Honors Program Participating Components

Antitrust Division 

The Antitrust Division offers twelve permanent positions and one two-year Fellowship opportunity in the locations listed below. Antitrust Division candidates may designate their interest in specific locations or the Fellowship on the application.

• Washington, DC  (9)
• Chicago (1)
• New York (1)
• San Francisco (1)
• Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General's Honors Fellowship (1) (Washington, D.C.) (Letters of recommendation required - see Fellowship page for details.) 

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Civil Division

The Civil Division offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C. Civil Division candidates may designate their interest in specific branches on the application, but generally not to specific sections within branches.

• Federal Programs Branch  (6)
• Office of Immigration Litigation 
  • Appellate Section (2)
  • District Court Section (3)  
• Appellate Section (3)
• Commercial Litigation Branch 
  • Intellectual Property Section (1)
  • Fraud Section (2)
  • National Courts Section (2)
  • Corporate/Financial Litigation Section (1)
• Consumer Protection Branch (2)
• Torts Branch 
  • Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section (1) 
  • Constitutional & Specialized Tort Litigation (1)
  • Federal Tort Claims Act Litigation Section (1)
  • Environmental Torts Litigation Section (1)

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Civil Rights Division

The Civil Rights Division offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C. from among the sections listed below. Civil Rights Division candidates apply to the Division as a whole, with section preference identified at a later time. The number of positions to be filled is subject to availability of funds.

• Appellate Section
• Criminal Section  
• Disability Rights Section
• Educational Opportunities Section
• Employment Litigation Section
• Housing & Civil Enforcement Section
• Immigrant and Employee Rights Section
• Special Litigation Section
• Voting Section

Criminal Division 

The Criminal Division offers permanent and time limited fellowship positions in Washington, D.C. Criminal Division candidates may designate their interest in the positions listed below on the application. 

• Trial Attorney (5)
  • The Criminal Division offers six permanent positions with assignment to one of its sections/offices in Washington, D.C.  Specific section/office assignments are determined later.  Incoming Honors Program hires must agree to a four year commitment.
• Asset Forfeiture Fellowship Program (4)
  • The Criminal Division offers a three-year fellowship with the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) in Washington, D.C.  Incoming Fellows must agree to a three year commitment.  

Cyber Fellowship

The Cyber Fellowship offers three-year appointments in the Washington, D.C. area which may be converted to permanent. Fellows will rotate through multiple Department components that protect the nation from emerging and critical cyber threats—including the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the National Security Division, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices—and can expect to investigate and prosecute a broad range of the cyber cases performed by the Department (e.g., state-sponsored cyber threats; transactional criminal groups; infrastructure and ransomware attacks; and the use of cryptocurrency and money laundering to finance and profit from cyber-based crimes). Fellows must agree to a three-year commitment and be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance. 

Drug Enforcement Administration

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offers a permanent position and three time-limited appointments in the Washington, D.C. area. DEA candidates may designate their interest in the positions listed below on the application.

• Office of Chief Counsel (2)
  • The DEA Office of Chief Counsel offers a permanent position in Northern Virginia.  
• Administrative Law Judges (3) 
  • DEA Administrative Law Judges offer one-year clerkships in Arlington, VA. These are not prosecutorial positions. Initial appointments do not exceed 14 months. DEA may extend these appointments for a second year.

Environment & Natural Resources Division

The Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C. from among the sections listed below. ENRD candidates apply to the Division as a whole, with section preference identified at a later time.

• Appellate
• Environmental Crimes
• Environmental Defense
• Environmental Enforcement
• Indian Resources
• Land Acquisition
• Law & Policy
• Natural Resources
• Wildlife & Marine Resources

 Executive Office for Immigration Review 

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) offers two-year judicial clerkships and time-limited appointments that may be extended or converted to permanent positions. EOIR candidates may designate their interest in specific sub-organizations on the application.  U.S. citizenship required.

Nationwide Opportunities

• Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ) (50 attorneys for Immigration Courts nationwide with geographic preferences to be identified after selection for interview)

Falls Church, VA

• Office of General Counsel (OGC) (4) 
• Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) (8) BIA requests a two-year commitment. 
• Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) (1) 
• Office of Policy (OP) (5)
  • Three HP hires may be assigned to OP's front office and to each of OP's divisions (Communications and Legislative Affairs Division, Immigration Law Division, Legal Research and Education Services Division, and Recognition and Accreditation Program) on a rotational basis. Two HP hires will be exclusively assigned to the Recognition and Accreditation Program. 
• Office of the Director (OD) (4)
  • In addition to four positions listed above, now aligned under OD are Legal Access Programs (LAP) (3) (HP hires may be assigned to programs such as the Legal Orientation Program, the Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Alien Children, or the National Qualified Representative Program.)

Federal Bureau of Prisons 

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C.  

