U.S. Department
of Justice
Ethics Handbook for On and Off-Duty Conduct
Introduction
November 2024
This Ethics Handbook for On- and Off-Duty Conduct summarizes the principal ethics laws and regulations governing the conduct of Department of Justice employees. The purpose of this handbook is to increase your awareness of the ethics rulesand their applications. We have included citations after each rule, and we suggest that you consult the full text of the law or regulation and your ethics official when you have specific questions.
The ethics rules condensed here include the conflict of interest statutes found at 18 USC §§ 202 to 209, Executive Order 12674 on the Principles of Ethical Conduct as amended by EO 12731, the Uniform Standards of Ethical Conductfor Employees of the Executive Branch at 5 CFR Part 2635, Department of Justice regulations at 5 CFR Part 3801 that supplement the uniform standards, additional Department regulations at 28 CFR Part 45, and Executive branch-wide standards of conduct at 5 USC § 735.
The Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) for the Department is the Assistant Attorney General for Administration. The Departmental Ethics Office is responsible for the overall direction for the ethics program in the Department. Each Bureau, Office, Board andDivision has a Deputy DAEO who should be your first contact for advice. Your component may have additional guidance that addresses specific circumstances, in particular with off-duty conduct and employees serving in foreign countries. Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to any component specific guidance.
The ethics statutes and regulations may be found on the website of the Departmental Ethics Office. If you do not have access to the internet, contact your Deputy DAEO to obtain a paper copy of the regulations. If you do not know who your ethicsofficial is, call the Departmental Ethics Office on (202) 514-8196 or consult the website for a list of ethics officials within the Department.
Some of these rules require analysis whenapplying them to specific situations. You should use this handbook as a means of keeping yourself apprised of the general prohibitions, but you should always seek advice from an ethicsofficial if you are contemplating an action that you think might be covered by the rules, especially where it may be necessary to obtain a waiver or approval in advance.
Generally, an employee who providesall the facts to an ethics official and follows the advice given will not later be disciplined for violating the standards of conduct if subsequent inquiry reveals a possible violation consistent with the facts provided. Heads of components in consultation with the appropriate Deputy DAEO grant most formal determinations on ethics questions, including waivers and approvals.
We hope youwill find this handbook useful.
The Departmental Ethics Office
14 General Principles of Ethical Conduct
The following general principles apply to every employee andmay form the basis for thestandards contained in this part. Where a situation is not covered by the standards set forth in this part, employeesshall apply the principles set forth in this section in determining whether their conduct is proper.
- Public service is a public trust,requiring employees to place loyalty to theConstitution, the laws and ethicalprinciples above private gain.
- Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
- Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
- An employee shall not, except aspermitted by [these standards of conduct], solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary valuefrom any person or entityseeking official actionfrom, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee’s agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s duties.
- Employees shall put forthhonest effort in the performance of their duties.
- Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kindpurporting to bind the Government.
- Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
- Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
- Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
- Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities,including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with their officialGovernment duties and responsibilities.
- Employees shall disclose waste, fraud,abuse, and corruption to the appropriate authorities.
- Employees shall satisfy ingood faith their obligations ascitizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those — such as Federal,State, or local taxes — thatare imposed by law.
- Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of, for example, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, genetic information, or disability.
- Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts
5 C.F.R 2635.101 (b)
Ethics Handbook
Conduct Prejudicial to the Government
An employee shall not engage in criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral or disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the government. In connection with overseas service, the State Department has defined notoriously disgraceful conduct as conduct which, were it to become widely known, would embarrass, discredit, or subject to opprobrium the perpetrator and the United States.
5 CFR 735.203, 3 FAM 4139.14
Gambling
An employee is prohibited from participating in any gambling activity while on- duty or on government property, although there is an exception for activity necessitated by the employee’s official duties. Employees must seek and adhere to their component’s guidance on such gambling activity.
5 CFR 735.201
Commercial Sex
An employee is at all times prohibited from soliciting, procuring, or accepting commercial sex, whether on or off-duty or on personal leave, and regardless whether the activity is legal or tolerated in a particular jurisdiction, foreign or domestic.
