Recruitment and Application Procedures  
Salary and Promotion Potential Contacts

Please Note: CRS is conducting limited recruitment under the Law Recruit Program in 2004-5. Please note the recruitment and application procedures described below.

The CRS Law Recruit Program offers law students the opportunity for permanent employment as legislative attorneys with the CRS American Law Division. The program is only open to law students in their final year of law school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens (or noncitizens who meet certain immigration and other legal requirements)

The American Law Division occasionally announces opportunities for those with law degrees. These openings are listed on the CRS Employment Opportunities Web Page [http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/]. Attorneys may also sign up at that site for e-mail notification of vacancies that may become available in the future in the Division and throughout CRS.

Recruitment and Application Procedures

The recruitment and application process involves three steps: (1) an initial recruitment interview, (2) a formal application package, and (3) if invited, an on-site interview.

First, interested candidates must complete an initial recruitment interview before proceeding to the second, formal application stage of the process. Initial recruitment interviews are generally conducted at selected regional job fairs and recruitment conferences. If a candidate has not had the opportunity to attend such fairs or conferences, recruitment interviews may also be conducted in response to individual expressions of interest. The Division cannot respond to all correspondence. Only expressions of interest that address specifically the candidate’s qualifications and interest in legal research and writing in a public service context and demonstrate strong research, writing and oral communication skills will be considered. Such expressions of interest should consist of a cover letter and resume and be sent to the e-mail address below by October 1.

Second, candidates who complete the recruitment interview may submit a formal application. A formal application package consists of a resume and Application for Federal Employment form, law school transcript or self-prepared list and evidence of ability to research and write legal analytical documents. Those applications typically must be submitted by mid-December.

Application packages are examined by division recruiters and selected applicants are then invited to a more in-depth interview, held in the American Law Division in Washington, D.C. Such interviews are generally conducted in January and February and successful candidates are usually notified by March 1. Offers are finalized upon graduation from law school and attorneys typically report for work in September.

Salary and Promotion Potential

CRS Law Recruits typically are hired as law clerks at the GS-11 level (approx. $51,000), which requires graduation from law school but does not require bar membership. Bar membership must be obtained within 14 months of hire, at which time, Law Recruits are converted to the position of legislative attorney, which carries a promotion potential to the GS-15 level (approx. $100,000 - 130,000). Attorneys are eligible for promotion after one year in grade and demonstrated performance at the next highest grade.

More Information

If you have questions about the Law Recruit Program or the American Law Division, contact Richard Ehlke, Chief of the American Law Division, at rehlke@crs.loc.gov.