Attorney Positions
ENTRY-LEVEL AND LATERAL HIRING
Bureau of Competition attorneys make a meaningful impact upon the lives of American consumers. Our attorneys consult with economists, interview witnesses, draft pleadings, lead depositions, recommend enforcement actions, and participate in investigations and litigation on a wide range of complex antitrust matters. Our new attorneys benefit from immediate opportunities to take on substantive assignments, a collaborative teamwork environment, extensive training and professional development opportunities, and an excellent federal benefits package.
The Bureau operates separate hiring programs for entry-level and lateral attorney positions. Both programs are highly competitive.
Entry-Level Attorney Recruitment
Every fall the Bureau of Competition recruits students in their final year of law school and judicial clerks for 8 entry-level attorney positions. We accept applications from August 1 through September 15. Positions are highly competitive: we typically receive over 700 applications and many positions are filled through offers made to law students from the Bureau’s Summer Program.
Law clerks with a JD or equivalent are hired through advance commitment at a Grade 11, Step 7 salary scale. Judicial clerks or other candidates with an advanced degree in a related field may be compensated up to the Grade 12, Step 5 level. Exact salary will be determined by an individual applicant’s qualifications.
How to apply
Candidates may email the following materials to bcrecruit@ftc.gov or apply through the on-campus interview process. In the subject line of the email, please include your first and last name and “Entry-Level Attorney Program Application.”
- Cover letter indicating your interest in antitrust and the Bureau
- Résumé
- Transcript (an official copy is not necessary)
- Short writing sample (no more than five pages)
- List of three references
Although email applications are preferred, applications can also be sent to:
Federal Trade Commission
Bureau of Competition, Entry-Level Attorney Program
Human Resources Management Office, H-723
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Due to the highly competitive nature of the program, applications received after the deadline may not be considered.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, Territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Citizenship Requirements
You must meet one of the following categories to be considered: (1) a U.S. citizen; (2) a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B); (3) a person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or (4) is a person who owes allegiance to the United States.
Lateral Attorney Hiring
Candidates who have graduated from law school and are not currently completing judicial clerk-ships should apply through the lateral hiring process. These positions are posted directly on the USAJobs.gov website.
How to apply
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