Honors Fellowship Program

Applicant Qualifications

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel seeks applications for its Honors Fellowship Program only from:

law students at accredited law schools completing their third year in 2008 (top ten percent or GPA of 3.0 preferred)
current judicial clerks recently graduated from accredited law schools

The Fellowship begins in September, 2009, and the Fellow is expected to commit to a two-year term. A new Fellow will be hired each year, and thus two Fellows serve concurrently.

Fellowship Description

The Office of General Counsel’s Honors Fellowship is designed for applicants who are about to graduate from law school or complete a judicial clerkship. OGC is seeking applicants with excellent analytical and writing abilities, a strong commitment to public service, effective “people” skills, and an ability to take on significant responsibility.

The Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for entry-level law students or clerks to join an office that provides legal counsel to EPA policymakers, thus providing critical input to rules, regulations, and guidance documents that are promulgated and issued to implement the Agency’s statutory obligations.
OGC offers a diverse, supportive, and family-friendly work environment. The salary and comprehensive benefits will be at the GS-11 level (currently starting at $58,206), or, for qualified applicants, may be at the GS-12 level (currently starting at $69,764).

The Office of General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency with primary responsibility for implementing the nation’s environmental laws. The Office of General Counsel employs approximately 150 lawyers, paralegals, and support staff.

Additional information about the Office's mission and functions can be found on the OGC Employment Opportunities web page.

Application Process

Applications for the two-year Fellowship beginning in September 2009 are now closed. Applicants wishing to apply for the Fellowship which begins in September 2010 should check this web page beginning in August 2009 for instructions.

The following items must be included in the application package:

A one-page resume including significant accomplishments, work experience, class rank (or equivalent indicator of academic performance), day and evening telephone numbers, and email address if available.
An official transcript of law school grades.
A personal essay, separate from any other cover letter, of no more than 300 words addressing the following topics.

A. Describe an experience that displays your commitment to public service or protecting human health and the environment.

B. Describe aspects of your experience or background that you believe are relevant but which might not be evident from the balance of your submission.
The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Please include a current or former employer and a law school professor or advisor.

Application packages may be submitted by e-mail to OGC_Fellowship@epa.gov, or by postal mail to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of General Counsel Recruitment Coordinator
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. (2311A)
Washington, DC 20460

Questions about the Office of General Counsel Honors Fellowship Program should be directed to Eudora Heath, OGC’s Recruitment Coordinator, on (202) 564-1747.

Selected applicants will be invited for interviews, at the candidate’s expense, in Washington, D.C. A writing sample will be required of each selected candidate prior to the interview. Offers will be made in November.

EPA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences. The Office of General counsel encourages all to apply.

Honors Fellowship Program

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