Attorney General Memorandum, April 2015
Intoxicants
An employee is prohibited from habitually using alcohol or other intoxicants to excess. Components may have more specific guidance and limitations, including for off-duty alcohol use. Employees must know and adhere to the specific limitations that apply to the employee.
5 USC 7352
Just Financial Obligations
An employee shall satisfy in good faith the obligations as a citizen, including all just financial obligations, especially those – such as Federal,state and local taxes – that are imposed by law.
5 CFR 2635.809
Equal Opportunity
An employee shall adhere to all lawsand regulations that provide equal opportunity for allAmericans regardless of, for example, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, genetic information, or disability.
5 CFR 2635.101 (b)(13), 5 USC 2302
EO 13087, EO 13672
Appearance of Impropriety
An employee shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that the employee is violating the law, or the ethical standards set forth in this part.
5 CFR 2635.101(b)(14)
Nepotism
An employee may not appoint, employ, or promote a relative to a position in the Department, or advocate a relative for appointment, employment, promotion or advancement. Employees should be cautious when assisting in any way relatives who are seeking employment, appointment, or advancement in Department positions.
5 USC 3110
Security Clearances
As a reminder for employees for whom a security clearance is required for performance of their official duties, any above noted prohibited conduct, and more, may be grounds for suspension or revocation of a clearance. This could alsoresult in adverse disciplinary action, including suspension or removal. Consult your security program manager for more guidance.
Misuse of Official Position
General Rule
You may not use your public office for your own private gain or for the gain of persons or organizations with which you are associated personally. Your position or title shall not be used: to coerce or induce another person, including a subordinate, to provide any benefit, financial or otherwise, to you or to friends, relatives, or persons with whom you are affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity; to endorse any product or service; or to give the appearance of governmentalsanction. For example, youmay use your official title and stationery only inresponse to a request for a reference or recommendation for someone you have dealt with in the course of Federal employment or someone you are recommending for Federal employment.
5 CFR 2635.702
Use of Government Property and Time
Generally, you should be mindful of your responsibilities to make an honest effort to use government property and official time, including the time of a subordinate, for official business only, and to protect and conserve government property. However, as a Justice Department employee, you are generally authorized to make minimal personal use of most office equipment and library facilities where the cost to the government is negligible and where it does not interfere with official business, where permitted by security rules, and on your own time. This limited personal use is a privilege, not a right, and employee use must conform to all restrictions. Employees may not use government property including computer systems and individual electronic devices for commercial purposes; to send solicitations, lobby, or engage in prohibited political activity; for activities that are illegal, inappropriate or offensive to fellow employees or the public; or to create, download, view, or store, copy or transmit sexually explicit or sexually oriented materials or materials related to illegal gambling, illegal weapons, terrorist activities or other illegal activities; or any other prohibited uses as set forth in Department and component orders or guidance. Employees may not use Government equipment as a substitute for personally owned equipment.
Personal activities should be conducted on personal equipment, except to the minimal degree that personal use on Government equipment is permitted by Department policy.
You may not use your DOJ contact information including email address for non-official matters except as emergency contact information and for persons such as close family and friends, children’s school, and in similar limited circumstances, where it is clear your communication is not on behalf of the Department and you are not attempting to exert official influence.
5 CFR 2635.704, DOJ Order 2740.1A
Government Vehicles
Use of government vehicles is governed by statute, including penalties for misuse. Employees should consult their components’ guidance for authorized use of government vehicles.
31 USC 1344 & 1349 (b)
Use of Nonpublic Information
You may not engage in a financial transaction using nonpublic information or allow the use of such information to further your private interests or those of another. Nonpublic information is information you gain on the job, which has not been made available to the general public and is not authorized to be made available on request such as through the FOIA. (There are also statutory prohibitions on the misuse of information involving national security, trade secrets, individuals and government procurement.)
