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Post by dshawn on Jun 19, 2018 10:32:46 GMT -5
Does anyone have class action litigation experience? This job may be for you.
And you would need to get on it toot sweet.
link
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 19, 2018 11:06:43 GMT -5
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Post by dshawn on Jun 19, 2018 11:34:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the "Frannch" lesson SPN Lifer (said in my best Better Off Dead mom voice). I will note that my English derivation has worked its way into the lexicon and, I believe, is an entirely acceptable use of the same. Much like the law, I only try to practice (speak and write) as much of the English language as I actually know. Forget about French. It is all Greek to me.
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Post by dshawn on Jun 19, 2018 11:37:39 GMT -5
link
I need lessons on link creation in this forum.
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Post by Burt Macklin on Jun 19, 2018 12:06:21 GMT -5
Excellent suggestion. The USAO (D.D.C.) had a reputation as a high-stress, high-turnover office, so a good opportunity to get a foot in the door.
Agreed 100% that it is a good opportunity to make the jump into an USAO - it is indeed a much larger office that can be more accessible for hiring compared to other offices. But for anyone considering it, make sure you know what you are signing up for. As noted, it is not your typical USAO. The first several years are in the Superior Court division - while it can vary, it is often closer to being a junior ADA than the sort of high level work one envisions with being an AUSA. Most of the folks I know that started there bolted to a Main Justice job once their commitment was up, versus staying in that office.
Also, keep in mind the pay scale for AUSAs is not GS - when I was looking to lateral from Main to a local USAO, it would have meant a significant pay hit from what I was making as a 15 (which, in DC, does not go terribly far as it is).
The comments about the USAO wanting to see bona fides re: connections to the local area is spot on. If you have a non-local address on your resume/cover letter, make sure you address that (ha, ha) in the cover letter. They want to see folks who want to live in that local area will be in that office for the longer term.
Good luck!
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 19, 2018 12:13:15 GMT -5
link
I need lessons on link creation in this forum.
Example: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posthaste">posthaste</a> <video src="https://youtu.be/QhW7rpFhr2k"></video> Change angled brackets above (< & >) to square brackets ([ & ]) to make a link. As you have done in your post above, dshawn, and I have adapted immediately below. Or you can simply cut and paste the URL, which will be automatically converted to a clickable link by the Bulletin Board software of this forum -- or to a video if that is what it links to. www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/498709900 N.B., This embedded video has been inserted solely for demonstration purposes. Too many such videos may cause older cell phones to freeze up, sabotaging the utility of the thread to such users. Thus, they are best reserved for the more entertainment-oriented discussions. (Instead of the video command, simply inserting the URL creates the same result.) I knew the meaning of your colloquialism through context and prior hearing, but not the etymology. So I looked it up. And I thought one or more other readers might have the same curiosity, but not the time. So I shared.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 19, 2018 12:26:06 GMT -5
The comments about the USAO wanting to see bona fides re: connections to the local area is spot on. If you have a non-local address on your resume/cover letter, make sure you address that (ha, ha) in the cover letter. They want to see folks who want to live in that local area will be in that office for the longer term. Contrary to an argument upthread, I still maintain there is nothing dishonest or deceptive about getting a local cell phone number. It is a sign of your commitment to the prospective new locale. I have a nice collection of cuff links from agencies for which I once aspired to work. (!)
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Post by dshawn on Jun 19, 2018 13:49:30 GMT -5
Great 80s movie. "I want my two dollars!"
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 19, 2018 14:12:58 GMT -5
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Post by qwk01 on Jun 19, 2018 14:46:57 GMT -5
Excellent suggestion. The USAO (D.D.C.) had a reputation as a high-stress, high-turnover office, so a good opportunity to get a foot in the door.
Agreed 100% that it is a good opportunity to make the jump into an USAO - it is indeed a much larger office that can be more accessible for hiring compared to other offices. But for anyone considering it, make sure you know what you are signing up for. As noted, it is not your typical USAO. The first several years are in the Superior Court division - while it can vary, it is often closer to being a junior ADA than the sort of high level work one envisions with being an AUSA. Most of the folks I know that started there bolted to a Main Justice job once their commitment was up, versus staying in that office.
Also, keep in mind the pay scale for AUSAs is not GS - when I was looking to lateral from Main to a local USAO, it would have meant a significant pay hit from what I was making as a 15 (which, in DC, does not go terribly far as it is).
The comments about the USAO wanting to see bona fides re: connections to the local area is spot on. If you have a non-local address on your resume/cover letter, make sure you address that (ha, ha) in the cover letter. They want to see folks who want to live in that local area will be in that office for the longer term.
