In a commencement address delivered to American University's Washington College of Law on May 18, Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer challenged graduating lawyers to make a commitment to public service a significant part of their careers, whether through pro bono work for low income clients or by working directly for the government.  He encouraged the graduates to aim high, but not just themselves as individuals.  "[Be] ambitious for your profession.  Ambitious for the communities in which you live.  Ambitious for the country of which you are a citizen," he said.

Virtually all Federal agencies employ attorneys, as do local and state governments.  Attorney positions in the Federal government are in the "excepted service," which means they are hired directly by the agencies and not covered by the regular civil service hiring procedures.  The individual agency sets the qualification requirements to meet the unique specialized needs of the position.  In general, an LL.B. or J.D. degree and membership in a State bar are required.

Salaries vary widely based on experience and the duties of the position, but a recent search of USAJobs returned open positions with annual salaries ranging from $39,000 up to $182,000.  Though even the highest of this range may pale in comparison to the dizzying figures top lawyers at big-time firms can rake in, many attorneys find that the family-friendly hours and other benefits of working for the government make up for the lower earnings.  Also, a government position is often just one step in a career ladder as attorneys with senior-level experience in the government are considered to be a big client draw for big firms and therefore highly valued.

There are also a number of jobs within the civil service for which a law degree or other legal experience is desired but not necessarily required.  Such jobs include:

• Paralegal Specialist
  
• Hearings and Appeals Specialist
  
• Contract Specialist
  
• Labor Relations Specialist, and
  
• Estate Tax Examiner

To apply for one of the many attorney positions or the related jobs within the Federal government, visit www.usajobs.com or the individual agency's web site.

Additionally, several agencies, the largest being the Social Security Administration, employ a total of over 1,300 Administrative Law Judges to conduct formal hearings.  These positions require over 7 years experience as an attorney.  Unlike the attorney positions, ALJs must complete a competitive examination conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).  To request an application, call the OPM's office of Administrative Law Judges at (202) 606-0810.

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