CIVIL SERVICE AND ARE PROTECTED FROM POLITICAL INFLUENCE BY FEDERAL LAW
ASK ABOUT STATE POSITIONS

OFTEN LIMITED COURTROOM EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES LIMITED BY FEDERAL LAW

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
LAW ENFORCEMENT

MANY LAWYERS USE THEIR SKILLS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL POLICE AGENCIES
FEDERAL AND STATE BUREAUS OF INVESTIGATION MANY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE THEIR OWN 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.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
JUDICIAL

GENERALLY, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF 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.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS

2. ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
U.S. COURTS HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY AT EACH LEVEL DISTRICT, APPELLATE AND U.S. SUPREME COURT STATE COURTS LIKELY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY AT SUPREME COURT LEVEL AND POSSIBLY AT LOWER LEVELS IN LARGER COURTS DUTIES, SIZE OF OFFICE, AND LOCATIONS VARY.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE

ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS HIRES ATTORNEYS TO OPERATE COURT PROGRAMS AND TO STAFF COURT COMMITTEES
RESEARCH, LIASON WITH JUDGES; COORDINATE JUDICIAL EDUCATION; STAFF COMMITTEES OF JUDGES AND OTHERS OPERATE SPECIAL COURT SERVICES OR OTHER PROGRAMS
PROBATION TECHNOLOGY.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REASONABLY GOOD PAY AND WORKLOAD LOTS OF CONTACTS CAREER POSITIONS SPECIALIZATIONS IN LAW WILL TRANSFER TO PRIVATE SECTOR LIMITED OPENINGS DISCRETION CRITICAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERTISE MAY NOT TRANSFER TO PRIVATE SECTOR LAW OFFICES

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
LEGISLATIVE

IN THE LEGISLATIVE ARENA, THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTORNEY EMPLOYMENT:
WORKING FOR LEGISLATORS; WORKING FOR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES; WORKING FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

DUTIES AND DEGREE OF POLITICAL ACTIVITIES VARY. POSITIONS EXIST AT LOCAL (CITY AND COUNTY), STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
LEGISLATIVE

WORKING FOR A LEGISLATOR

CAMPAIGN STAFF POLICY STAFF.

LOYALTY TO LEGISLATOR CRITICAL. JOB DEPENDS ON SUCCESS OF LEGISLATOR OR PARTY. MASTER THE LEGISLATIVE AND ELECTIVE PROCESS.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
LEGISLATIVE

WORKING FOR A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE:

Most legislatures (state and federal) have committees such 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 you are aligned. Workload can vary and involve long hours during peak times in legislative year.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
LEGISLATIVE

Working for the legislature itself.

Illinois has Legislative Reference Bureau
Drafts legislation for any legislators. Reviews all legislation for proper form. Non-partisan. Workload and hours are extremely long during peak periods of legislative year long days, seven days straight during peak periods. May develop specialty in certain fields, such as tax or school code.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
Questions to ask

For any government position, you will want to 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

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

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
Questions to consider

SKILLS: what are my strengths?

Trial work Speaking Administration Problem-solving Writing Persuading Investigation Research

WORK CONDITIONS?
Do I prefer working alone or as part of team? Can I travel?

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
How to find a position

Answers to these questions will help you determine where to look

Is your geographic location pre-determined?
If so, look at what positions are available in that location.

Do you prefer litigation, transactional, judicial, regulatory, legislative, or administrative work? Do you have a strong preference for criminal or civil work or for a special type of work like work related to children or environment?

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
How to decide

To help you decide and to enhance your resume before 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 these positions during your third year
Summer before your third year is a good time because you can select locations away from Carbondale.

Interview people in these positions; Visit the websites of these agencies; Read about the positions.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
The Future

In the future, there are even more opportunities in 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 these slides are meant to focus on entry or near-entry level positions.

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

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
Resources for finding employment

Websites to visit
www.firstgov.gov
Links by organization to various types of government employment federal, state & local

www.usajobs.opm.gov
Allows you to create a free search account that will notify you via e-mail about federal jobs that match your criteria

www.fedjobs.com
Link to current jobs; Link on Legal and Kindred/GSO901GSO999)

Look for websites by state or local governments

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT:
Helpful Courses

State and Local Government Federal Courts Administrative Law Statutory Interpretation Course in the substantive areas of interest
Environmental Law Criminal International Law Intellectual Property Health Law Immigration -- Family -- School Law -- Tax -- Securities Regulation -- Bankruptcy -- Labor, etc.