Oregon DOJ Honors Attorney Program (2021 Placement)
The Oregon Department of Justice is accepting applications for our 2021 Honors Attorney Program. Placement will begin September 2021 following a comprehensive recruitment and evaluation process. Depending on assignment, selected candidates may be located in one of our Salem or Portland offices.
Program
The Oregon Department of Justice Honors Attorney Program is designed to provide outstanding, recent law school graduates who have not practiced law--including those who are serving as judicial clerks--with the opportunity to gain public law experience after law school. As an Honors Attorney, you will immediately handle your own caseload and have the opportunity to work on some of the most pressing issues facing the state. Whether you are interested in complex litigation, criminal law, antitrust, consumer protection, protecting Oregon's children, or constitutional issues, the Honors Attorney Program enables new attorneys to gain invaluable, hands-on experience in a wide range of legal disciplines alongside more experienced attorneys. As an employee of the Oregon Department of Justice, you will work with talented and dedicated attorneys and staff to represent the State of Oregon, its departments, agencies and institutions, and, most importantly, its citizens.
Program Details
The term of appointment is one year, which may be (and customarily is) extended to a second year. Honors Attorneys typically rotate from one division to another after their first year, enabling them to obtain a breadth of experience in diverse areas of the law and to work with colleagues from different divisions in the office. Participants are eligible to apply for permanent positions with the department after completing their first year in the program, but they should not expect the appointment to extend beyond two years.
Oregon Department of Justice
With more than 1300 dedicated employees, including over 300 excellent attorneys, the Oregon Department of Justice is the largest law firm in Oregon. Our goal is to be the best public law office in the nation. We are committed to finding, developing and retaining the finest legal professionals. We offer our employees a challenging, fun, and rewarding work environment with great benefits--resulting in a satisfying career. Because of our size and the volume of our legal work, we are able to entrust each attorney with an appropriate level of responsibility, helping people work productively by facilitating growth and development of their knowledge and skills. We are seeking individuals who are dedicated to justice and motivated to work hard on important legal matters on behalf of the citizens of Oregon.
Assistant Attorneys General, on behalf of the Attorney General, represent the State of Oregon and officers and agencies of the State in most civil and many criminal proceedings. The Department offers a broad range of opportunities for attorneys to work on significant and complex issues that face our state. Assistant Attorneys General work in virtually every area of legal practice including protecting children, fighting crime, defending criminal convictions, protecting consumers and the elderly, protecting our natural resources, fighting discrimination, defending the state and state employees, and providing legal advice to state agencies, officers and elected officials. This work makes a difference to the citizens of Oregon and provides unparalleled career satisfaction and professional opportunities.
Required Attributes
- Must be a recent law school graduate--including those who are serving as judicial clerks. Applicants who have practiced law are not eligible.
- Must be admitted to the Bar of the State of Oregon (or expect to be admitted shortly after appointment in September 2021) and be eligible to practice law before the courts of the State of Oregon at or shortly after the time of appointment.
In reviewing applications for Honors Attorney positions, the Department considers GPA and class rank, the quality of candidates' written work, their background and experience, and their enthusiasm for public service. Applicants most closely matching the requirements and needs of the position will be invited to interview. Application materials may also be reviewed and evaluated for presentation, content, clarity, grammar, spelling, and applicable knowledge and skill(s). Additional applicant screening will depend on the number of qualified applications received.
How To Apply
- Click "Apply" and complete the online application and all supplemental questions. (You do not need to complete the Education or Work History sections. Your resume will be used.)
- Attach Your Letter of Interest.
- Attach Your Resume.
- Attach Your Most Recent Law School Transcript.
- Attach Your Writing Sample. (One that reflects your work. Please do not submit published judicial opinions; they are the judge's work, once published, and not the clerk's work.)
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation. (From persons acquainted with your legal work.)
An application missing any of the above items is incomplete and may not be considered.
Letters of recommendation and transcripts may be sent separately if you do not have them at the time of application. Please send them by email no later than October 1, 2020.
Application Tips
- If possible, please attach documents in PDF format.
- ALL APPLICANTS: You will only have one opportunity to upload the required documents. Drag and drop all attachments into Workday when prompted to upload your resume. If you are concerned that some or all of the required documents didn't attach to your application, please email a copy to doj.recruitment@doj.state.or.us. Material will be associated on your behalf if received before deadline.
- CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES: Login to Workday using your state-issued login and apply via the Career Worklet located on your home page. Using a private account disrupts the hiring process for all internal candidates. Prior to clicking "Apply", update your employee profile to reflect your Education, Skills, and Job History (including your current job).
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Department of Justice is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity.
For additional information regarding benefits and application assistance, click HERE.
Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court St NE
Salem OR, 97301
Phone: (503) 947-4328
Fax: (503) 373-0367