The Gaye L. Tenoso Indian Country Fellowship  

The Indian Country Fellowship (ICF) offers a three-year time-limited appointment with a participating U.S. Attorney's Office with an Indian Country mission. Placement is determined by mutual consent of the incoming hire and the U.S. Attorney. Open to all eligible Honors Program applicants, including law students graduating in the current academic year. Fellows must meet District bar admission requirements within 12 months of appointment. Some Districts require bar admission in the State where the District is located and many Tribes have bar requirements. Visit the Indian Country Fellowship page for detailed information about the Fellowship, the participating jurisdictions, District and Tribal bar admission requirements, and the work the Fellow will perform at each District. 

Participating Districts are:  

District of New Mexico, District of Nevada, Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Washington

Tax Division  

The Tax Division offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C. Tax Division candidates may designate their interest in specific sections on the application. The Tax Division requests a three-year commitment.

• Tax (Civil Section) (15)
• Tax (Criminal Section) (9)

U.S. Attorneys' Offices

Open only to law school graduates. Some Districts require incoming attorneys to agree to a service commitment, but this varies by District. Formally participating Districts are listed here. Additional Districts, participating informally, are listed below. Candidates may designate their interest in specific Districts on the application.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona (2)
The District of Arizona offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions in Phoenix or Tucson, AZ. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in, have completed, or will soon begin a judicial clerkship. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California (3-5)

The Central District of California offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions.  Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California (1)

The Southern District of California offers a permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) position in the Criminal Division in San Diego, CA. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership before entering on duty. 

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Superior Court Division (2)

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney positions for the Superior Court Division, Washington, D.C. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

The District of Columbia requests a four-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida (1- 2)

The Southern District of Florida offers two-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointments (with possible conversion to permanent). Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Trustee Program 

The United States Trustee Program (USTP) offers two-year time-limited appointments that may be converted to permanent with placement in its 90 field offices across the country (geographic preferences to be identified after selection for interview). U.S. citizenship required.

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Management Staff  (1)

The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Management Staff offers a permanent position in Washington, D.C.  

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of General Counsel  (1)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) offers a permanent position in Washington, D.C. or Northern Virginia. FBI candidates apply to the Division as a whole. Selectees are assigned to specific branch with the OGC, and assignments are dependent on available openings. Selectees may handle legal issues including, but not limited to: National Security Law, Criminal Law, Cyber Law, Civil & Administrative Litigation, Privacy & Civil Liberties Law, Fiscal & Property Law, and Science & Technology Law.

The number of positions to be filled is subject to availability of funds and bar passage is required to maintain the position. Additionally, selectees must be eligible for a Top Secret security clearance and successfully pass the FBI background investigation. For more information about the FBI’s security clearance requirements, click here. U.S. citizenship required.

Office of Information Policy (1)

The Office of Information Policy (OIP) offers a permanent position in Washington, D.C. 

Office of Legislative Affairs (2)

The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) offers two-year time-limited appointments that may be converted to permanent in Washington, D.C. 

National Security Division (3-5)

The National Security Division (NSD) offers permanent positions in Washington, D.C. Honors Program attorneys are asked to agree to a three-year commitment and must be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance. 

Office for Access to Justice (1)

The Office of Access to Justice (ATJ) offers a permanent position in Washington, D.C.  

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California (2)  

The Eastern District of California offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions in Sacramento or Fresno. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

The Eastern District of California requests a three-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California (2)

The Northern District of California offers two-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointments that may be converted to permanent. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership before entering on duty.  

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado (1)

The District of Colorado offers a two-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointment (with possible conversion to permanent). Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

The District of Colorado requests a two-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida (3)

The Middle District of Florida offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana (1)

The Southern District of Indiana offers a two-year Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) position (end date not to exceed 9/30/2026) in its Criminal Division in Indianapolis. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (1-2)

The Eastern District of Louisiana offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico (1)

The District of New Mexico offers a one-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointment (with possible conversion to permanent). Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (2-3)

The Southern District of New York offers permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

The Southern District of New York requests a three-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas (1)  

The Northern District of Texas offers a two-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointment that may be converted to permanent in the Criminal Division in Lubbock, Texas. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership before entering on duty.  

The Northern District of Texas requests a two-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas (1)

The Southern District of Texas offers a two-year time-limited Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) appointment that may be converted to permanent in Houston, Texas. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Judicial clerkship experience is strongly preferred. Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership before entering on duty.  

The Southern District of Texas requests a two-year commitment.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington (1)

The Western District of Washington offers a permanent Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) position. Open only to eligible applicants who have a J.D. and are serving in (or will soon begin) a qualifying eligibility preserving activity and are admitted to a bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) or have taken a bar exam (results pending in fall 2023). Current law students are not eligible and will not be considered. Candidates must be admitted to practice and have an active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) before entering on duty.

The Western District of Washington requests a three-year commitment.