Disclaimer: I am writing this blog under my capacity as a board member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Public Interest Law Section. This blog and the views within are my own. It no way reflects the view of the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency, or the U.S. Federal Government. I am not receiving any compensation for writing this blog.

My Background

Before I get into the benefits of working for the government, I first want to explain my background. My father was in the military, and so my family moved around a lot. Eventually we settled down in Dumfries, Virginia. Now, Dumfries is considered part of Northern Virginia or the D.M.V. (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virigina). Dumfries was an ideal town for us to live in because it is 30 to 60 minutes away from D.C. and Maryland, depending on which direction you go. This was perfect for my family, because given my father’s job with the military, he often had to go between D.C. and Maryland for work. When he retired, we decided to stay in Dumfries.

The D.M.V. was (and still is) very military friendly. There are a lot of active, reserved, and retired military members living within this metropolitan area. So naturally there are numerous opportunities to work in various departments and agencies within the federal government. For instance, you could work at the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Treasury.

Growing up the in the D.M.V. area, I remember having neighbors who worked for the federal government in some capacity, either as a military member, civilian employee, or federal contractor. (A federal contractor is a vendor that has a contract to work with the government on varies products and services. For example, Company A has a contract with Department Z to work on Department Z’s computers and IT equipment, and because you work for Company A, but not for the government directly, then you would be considered a federal contractor).

That is to say, it was a way of life to work for the federal government at least once in your career. Heck, before I graduated college, I myself held two different positions at two different federal agencies as a summer intern.

However, I decided to break the tradition and move to Milwaukee for law school. But as the old saying goes, “you always come home.” After getting my law degree and working in Wisconsin for a few years, I decided to move back to Northern Virginia.

My Wisdom

Given that I lived (and currently live) in the D.M.V. and have been for over 20 years, you can clearly see I am very knowledgeable about the benefits and challenges of working for the federal government.

Joking! While it is true that I have lived in this metropolitan area for a while, I will not go so far as to say that I am an expert (but you can call me that if you want to) on the topic of federal government employment.

However, I will share some of the benefits I have seen that come with working for the U.S. government.

The Benefits

Opportunity to work domestic or abroad. Because you would be working for the federal government, this means you have your pick of jobs across all 50 states and overseas – yes, there are positions located both domestically and internationally.

This is nice because it means you do not need to remain in the same position or area for years and years. As you gain knowledge and grow your skillset, rather than applying to outside private job openings (unless you want to) as a way to take on distinct new career, you can apply to jobs right within the federal government.

Keep in mind there will be more openings and a variety of jobs in urban areas compared to rural areas and areas near those larger military installations (i.e., Fort Belvoir Army Base, which has over 51,000 employees versus Marine Corps Base Quantico with over 28,000 employees).

To be clear, you do not need to join the military before seeking employment with the federal government. As I stated earlier, you can work as a civilian employee or as a federal contractor.

To search for federal employment openings, check out USAJOBS.GOV.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program and Student Loan Repayment Assistance. As long you have made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan, and you are working full time for an eligible employer (i.e., U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government, etc.), then you may qualifyunder the PSLF Program to have the remaining balance of your student loans forgiven. For more information, check out Federal Student Aid.

Moreover, as a federal government employee, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), has authorized federal agencies to set up its own student loan repayment program as part of its retention efforts. As a result, while agencies may not pay off or forgive the entire loan, the agency, nonetheless, can “make payments to the loan holder of up to a maximum of $10,000 for an employee in a calendar year and a total of not more than $60,000 for any one employee.”

Diversity in the workplace. Because the federal government is far-reaching, that means its workplace is made up of a diverse group of people. To work with a diverse group of people means you can have thought-provoking conversations and work on inspiring programs. Not only are you working with unique individuals, but you also get a chance to understand and practice different areas of the law. Finally, there would be diversity in your daily living as you immerse yourself in the different cultural locations of the various federal government positions.

If you have an active bar license, you are qualified to work. While the three benefits discussed thus far apply to both attorneys and other professionals, this fourth benefit applies specifically to attorneys. As attorneys we know that if we want to work in a different state, then we must be barred in that state. However, when you work for a federal agency, if you have “proof of active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction) and J.D. degree,” then you can work in that state or location.

Federal job postings often have that sentence or similar phrasing as part of the qualifications for the job. For example, check out this job opening with the Department of Justice. You can also use me as an example. My bar membership and J.D. degree are with the State of Wisconsin, and yet I am able to practice law in the State of Virginia. Since I represent a federal agency, I do not need to have bar license in Virgina, as long as I have an active bar license ​in any state.

Accordingly, this means you can work in a different state or location without having to spend the time, effort, and money ontaking and passing the bar exam in that state or location before you can begin work.

The Challenges

While there are a lot of benefits to working for the federal government, there are some challenges too.

One challenge is that when it comes to hiring employees, most if not all federal agencies have a rigorous hiring process (including an extensive background check) that can take weeks, if not months, to complete.

Another challenge is that you are viewed as a public servant, and therefore have considerable ethical rules and regulations you must follow. That can be challenging because some ethical rules must be followed both inside and outside of work. And finally, because you are viewed as a public servant, your actions both inside and outside of work can be subject to greater scrutiny by Congress and the media (hence those strict ethical rules).

Conclusion

There are challenges in working for the federal government, including the risk of unemployment due to government shutdowns and greater scrutiny by the public as you do your work. However, in addition to those discussedabove, there are numerous other benefits to working for the federal government, including networking, resume building, training opportunities, relocation expenses assistance, annual raises, and traveling.

For me, the benefits outweigh the challenges. And so, if you are looking for a fresh career path that allows you do to innovative, creative, and resourceful work, then check out the employment opportunities with the federal government.

This article was originally published on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Public Interest Law Section Blog. Visit the State Bar sections or the Public Interest Law Section web pages to learn more about the benefits of section membership.