Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division

    The Division serves public lawyers by offering programs, publications, and online resources specifically for government, public sector & military lawyers, as well as interested law students.

    Touhy Regulations: Assessing Requests and Obtaining Federal Agency Documents and Witnesses

    Did you know that federal agencies have "Touhy" regulations that authorize agencies to refuse to provide witnesses and documents? Join us for a practical, informative seminar on the often confusing Touhy rules. Whether you handle your agency’s Touhy requests or represent litigants seeking documents/testimony from a federal agency, you’ll find this program helpful.

    CLE Webinar - Wednesday, February 13, 2019 @ 1:00 PM Eastern

    Program attendees will learn:
    • What are the basic Touhy criteria
    • How Touhy regulations are applied by federal agencies
    • Ways to compel and resist covered materials
    • Strategies, cases and practice tips
    • Special issues including Sixth Amendment and whistleblower considerations

    New Podcasts!

    "Compelling Conversations with Colleagues" is a series of audio podcasts that examines different lawyer positions within the public sector. Hear from a city attorney, a county attorney, a public defender, a prosecutor, a federal agency attorney, an AUSA, and a JAG officer about what their day-to-day is like, and the pathways that led them there. Each podcast is short, and contains a wealth of information for young lawyers or law students who are interested in a career in the public sector.

    Federal Agency Attorney
    City Attorney
    County Attorney
    Public Defender
    Prosecutor
    JAG Officer
    Assistant U.S. Attorney
    State Assistant Attorney General
    Law Student

    Transitioning to Civilian Life: A Roadmap for Military Lawyers

    The Division's Transitioning to Civilian Life: A Roadmap for Military Lawyers resource has been updated! Here you will find résumé, cover letter, interviewing and networking tips from military lawyers who have successfully made the transition to civilian lawyer.

    Learn - More

    Attention Members

    Attention Members

    Loan Forgiveness is in serious danger!

    In 2007, Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Under PSLF, those who make 120 monthly payments (10 years) on their federal graduate student loans while employed full-time in qualified public service jobs are eligible to have their remaining balance forgiven. Congress is on the verge of eliminating the program. There is currently no guarantee that anyone would be grandfathered into the PSLF program. That means that people working in public service jobs over the past 8 years could receive no federal loan forgiveness at all. This is your chance to save #loan4giveness before it’s too late. Get involved NOW!

    Learn - More

    Legal Aid Defender

    Legal Aid Defender

    Act Now!

    Attention Lawyers: Funding for the Legal Services Corporation is in danger of being cut, potentially denying crucial legal services to the most vulnerable Americans, including veterans, domestic violence victims, and disaster victims. You can help! Sign up to be a Legal Aid Defender and make your voice heard. The ABA will even hand-deliver your personalized Defender card to your Members of Congress in Washington, DC by a legal aid advocate from your state.

    Stand up for Legal Aid - Learn More

    ABA Veterans Legal Services Initiative

    The ABA's new Veterans Legal Services Initiative will position the ABA to lead a holistic, sustainable effort to ensure that veterans have access to justice and receive the legal support they, their families, and their caregivers deserve.

    Learn - More

    Cultivating Civility

    Created in partnership with the ABA's Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, this program examines issues surrounding civility in today's legal practice. Jill Mariani, an assistant district attorney with the New York County District Attorney's Office moderates the program and the panelists are Dick A. Semerdjian, a partner in Schwartz, Semerdjian Ballard and Cauley, LLP, and current chair of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section; and Gregory Brooker, chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.

    Listen - now

    Pro Bono Lawyers Needed

    Volunteer lawyers are needed to assist immigration legal service providers across the nation.

    For more info:

    There are also volunteer Law Student Opportunities.

    Diverse Pathways

    Diverse Pathways to Success in the Public Sector – free audio programs below Developing a satisfying legal career requires thoughtful decisions about our job choices. Public sector lawyers face challenges that differ from those in the private sector. Learn about diverse paths to success in the public sector from: the Hon. Susan Burke, Hennepin County District Court, Minneapolis, MN; Jenae Naumann, Assistant City Attorney, Tempe, AZ; Steve Vieux, attorney, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC; and Anne Dewey-Balzhiser (moderator), former General Counsel of two federal agencies. This program is divided into four 20-minute segments, which you can hear separately:

    PowerPoint presentations

    Getting Hired – Segment 1
    Job Performance – Segment 2
    Career Advancement – Segment 3
    Work-Life Balance – Segment 4

    Print out the accompanying four PowerPoint presentations first, which contain slides for each of the four segments. Click on each segment to learn more about the topic. The panelists are introduced on the audio in Segment 1. Their biographies are provided below.

    Panelist Bios
    Tips For Moving Up

    Latest Job Postings

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    ROLI is Seeking Current and Former Prosecutor Volunteers

    The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) seeks current or former prosecutors with at least 5 years of experience to provide technical expertise for international projects as part of ROLI’s Pro Bono Legal Specialist program. Interested candidates are asked to complete this survey to assist ROLI in matching skills sets with specific assignments. Note that completing the survey will not necessarily result in an assignment. Survey information will be kept entirely confidential and stored in ABA ROLI's secure Experts Database. Specific questions or inquiries can be directed to jobs@americanbar.org.

    Learn More

    New GPSLD Committees!

    We've just created an International Pro Bono Committee and a Hot Topics Committee. The International Pro Bono Committee will provide members with information about pro bono opportunities around the world. Opportunities will require a variety of time commitments - from short term (several days) to longer (2-3 weeks or several months). There are also opportunities to volunteer in the US on international matters. The Hot Topics Committee will monitor public law practice to determine if there are any issues that the division should investigate more deeply by, for instance, publishing an article, presenting a CLE program or sponsoring policy before the ABA House of Delegates.

    To join either or both committees email - alison.hill@americanbar.org

    Joint Dues Groups

    Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Topics

    Government

    Courts & Judiciary

    Law Students

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