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