5 CFR 2635.703, 5 USC 522 & 522a
18 USC 798, 50 USC 783 (a)
18 USC 1905, 41 USC 423 (a) & (b)
Political Activities
The Hatch Act
All federal employees may vote, express opinions and make political contributions. Under the Hatch Act, active participation in partisan political activities by federal employees is restricted, and employees serving in certain positions are more restricted than others. All federal employees are barred from using their official authority or influence to interfere with an election, from engaging in political activity while on duty, in a government office, wearing an official uniform or using a government vehicle, and from soliciting or discouraging the political activity of anyone who does business with the Department. The rules are specific and may be complex. Any employee seeking to actively engage in partisan political activity should consult the guidance available on the Department’s website, as well as the guidance issued by his or her component and speak with their ethics official.
5 USC §§ 7321-21
5 CFR 733 and 734
Employees May Not:
- Use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election.
- Participate in political activities (to include wearing political buttons) while on duty; while wearing a uniform, badge or insignia of office; while in a government occupied office or building; or while using a government owned or leased vehicle.
- Solicit, accept or receive a political contribution from a member of the public.
- Solicit political contributions in a speech given at a fundraiser.
- Sponsor a fundraiser.
- Allow official title to be used in fundraising or other political activities.
- Solicit, accept or receive uncompensated volunteer services from a subordinate.
- Be a candidate for partisan political office, except as an independent candidate in certain designated localities.
- Solicit or discourage the political activity of anyone who is a participant in any matter before the Department.
Most Employees May:*
- Express opinions on political subjects and candidates.
- Campaign for or against a referendum, constitutional amendment or ordinance.
- Participate in civic, professional and other similar activities.
- Sign a political petition.
- Display signs, stickers, badges or buttons for candidates for partisan political office except when on duty.
- Register and vote.
- Run as a candidate or support a candidate in a non-partisan election.
- Contribute to a political party, or a candidate in a partisan election.
- Join, organize and serve as an officer of a political party or group.
- Address a convention, caucus, rally or similar gathering of a political party for or against a partisan political candidate.
- Participate in a nominating caucus, convention, rally or other political gathering.
- Initiate and circulate a nominating petition for a partisan candidate.
- Canvass for votes for or against a candidate for partisan political office.
- Endorse or oppose a partisan political candidate.
- Participate in and manage the campaign of a partisan political candidate.
- Serve as a poll watcher, election judge or clerk for a partisan candidate or party.
- Drive voters to polls on behalf of a partisan political candidate or party.
- Attend, address, but not solicit funds, at a political fundraiser.
- Solicit, accept or receive volunteer services except from a subordinate.
- Solicit, accept or receive certain contributions from a fellow member of a federal labor organization or other employee organization who is not a subordinate.
- Run as an independent candidate in a partisan election in certain communities and accept and receive but not solicit contributions from the public.
*In DOJ, political appointees, career SES, ALJs, ATF’s Office of Law Enforcement, and all employees of the Criminal Division, FBI, and National Security Division are further restricted with regard to political activities and may NOT engage in many of these actions. These employees should seek specific guidance from their ethics official before engaging in any partisan political activity.
Outside Employment and Activities
General Rule
You should not engage in any outside employment or other activity that conflicts with your official duties and responsibilities. Employees are prohibited from engaging in outside employment that involves criminalmatters, the paid practice of law, or matters in which the Department is or represents a party, or has an interest (e.g., DOJ is an investigator, litigator, grant-maker, etc.). Only the Deputy Attorney Generalmay waive these prohibitions.
5 CFR 2635.802
5 CFR 3801.106
Approval for Certain Outside Activities
You are required to obtain written approval for certain employment including the practice of law that is not otherwise prohibited, and any outside employment involving a subject matter related to the responsibilities of your component.
5 CFR 3801.106
Representing Others
You may not receive compensation for the representation of anyone before a federal agency or official, or before any court in a matter in which the U.S. is a party or has a substantial interest. This prohibition applies whether or not you render the representation yourself.
18 USC 203
You also may not represent someone in connection with a claim against the United States or before a federal agency or official, or before any court, with or without compensation, in a matter in which the U.S. is a party or has a substantial interest.
18 USC 205
There are exceptions to the above statutes for representing your immediate family, testifying under oath, representing another employee in personnel administration proceedings, and representing employee organizations, in certain matters.
