Each summer, approximately 1,000 law students from across
the country come to the Department of Justice to work as volunteer legal
interns. Information on how to pursue the volunteer legal intern positions
that will be available in the summer of 2006 appears below. There are
three sections:
Section I outlines the opportunities available with
the Department’s Management Offices, Litigation Divisions and
Offices, Legal and Policy Offices, and Investigatory and Law Enforcement
Offices;
Section II outlines the opportunities available with
the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country; and
Section III contains several useful directories,
as well as resource information on Washington, D.C.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF WORKING AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE?
Challenging work, lots of responsibility, supportive supervisors and
colleagues, and the opportunity to work for the public interest are
some of the many benefits cited by former interns:
“Working with the Tax Division has been one of the greatest
experiences of my life. The projects that I was assigned were substantive
and hands-on. The attorneys I worked with were talented and approachable.
I had the right balance of autonomy and guidance. I recommend that every
law student spend a summer at DOJ before deciding on his or her eventual
career.”
Intern, Tax Division
“I have been exposed to several areas of the law and have
had a number of legal writing assignments. Everyone here is so personable
and helpful and you know you can approach an attorney or specialist
in a different division for advice and/or assistance. It has been a
truly rewarding experience.”
Intern, Federal Bureau of Prisons
“The personal contact with the attorneys, the high level
of responsibility, the complexity of the cases – I cannot imagine
a better summer legal experience. The positive long-term rewards of
an internship with the Antitrust Division far outweigh the short term
reward of earning a summer salary elsewhere.”
Intern, Antitrust Division
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL INTERN POSITIONS?
• Generally, first-year (second semester), second- and third-year
law students are eligible for volunteer legal internships. Law school
graduates are not eligible for summer volunteer positions unless they
are pursuing an additional graduate degree immediately following their
law school graduation and are enrolled more then half time. Check individual
listings for organization-specific eligibility requirements.
• First-year (first semester) law students can apply after December
1. The Department follows the National Association for Law Placement
(NALP) guidelines which prohibits employer contact with first-year (first
semester) law students prior to that date.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Since each Department organization conducts its volunteer intern program
independently, you should apply separately to each organization in which
you have an interest. There are two ways to apply:
(1) in response to a specific posting on this site, and
(2) by applying directly to any Department organization in which you
are interested that does not have a listing below.
Application requirements and deadlines vary by organization, so you
will need to consult each individual listing for specifics. As a general
rule, students are encouraged to apply between December and February
for summer internships. Note that many of the U.S. Attorneys’
Offices have early deadlines, some as early as December, 2005.
Most organizations ask for a resume. Some organizations may request
a writing sample, a law school transcript (if available), a list of
references, and/or information on geographic preferences or specific
skills/knowledge, e.g., language fluency. It is always a good idea to
include a cover letter which highlights your specific interest in an
organization and any relevant academic, clinical or work experience.
WHAT IF I AM INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR AREA OF THE LAW?
With more than 9500 attorneys in more than 40 different organizations,
it can be a challenge to find out which organizations are a good match
for your interests and experience. The DOJ
Practice Area Chart is a good place to start. If, for example, you
have a particular interest/background in healthcare issues, you would
discover that the Antitrust, Civil, Criminal Divisions and some United
States Attorneys’ Offices do work in the healthcare area.
WHERE ARE THE LEGAL INTERN POSITIONS LOCATED?
There are internships available in Washington, D.C., in field offices,
and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.
Washington, D.C. Many of the opportunities available
in Washington, D.C. are listed in Section I.
Field Offices. Organizations with offices outside
Washington, D.C. are identified with an asterisk in the table of contents.
The Directory
of Field Office Locations Employing Attorneys gives a state by state
listing of all Department field offices. Each field office hires independently,
so you should contact each field office in which you have an interest.