Good luck!
How difficult is it to transfer to Main Justice or another office once in? I wouldn't want to settle in DC but would consider staying there temporarily. My wife has lived there in the past and isn't a fan of moving back. We like it where we are and where ever I land the goal will always be to get back here eventually.
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Post by Burt Macklin on Jun 19, 2018 15:17:15 GMT -5
Agreed 100% that it is a good opportunity to make the jump into an USAO - it is indeed a much larger office that can be more accessible for hiring compared to other offices. But for anyone considering it, make sure you know what you are signing up for. As noted, it is not your typical USAO. The first several years are in the Superior Court division - while it can vary, it is often closer to being a junior ADA than the sort of high level work one envisions with being an AUSA. Most of the folks I know that started there bolted to a Main Justice job once their commitment was up, versus staying in that office.
Also, keep in mind the pay scale for AUSAs is not GS - when I was looking to lateral from Main to a local USAO, it would have meant a significant pay hit from what I was making as a 15 (which, in DC, does not go terribly far as it is).
The comments about the USAO wanting to see bona fides re: connections to the local area is spot on. If you have a non-local address on your resume/cover letter, make sure you address that (ha, ha) in the cover letter. They want to see folks who want to live in that local area will be in that office for the longer term.
Good luck!
How difficult is it to transfer to Main Justice or another office once in? I wouldn't want to settle in DC but would consider staying there temporarily. My wife has lived there in the past and isn't a fan of moving back. We like it where we are and where ever I land the goal will always be to get back here eventually.
Depending on what you want to do, some of the Main Justice Divisions have offices outside of the DC area. Antitrust, for example, has Chicago, NYC, and San Fran offices. Crim Div. was standing up the health care fraud task forces in a lot of nice areas, including Miami. So Main is not always limited to DC.
I did not see a ton of lateral movement from the various Main divisions and sections. The problem is how stove piped and specialized you get. If you spent a few years doing counter terror cases at National Security Division, will the Public Integrity folks in Crim or Criminal Tax folks really want you? Skills transfer generally but not specifically. I was in a white collar unit, so there was sometimes movement between us and Fraud or the Money Laundering sections in Crim Div, but I would not say it was common. We tended to hire a lot of AUSAs that had white collar experience but it did not go the other way around, with folks leaving our section to become an AUSA. I have to think the aforementioned pay hit makes that a pretty tough choice. That said, the USAO with which I worked the most had a number of AUSAs that bailed from Main, so your mileage may vary.
Hiring is a difficult thing for the various offices and they want folks that will stay in that particular office. It is not like being an ALJ where you can just transfer locations with no career consequence. If you are willing to put in a good 3-4 years while pulling your weight, there will not be hard feelings if you then try to move back to your dream location. But if you are angling for a better assignment from jump, that might earn some bad blood from TPTB.
Just my $.02.
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Post by neufenland on Jun 19, 2018 15:40:48 GMT -5
How difficult is it to transfer to Main Justice or another office once in? I wouldn't want to settle in DC but would consider staying there temporarily. My wife has lived there in the past and isn't a fan of moving back. We like it where we are and where ever I land the goal will always be to get back here eventually.
Depending on what you want to do, some of the Main Justice Divisions have offices outside of the DC area. Antitrust, for example, has Chicago, NYC, and San Fran offices. Crim Div. was standing up the health care fraud task forces in a lot of nice areas, including Miami. So Main is not always limited to DC.
I did not see a ton of lateral movement from the various Main divisions and sections. The problem is how stove piped and specialized you get. If you spent a few years doing counter terror cases at National Security Division, will the Public Integrity folks in Crim or Criminal Tax folks really want you? Skills transfer generally but not specifically. I was in a white collar unit, so there was sometimes movement between us and Fraud or the Money Laundering sections in Crim Div, but I would not say it was common. We tended to hire a lot of AUSAs that had white collar experience but it did not go the other way around, with folks leaving our section to become an AUSA. I have to think the aforementioned pay hit makes that a pretty tough choice. That said, the USAO with which I worked the most had a number of AUSAs that bailed from Main, so your mileage may vary.
Hiring is a difficult thing for the various offices and they want folks that will stay in that particular office. It is not like being an ALJ where you can just transfer locations with no career consequence. If you are willing to put in a good 3-4 years while pulling your weight, there will not be hard feelings if you then try to move back to your dream location. But if you are angling for a better assignment from jump, that might earn some bad blood from TPTB.
Just my $.02.
