Justice Manual § 3-4.410

Responsibilities

United States Attorneys and the Director, EOUSA, shall delegate training approval authority to the lowest appropriate subordinate supervisory levels

Supervisors shall

Identify individual and organizational training needs,

Consider the most effective approaches to meet training needs, and

Approve training requests within their organizations that will promote employee and unit effectiveness.

Training Funded by the Government. Employees and officials of the Department of Justice may attend conferences, conventions, professional meetings or other meetings at government expense provided they meet the following criteria:

The conference or meeting is directly related to the individual's work in the Department; or

They are to take an active part in the conference or meeting and such participation will benefit the government.

Training for United States Attorneys. Training approval for United States Attorneys was delegated by the Attorney General to the Director, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, who redelegated this authority to the Associate Director, Office of Legal Education.

Attorney Mentoring. All new Department of Justice Attorneys, including AUSAs, with less than five years of experience are assigned a mentor when they join the Department. The goals are to introduce new attorneys to the Department and federal practice, build their confidence, and shorten their learning curve. OARM conducts an annual survey of the mentees to assess their experiences with their mentors. Each office is responsible to ensuring mentors receive appropriate training and the goals of the mentoring program are met.

Training for Supervisors and Managers

Individuals assigned to supervisory positions shall complete training within the first year of their initial assignment as a supervisor on the use of appropriate actions, options, and strategies to:

Mentor employees;

Improve employee performance and productivity;

Conduct employee performance appraisals in accordance with agency appraisal systems; and

Identify and assist employees with unacceptable performance.

Follow up training for supervisors and managers shall be completed at least every three years.

Individuals making critical career transitions, for example to managerial or executive positions, shall complete appropriate training consistent with assessments of the agency's and the individual's needs.

Fees for Attendance At Meetings. Fees for attendance at meetings which meet the training criteria may be paid for pursuant to the Department of Justice Order 1200.1, Part 5, Training and Development dated October 3, 2000.