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Anywhere from 1000
to 1400 law students volunteer to work with one of the 94 U.S. Attorneys’
Offices either during the academic year or during the summer. An overview
of the work of these offices and specific listings are included in Section
II. To access contact information for U.S. Attorneys’ Offices
which do not have a listing in this booklet, go to www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa.
WHAT IS THE SALARY?
Volunteer interns are not compensated. However, some law schools offer
funding programs to students who wish to spend the summer or a semester
working with government or public interest organizations. You should
check with your law school to find out if such funding is available.
There are compensated positions in a few U.S. Attorneys’ Offices
- Eastern District of Missouri, District of the Virgin Islands, and
possibly the Western District of Michigan. See individual listings for
specifics.
IS THERE A SECURITY CHECK?
Yes. Prior to finalizing an appointment as a summer volunteer intern,
you must submit a completed security form and successfully complete
a name and fingerprint clearance. Volunteer interns are advised to complete
and submit all security forms as quickly as possible.
DO I HAVE TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN?
Only U.S. citizens are eligible for volunteer positions with the Executive
Office for Immigration Review, the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys,
and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Non-U.S. citizens may apply for
legal intern positions with other organizations, but should be advised
that legal intern appointments for non-U.S. citizens are extremely rare;
such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish
the Department’s mission and would be subject to strict security
requirements. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country are considered
on a case-by-case basis.
WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Internet:
Resource Guide for Washington, D.C. (for information
on housing and transportation for the Washington, D.C. area.)
For information on the Department of Justice and its hiring programs:
Opportunities
for Law Students at the U.S. Department of Justice
contains information about the Department, each of its organizations,
and its hiring programs
Directory
of Field Office Locations Employing Attorneys
Contact information for the 94
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices
Links to Department
organizations that maintain their own Web Page
Recorded Information: (202) 514-3396 (24 hours a day) or leave a voice
mail
TDD: (202) 616-2113
WHAT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AT DOJ IN THE FUTURE?
Summer Law Intern Program. Each year, approximately
90-110 law students are hired through the Summer
Law Intern Program, the Department’s recruitment program for
compensated summer internships. Interested law students can apply on-line
for the summer of 2007. The deadline for electronic applications will
be September 18, 2006.
The Attorney General’s Honors Program. Each
year, approximately 120-130 law students are hired through the Attorney
General’s Honors Program which is the Department’s entry-level
recruitment program and the only way graduating law students can enter
the Department. Interested law students can apply on-line for employment
in 2007. The deadline for electronic applications will be September
18, 2006.
Information on the Attorney
Student Loan Repayment Program is also available on our web page.
The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable
Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there
will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national
origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation,
status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization,
or on the basis of personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes
and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities.
The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities
have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit
within the Department of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation
to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable
accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please
notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation
will be made on a case-by-case basis.
It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace
and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug
test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.
Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication
of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment
with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the Executive Office
for U.S. Attorneys and United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise
indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. citizens may apply
for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that
appointments of non-U.S. citizens are extremely rare; such appointments
would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department’s
mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Dual citizens
of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case
basis.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference
to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department
of Justice considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive
factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference
are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or
resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other
substantiating documents) to their submissions. Not all veterans are
eligible for veterans’ preference. To find out whether you qualify,
visit the Veterans’ Preference Advisor, operated by the Department
of Labor “elaws” at www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/vetpref.htm.
For additional information on eligibility, visit www.opm.gov/veterans
and review the “Vets Info Guide” and the “Vets Guide.”
Please note that military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant
commander, or higher, are not eligible for veterans’ preference
unless they are disabled veterans.
Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management
Volunteer Summer Legal Intern Positions
U.S. Department of Justice
450 5th Street, N.W.
