Legal Interns
Conditions of Employment
(Applicable to the Summer Law Intern Program, other compensated legal internships, and volunteer internships.)

Length of Appointment
Security and Suitability Issues
Drug Testing
Withdrawal of An Offer of Employment
Residency and Citizenship Requirements
Veterans' Preference Eligibility

Length of Appointment:

        Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP): Summer law interns are usually asked to commit to a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks of employment. Each component requires a minimum number of weeks. Candidates should confirm minimum requirements when an offer of employment is made. Summer interns may "split" their summer between two Department components as long as they agree to work the required minimum number of weeks for each. Interns may also "split" their summer between a Department component and another employer if they work the required minimum number of weeks.

        Other Compensated Internships: There are varying terms of appointments associated with academic year internships and summer internships that fall outside the SLIP. This is left, in large part, to the discretion of the hiring office. Appointments cannot exceed 1 year but interns can be reappointed at the discretion of the hiring office.

        Volunteer Internships: Students enrolled at least half-time in law school may participate in volunteer legal internships up to the time of graduation from law school. Law school graduates who are enrolled in graduate law programs (e.g., L.LM programs) at least half time may also serve as volunteer interns.

Security and Suitability Issues: Prior to entry on duty, all interns undergo a suitability determination based on information provided in their security forms, a credit report, and fingerprint check. This process can take two to three months to complete. The Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) can advise candidates who receive offers of employment on issues regarding potential suitability problems. Information on who to contact is included in the formal offer letter.

Drug Testing: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace, and persons selected for compensated internships will be required to pass a drug test to screen for current illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Drug testing for volunteer internships may be required at the discretion of the employing office.

Withdrawal of An Offer of Employment: The Department can withdraw an offer of employment if the suitability inquiry reveals information that precludes a security and/or suitability clearance. Common problems that arise in background investigations that may result in the withdrawal of an offer include a history of unlawful use of drugs, failure to fulfill tax obligations, failure to comply with financial obligations, abuse of alcohol, or misrepresentation on the security forms.

Residency and Citizenship Requirements:

Compensated Internships: The Department of Justice coordinates with the U.S. Department of State to identify the countries whose citizens may lawfully be employed by a U.S. federal agency. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for internships with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Positions at U.S. Attorney's Offices are restricted to U.S. citizens and individuals who owe permanent allegiance to the United States (currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island, and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.) Dual citizens of the United States and another country are considered on a case-by-case basis. Non-U.S. citizens may apply for employment with other Department components, but appointments are extremely rare; an appointment would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to statutory restrictions on the expenditure of funds and strict security requirements.

Compensated interns are subject to a residency requirement. Any candidate who has lived outside the United States for two of the past five years may have difficulty being approved for appointment by the Department's Security Staff. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement.

Volunteer Internships: Only U.S. citizens are eligible for internships with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Positions at U.S. Attorney's Offices are restricted to U.S. citizens and individuals who owe permanent allegiance to the United States (currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island, and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.) Dual citizens of the United States and another country are considered on a case-by-case basis. Non-U.S. citizens may apply for volunteer internships with other Department components, but appointments are extremely rare; an appointment would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements.

Veterans' Preference Eligibility: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to intern appointments; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. The online application system for the Summer Law Intern Program permits applicants eligible for veterans' preference to include that information on a voluntary basis. Applicants for other internships are invited to include information regarding veterans' preference eligibility on a voluntary basis.

Not all veterans are eligible for veterans' preference. Preference eligibility is generally limited to those honorably separated veterans who served on active duty (not active duty for training) in the Armed Forces who meet the other specific requirements (e.g., served in a campaign or expedition for which an expeditionary medal is authorized, were awarded a Purple Heart, are disabled, etc.) "Armed Forces" is defined in 5 U.S. Code § 2101(2) and means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. To find out whether you qualify, visit the Veterans' Preference Advisor, operated by the Department of Labor "elaws". For additional information on eligibility, visit the Office of Personnel Management Veterans Employment Information and review the "Vets Info Guide" and the "Vets Guide."

Military retirees at the rank of Major, Lieutenant Commander, or higher, are not eligible for veterans' preference unless they are disabled veterans. (This does not apply to Reservists who do not begin drawing military retired pay until age 60.)