Fundraising
You may engage in fundraising in your personal capacity, off-duty, as long as you do not solicit your subordinates or persons having business with the Department – absent very limited exceptions for personal relationships. In addition, there is an exception for mass mailings that do not target the above persons. You may not engage in fundraising in your official capacity unless authorized by statute, executive order or regulation (e.g., the Combined Federal Campaign). There is an exception for giving an officialspeech at a fundraiser, when specifically authorized in advance after disclosure of all facts and circumstances regarding the event.
5 CFR 2635.808
Service as an Expert Witness
You may not serve as an expert witness in your private capacity in any proceeding before the United States in which the U.S. is a party or has an interest unless specifically authorized.
5 CFR 2635.805
Honoraria
You may not be paid by anyone but the Government for speaking or writing undertaken as part of your official duties.
18 USC 209
Outside Teaching Speaking and Writing
When teaching, speaking or writing in your private capacity, you may not use nonpublic information, and there should not be any use of your official title except as one of several biographical details or in certain types of articles with a disclaimer. Generally, you may not be compensated for teaching, speaking, or writing that relates to your official duties. However, there is anexception for teaching in certaineducational settings. If you are a career employee, or non-career employee classifiedat GS-15and below, what relates to your duties is a present or recent assignment, or a policy, program or operation of your component. If you are a non-career employee above GS-15, what relates to your duties is broader, and you must have advance authorization from the DAEO before engaging in teaching for compensation. Youmay not use your official time or that of a subordinate to prepare materials. Some components require advance review and clearance for certain written work and speeches.
Accepting Gifts and Things of Value
Gifts, Entertainment and Favors From Outside Sources
You may not solicit or accept a gift 1) given because of your official position, or 2) from a prohibited source, which includes anyone who:
- Has or seeks official action or business with the Department;
- Is regulated by the Department;
- Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of your official duties; or
- Is an organization composed mainly of person described above.
The definition of a gift is broad. It includes any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts of training, transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.
If you are offered a gift and you do not know the source, in circumstances where you cannot be certain it is a permissible gift, you should decline.
A gift does not include items such as publicly available discountsand prizes, commercial loans, food not part ofa meal such as coffee and donuts, and items of little value such as plaques and greeting cards.
You should first account for prudential considerations when considering whether to accept a gift. In particular, consider whether doing so would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question your integrity or impartiality as a result of you accepting the gift.
Thereafter, unless the nature and frequency of the acceptance of gifts would appear to be improper, you may accept:
- Giftsbased on a personal relationship when it is clear that the motivation is not your official position.
- Gifts of $20 or less per occasion not to exceed $50 in a year from the same source.
- Discounts and similar benefits offered to a broad class, including a broad class of government employees.
- Most genuine awards and honorary degrees related to public service although in many cases you will need prior approval.
- Free attendance, food, refreshments and materials providedat a conference or widely attended gathering or certain other social events which you attendin your official capacity, with prior written approval. If you are invited to an event by someone other than the sponsor, the cost must not exceed the amount set every year and at least 100 people must be expected to attend.
- Giftsbased on an outside business relationshipsuch as travel expenses related to a job interview, as long as you are recused from matters affecting the donor.
5 USC 7353, 5 CFR 2635.202-204
You should return gifts not meeting the exceptions or contact your Deputy DAEO on how to dispose of them. Perishable items may be given to charity or shared by your office, with approval.
5 CFR 2635.205
Supplementation
You may not receive any payment, or supplementation, of your government salary from any source except the Government for performing your duties.
Foreign Gifts
You are allowed to accept certain gifts from foreign governments and their representatives if they do not exceed a minimal value, which changes every few years. In addition, if approved in advance, employees may accept travel expenses from a foreign government for travel taking place entirely outside of the United States. Gifts whose value exceeds the minimal value are deemed to be accepted on behalf of the United States and may not be kept by the employee. In addition, an employee may accept meals and refreshments while in a foreign country provided by non-government persons in the course of a meeting when the employee is performing official duties, and where the event includes non- U.S. citizens or representatives of a foreign government or other entities.
