Public Works

Presidential Management Fellows Program - Deadlines September 23 (Law School) and 25 (PMF Application)

Quick Overview

As many of you know, the Presidential Management Fellows Program (“PMF”) is an excellent way to enter federal government service after graduation.  The Office of Personnel Management runs the PMF program, which was created by Executive Order in 1977 to attract the most talented graduate students from all disciplines to become future federal government leaders.  PMF Finalists apply for fellowships (2-year jobs) with the approximately 80 federal agencies that participate in the program.

Last year, roughly 9100 graduate students from across the country competed to be finalists and about 850 obtained them.  Virginia Law had 4 PMF finalists.  Our alumni PMF Fellows work in agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Space and Missile Systems Center.  Read more general information about the PMF program here.

Selection Process for Finalists

PMF Finalists are selected through the following structured process:

(1)    applying on-line for the PMF program;

(2)    getting nominated by their school;

(3)    taking an on-line assessment that measures leadership skills and judgment; and

(4)    if chosen as a semi-finalist, completing an in-person interview that also measures leadership skills and judgment.  Read here for more information about the selection process.

For the first time in program history, the 4^th phase (in-person assessment) will no longer involve  oral presentations and group interactions at an assessment center.  Instead, trained staff will conduct 2-member panel interviews with semi-finalists that will last approximatley 45 minutes to an hour.  Interviews will focus on behavioral questions. 

Fellowship Placement with Agencies 

Once chosen as finalists, students begin the placement phase. This starts with attending a PMF career fair in the spring at which many finalists find jobs with particular agencies.  For those that don’t, they have 1 year from the the date they are announced as finalists to find an agency match.  It’s important to remember that PMF Fellows are not guaranteed jobs.  Also, jobs for PMF Fellows are typically for non-legal positions, although it’s possible to obtain a legal job. 

PMF appointments last 2 years. Fellows who succesfully complete their appointments are guaranteed continued federal employment.  Read here for more information.

Timelines

Come to our Public Service Center panel on the Presidential Management Fellows Program on September 9^th at 12 p.m.  in WB 105 to ask your questions about the selection and job placement processes.  We’ll have Susan Beall ’11, currently at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to talk about her experiences, as well as our staff.

Read the PMF website timelines and site in full, as there are many details you’ll need to keep in mind. Here are the timelines (student deadlines in orange): Download PMF Timeline

Questions?

Email us at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu and attend our September 9^th panel at 12 p.m.  in WB 105. 

Good luck!  We hope you’ll think about applying.

 

Careers in Administrative Law

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join the American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice, Career Services Office, and the Public Service Center for a program on Careers in Administrative Law. The event will feature representatives (see below) from federal and state agencies and law firms, who will give an overview of career paths and opportunities available within administrative law. At the conclusion of the program, time will be allotted for students to speak individually with these representatives. Students considering internships or careers in administrative law are highly encouraged to attend. A light breakfast will be served for all attendees

Caplin Pavilion
Friday, April 8
8:30am-10:45am

If you are interested in attending this program, you must RSVP to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by Tuesday, April 5. After the jump - list of confirmed speakers.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join us for a brown bag presentation with Chief Judge Robert Lesnick '77 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.  Judge Lesnick will discuss his responsibilities as FMSHRC Administrative Law Judge and will offer advice on how students should approach their federal government job search in the current economy.  The Center's staff will also be available to answer questions regarding internship and permanent opportunities with federal government agencies.

Wednesday, February 8, at noon (SL298).

Defense Intelligence Agency Recruiting Event - February 1 | National Security Presentation - Feb. 21

By YARED GETACHEW

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) will hold a recruitment event on Tuesday, February 1 from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel (Downtown Mall). The DIA is a Department of Defense combat support agency and an important member of the United States Intelligence Community. With more than 16,500 military and civilian employees worldwide, DIA is a major producer and manager of foreign military intelligence. They provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners, in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.

FCIP no more?

By Yared Getachew '98

Over the past year or so, we have advised students interested in pursuing entry-level non-PMF, non-honors positions to consider a little-known program, the Federal Career Intern Program, created under Executive Order 13162.  In a blog posting, I recommended this terrific entryway into occupations that allow for exceptional formal training and development with some agencies, including the DHS, EPA, and DOJ.  However, it looks like this hiring program is on hold. 

On November 2, 2010, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ruled that the FCIP violates civil service rules at least as it relates to veterans' preference.  In its final Order, the Board determined:

[The FCIP] is inconsistent with the Civil Service Rules that govern placement of positions in the excepted service under 5 U.S.C.§ 33201(1) - a law relating to veterans' preference - because it allows an agency to invoke an appointing authority reserved for "positions . . . for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination" after the agency holds a competitive examination that yields highly-qualified preference-eligible candidates.

If the named defendants in this case - the Office of Personal Management and the Department of Veterans Affairs - appeal the Board's decision, we will let you know. In the meantime, please continue to remain vigilant for opportunities posted on the government's clearinghouse, USAJobs.  And continue to visit us at the PSC.

DOJ CRM

By Yared Getachew '98

Last week, Jennifer Rickets 88' gave us an excellent overview of the Department of Justice's volunteer internship program and the responsibilities of the Civil Division.

This Friday, November 19, at 12:00pm in WB126, Jonathan  Rusch '80, Deputy Chief, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, will offer a presentation about summer volunteer internship opportunities in his division.  DOJ - CRM enforces federal criminal laws except those specifically assigned to other divisions.  The division's sections and the 93 United States Attorney Offices oversee criminal matters under more than 900 statutes. There are numerous sections, offices, and units in the division.  Please join us with your questions.

Partnership for Public Service Webinar

Today's webinar Federal Internships: Find and Apply for Summer 2011 was highly informative. Partnership offered several handouts, including its powerpoint presentation, "resources for students and jobseekers," "finding a federal internship," "sample internships," and a summary of internships at the US Department of State.  Virginia Law students interested in reviewing these handouts may stop by the Public Service Center after Monday, October 25.

Anne Coyle '98 | Federal Career Intern Program

By Yared Getachew '98

Many thanks to Anne Coyle '98, Assistant Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 for her presentation today. Thanks also to those students who came to hear Anne's talk on internship and entry-level opportunities at EPA Region 5. 

3Ls: during her presentation Anne mentioned the FCIP - the Federal Career Intern Program as an alternative entryway into the EPA (and other federal agencies).  I mentioned a blog posting I wrote last year on this program.  Please find it here.

2011 Presidential Management Fellows Presentation

By Yared Getachew '98

Reminder: today, at noon, in WB101, the Public Service Center will give a presentation on the nuts and bolts of the PMF Program application process.  Smitha Dante ’10, Program Analyst with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, will offer a frank assessment of the application and appointment process. Also joining us will be Lauren Roscoe '10, Presidential Management Fellow with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs & Border Protection, and Alice Beauheim '09, PMF finalist.

Photo credit: OTS

Federal Election Commission: Tuesday, September 21, 2010

By Yared Getachew

Please join us for a brown bag presentation on careers in election law and campaign finance on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at 12:00-1:00pm in WB101.  The speaker is Adav Noti, Esq. of the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) Office of General Counsel.

The FEC is an independent regulatory agency established by Congress in 1975 to: (1) enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act; (2) disclose campaign finance information; and (3) oversee public funding of presidential elections.  The Office of General Counsel consists of five divisions - Policy, Enforcement, Litigation, General Law, and Office of Complaints Examination. The OGC hires law clerks each summer. 

Mr. Noti is an attorney in the Litigation Division.