Civil sometimes has detail opportunities with other offices at Main. So, you can go do something else for six months to a year and come back “home.” I don’t know about Crim, though.
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Post by foghorn on Jun 20, 2018 14:11:19 GMT -5
Forget all this attorney stuff. Forget even the ALJ/IJ/Judge-ish kinda sorta positions (attorney examiner, hearing master, mastering hearing, etc). Salarywise, here's the real deal: www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/502831400
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Post by chicagoirish on Jun 20, 2018 14:40:16 GMT -5
The details are a great part about DoJ. I only know about how it works at DoJ Main, but I have friends who have detailed out to areas as varied as asset fraud, 9/11 Victims Compensation fund, USAO in MD, USAO in VA, and immigration. Great way to learn some new skills, network, build your resume, and perhaps avoid burn-out doing the same thing for 20 years.
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Post by foghorn on Jun 20, 2018 15:00:34 GMT -5
Congrats! I've been referred many times for AUSA positions but that's as far as I ever get. My heavy defense background could have something to do with it . Good luck to you and I hope you get an interview. I’ve been referred over a dozen times as well, with 8 years of prosecution experience and 4 years law enforcement civil experience. Have not been invited to a single interview. I often wondered, is it me... do I smell bad? Why always the bridesmaid and never the bride? And then I realized two things— I’ve always applied to out of state openings, which I hear on this board isn’t favored, and that part on the application that asks for current salary might scare them away since, monetarily, I’m not doing too bad. So, since my whole goal is to leave my current city, and I’m unlikely to get a non-local slot, I gave up on applying to USDOJ and am focusing on other agencies. I have the same situation--so I try to address their concerns about it. I point out that I'm applying for ALJ as I presume that shows I am in fact ready to move, I invite them to ask me about the city to show I have an in depth knowledge, that the idea has full suppor tof the spouse, etc. I'm thinking of adding if you have reservations why not give me a call to see if your assumptions are correct? Working on wording that won't make it sound desperate or challenging but explain that we have no real interface with them so it's akin to telling the jury that we don't have the ability to speak with them only to them so we have to guess what questions they'll have so if we haven't covered something they may have a concern about it's not due to lack of caring (though in this case if they have a question they could call! For once!) All that being said, I believe that a certain number of ads are for positions where there is already a favored nominee and the ad is just because they have to advertise, in which case I'd rather not have to be involved in the tawdry sham of the pointless interview. For a number of others--perhaps all the others--there are a terrific number of applicants, many of whom may have the edge of having dealt with the particular part of the CFR that position involves itself with. To that end I try to show what parts of my background deal with issues analogous to the issues involved in that CFR section, or the statute, maybe even citing some cases to show I really care and am not just churning out resumes to anyone--just almost anyone. Let's face it, most of us wouldn't be reading this site avidly if we had interviewed and were now ensconced in success city.
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Post by qwk01 on Jun 21, 2018 12:58:46 GMT -5
I got the dreaded "thanks, but no thanks" email for the AFPD position yesterday. The email came directly from the FPD so I'm tempted to respond but just not sure what to say. Anyone want to offer some suggestions on what to say to leave a lasting impression that might get me serious consideration in the future? I may just let it go but with the email coming directly from him I feel I have his attention, lol.
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Post by foghorn on Jun 21, 2018 13:19:04 GMT -5
qwk01 I think if you didn't already send a thank you note now is the time to say you understand that they had a large number of very qualified people to interview, you appreciated the full consideration that was given, you were very impressed with the office, and you hope that in the future they will consider your application or some similar wording.
At least you got the interview.
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Post by qwk01 on Jun 21, 2018 14:35:01 GMT -5
qwk01 I think if you didn't already send a thank you note now is the time to say you understand that they had a large number of very qualified people to interview, you appreciated the full consideration that was given, you were very impressed with the office, and you hope that in the future they will consider your application or some similar wording. At least you got the interview. Oh, I wish! There was no interview. Sorry, I failed to mention this was in response to my application. My suspicion is they already knew who they were hiring when they posted the position. It was only advertised on the agency website (not even the main FD.org site) and I just happened to see it because I stalk their page. My contact there said she would put in a word but warned me that their hiring is "very political". With no interview I was surprised to get the rejection email directly from the FPD.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 21, 2018 15:10:35 GMT -5
I would still take the opportunity to thank the P.D. effusively for the time and attention extended to you and the other candidates.
Conclude with a separate sentence / paragraph about your ongoing interest in contributing to the team and in being considered for any future openings.
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Post by foghorn on Jun 25, 2018 0:10:13 GMT -5
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