Employees are responsible for knowing and adhering to their component’s procedures for approval and reporting of gifts from foreign governments or accepted while in a foreign country, and any component specific restrictions.
Gifts to Superiors
You may not give, or solicit a contribution for, a gift to an official superior, and you may not accept a gift from a subordinate or an employee receiving less pay than you. There is an exception for gifts with a market value of $10 or less given on occasions when gifts are traditionally given. There is also an exception for gifts that are appropriate to the occasion made on special and infrequent occasions such as marriage, illness, or retirement.
5 USC 7351, 5 CFR 2635.302 and.304
Travel
Generally, you may not accept reimbursement for travel and related expenses from any source other than the Government when you are traveling on official duty. However, with prior written approval, DOJ may accept travel expenses incidental to your attendance at conferences or similar functions related to your duties from non-Federal sources pursuant to the GSA regulations cited here. Travel expenses for a spouse accompanying you on official travel may not be accepted. Consult your Deputy DAEO prior to travel.
You may retain for personal use benefits from commercial sources, including bonus flights, that result from official travel. You may keep a bonus offered when you volunteer to take a later flight as long as the delay does not interfere with the conduct of your duties and you do not charge the Government for additional costs. You may not keep such a bonus if you are bumped from a flight. In most cases, you may not travel other than coach class when on official business.
41 CFR 301
41 CFR 304
Conflicts of Interest
Your nonfederal financial holdings and your outside activities and relationships can trigger the applicability of the conflict of interest statutes and regulations. Below are summaries and examples of how the conflict of interest rules may become applicable to you.
General Rule
You should recuse yourself when your official actions affect, or appear to affect, your private interests, whether financial or non-financial.
Statutory Prohibition
You may not participate personally and substantially in a matter in which you, your spouse, minor child or general partner has a financial interest. This prohibition also applies if an organization in which you serve as officer, director, trustee, or employee has a financial interest or if a person or organization with which you are negotiating for future employment has a financial interest.
18 USC 208
Impartiality Standard
Generally, you should seek advice before participating in any matter in which your impartiality could be questioned. You may not participate without authorization in a particular matter having specific parties that could affect the financial interests of members of your household or where one of the following is a party or represents a party: someone with whom you have or are seeking employment, or a business, contractual or other financial relationship; a member of your household or a relative with whom you have a close relationship; a current or prospective employer of a spouse, parent or child; or an organization which you now serve actively or have served, as an employee or in another capacity, within the past year.
Purchase of Forfeited Property
Without written approval, you may not purchase or use property that has been forfeited to the Government and offered for sale by the Justice Department.
5 CFR 3801.104
Negotiating for Future Employment
Generally, you may not take official action on a matter affecting the financial interests of an organization with which you are negotiating or have an arrangement for a job. Generally, you must recuse yourself from a matter in order to negotiate for a job, and employees participating in a procurement have to report to certain officials in writing before negotiating with a contractor competing for that procurement. If you are a public financial disclosure filer, you will also have to file a statement notifying an agency ethics official of negotiations (STOCK Act notification) within three business days after commencement of the negotiations or agreement.
You also need to recuse yourself when you are merely seeking employment, which includes sending a resume. You should get advice from your Deputy DAEO about seeking and negotiating for employment before you begin a job search.
18 USC 208
41 USC 423
Remedies For Conflicts
If you have a financial conflict of interest or believe your impartiality might be questioned, you must either disqualify yourself from taking action that could affect your interest or contact your Deputy DAEO about the following alternatives:
In the case of a financial interest, you either may seek a waiver of the prohibition under 18 USC§ 208 (b) or divest yourself of the interest. (If you need to divest an interest, you may be eligible to defer the tax consequences of divestiture by obtaining a Certificate of Divestiture before you divest.) Your component head may grant you a waiver if your financial interest is found to be not so substantial as to affect the integrity of your services to the Government.
18 U.SC. 208(b)(1)
5 CFR 2634.1001-.1004
In a case where your impartiality might be questioned, you may obtain a formal determination from your component head that the Department’s interest in your participation outweighs the concern that the integrity of the Department’s operations would be questioned.