Suite 10200
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
SECTION I: OPPORTUNITIES DEPARTMENT-WIDE
Portable
Document Format (PDF) files may be viewed with a free copy of Adobe
Acrobat Reader
Antitrust Division*
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives*
Civil Division*
Civil Division - Appellate
Staff
Civil Division - Civil Fraud
Section
Civil
Rights Division
Community Relations Service
Criminal Division
Criminal Division - Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section
Criminal Division - Domestic
Security Section
Criminal Division - Office
of Special Investigations
Criminal Division - Overseas
Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT)
Environment and Natural Resources
Division
Environment and Natural Resources
Division - Environmental Enforcement Section
Executive Office for U.S.
Attorneys
Executive Office for U.S.
Attorneys FOIA
Federal Bureau of Prison
Office
of the Federal Detention Trustee
Office of Justice Program
- National Prison Rape Elimination Commission
Office of Justice Program
- Office of Civil Rights
Office
of Legal Policy
Office of the Pardon Attorney
Office of Professional Responsibility
Office of the Solicitor General
Office of the Tribal Justice
Professional Responsibility
Advisory Office
Tax Division Civil Trial
Sections/Civil Appellate Section
United States Marshals Service
- Office of General Counsel
United States Trustee Program*
SECTION II: OPPORTUNITIES
WITH UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS' OFFICES*
Alabama
Middle District
Northern District
Alaska
Arizona
District of Columbia
Colorado
Hawaii
Maine
Maryland
- Michigan
- Eastern District
Western District (Possible Compensated)
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Ohio
Northern District
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
Directory
of Field Office Locations Employing Attorneys
Resource Guide for Washington, D.C.
* Opportunities for interns outside the Washington, D.C.
Area
RESOURCE GUIDE FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.
Many of the volunteer intern positions are located in the Washington,
D.C. area. Those students unfamiliar with the Washington area will find
the information on housing and transportation a good introduction to
the city. Please note that providing this information does not constitute
an endorsement by the Department of Justice of any of the products or
services listed.
A. Short Term Housing
American University’s Housing Site
http://www.american.edu/ocl/housing/index1.html
Catholic University’s Housing Site
http://conferences.cua.edu/summer/intro.cfm
Georgetown University’s Housing Site
http://och.georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Law Center’s Summer Associate Housing
Program
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/reslife/
The Housing Forum
http://www.thehousingforum.com
University of Maryland’s Off-Campus Housing Site
http://www.och.umd.edu/
Summer Sublet Web Sites
http://www.JDpost.com
B. Permanent Housing
Apartments.com (a free nationwide apartment search)
http://www.apartments.com
Rent.net (an on-line rental guide)
http://www.rent.net
Washington Post Real Estate
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/realestate/
Transportation
Airport sites
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: www.metwashairports.com
Airport Information: www.quickaid.com
Discount travel sites
www.expedia.com www.travelocity.com
www.cheaptickets.com www.travelzoo.com
Local transportation sites
Washington Metrorail (bus and subway): www.wmata.com
Maryland Transit Administration Home Page: http://www.mtamaryland.com
Amtrak: www.amtrak.com
SuperShuttle: www.supershuttle.com or 1-800-BLUE VAN
Virginia Railway Express Home Page: www.vre.org
Diamond Taxi Cab Company: 202-387-6200
Alexandria Yellow Cab Company: 703-549-2500
Arlington Red Top Cab: 703-522-3333
Arlington/Falls Church Blue Top Cab: 703-243-8294
Other D.C. Resources
The Washington Post Home Page – good site for everything from
local news, to apartment searches, to the city’s best restaurants;
www.washingtonpost.com
The Washington Times Home Page – another good site for local
news, classified ads, and information about the metro area; www.washtimes.com
The Washington D.C. Pages Home Page – one of the city’s
best resources for information on events, concerts, clubs, and other
activities in the D.C. area; http://www.dcpages.com
The Monthly Buzz Home Page – get schedules for parties, happy
hours, wine tastings, fundraising events, and other gatherings. You
can add your name to the Monthly Buzz listserve and receive e-mail
updates two times each month; http://www.monthlybuzz.com
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