5 CFR 2635.502(d)
When participating in matters affecting your financial interests, you have an unlimited exemption for holdings in a diversified mutual fund and for certain employee benefit plans where the holdings may be affected by the matter. In addition, you have an exemption of $50,000 for aggregated interests in sector mutual funds that may be affected by a matter in which you participate. You also have an exemption for interests in publicly-traded securities not to exceed $15,000 in parties to a matter, and $25,000 per asset when participating in a matter of general applicability, such as rulemaking and drafting of most legislation, with a combined limit of $50,000 in all entities affected by the general matter.
Post-Employment Restrictions
Negotiating for Future Employment
You may not take official action on a matter affecting the financial interests of an organization with which you are seeking, negotiating or have an arrangement for a job. You need to recuse yourself when you are seeking employment, which includes sending a resume. You need to continue to recuse yourself from a matter that affects the entity with whom you are negotiating for a job, and employees participating in a procurement have to report to certain officials in writing before negotiating with a contractor competing for that procurement. Note that negotiating can occur quickly; for the purposes of the ethics rules it occurs once you and the prospective employer determine that you both want to continue conversation about your employment. Consult your Deputy DAEO about seeking and negotiating employment before you begin a job search.
18 USC 208
41 USC 423
5 CFR 2635.602
Restrictions After you Leave Government
There are statutory prohibitions on former government employees that generally prohibit appearing before or communicating with the Government after leaving the Government. The following are the main restrictions but consult your Deputy DAEO for others.
Lifetime Ban
You are prohibited from communicating with or appearing before an employee of an agency or court of the Federal Government on behalf of another person, with the intent to influence, on a particular matter involving specific parties in which you participated personally and substantially while with the Government and in which the United States is a party or has interest.
18 USC 207(a)(1)
Two-year Ban
You are prohibited for two years from communicating with or appearing before an employee of a Federal court or agency on behalf of another person, with the intent to influence, on a particular matter involving specific parties which you know was pending under your official responsibility during your last year of government service and in which the United States is a party or has an interest.
18 USC 207(a)(2)
One-year Ban
If you are a “senior employee” you are subject to an additional restriction that generally prohibits you from communicating to or appearing before an employee of the Justice Department or your component on a matter on which you seek official action on behalf of another person. Senior employees are Executive Level officials and SES, SL and ST officials who are compensated above a salary that is designated every year, typically a salary that is higher than the base salary of a GS-15.
18 USC 207(c)
One Year Ban for Certain Procurement and Contracting Officials
If you are serving in a certain critical position or made certain critical decisions on a procurement or a contract in excess of $10 million, you may not receive compensation from that contractor for one year.
41 USC 423
Additional Considerations
Supervisors
Supervisors are responsible for demonstrating integrity in their own conduct and adherence to the letter and spirit of the ethics rules, ensuring that employees seek advice under the ethics rules when necessary or appropriate, and taking appropriate action to report or refer employees when misconduct has occurred or appears to have occurred.
Special Government Employees
If you are a special government employee, that is, you expect to serve for no more than 130 days in a 365-day period, you are subject to most but not all of the rules in this handbook. Consult your Deputy DAEO for special exceptions.
Attorneys
If you are an attorney with the Department, you are expected to comply not only with the rules in this Handbook but also with relevant professional codes of conduct. Consult your Deputy DAEO or the Professional Responsibility Advisory Office for advice on which codes apply and what they require.
Post-Government Employment Compensation
There are restrictions on receiving compensation, even after you leave, based on another’s representations before the Federal government that took place while you were still a government employee.
18 USC 203
In certain circumstances, you may not be able to maintain a financial relationship with a former employer or accept a severance payment or moving expenses from a private source. Consult your Deputy DAEO for advice.
If you are an attorney, you will have to recuse yourself from all cases you handled before entering the Government and from other matters involving your former law firm or clients for a certain period.
Generally, you will not be allowed to remain on leave of absence from a law firm or another business entity while with the Department. Consult your Deputy DAEO about any repayment of your capital contributions over time or about retaining an interest in a contingent fee.
18 USC 203, 208, and 209
5 CFR 2635.502
Professional Codes