Year-round Law Clerk Internship
About the Office: The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) regulates the credit industry in Texas. The agency is primarily divided into two areas: Examination and Licensing.
About the Legal Division: The Legal Department is comprised of three full-time employees: a General Counsel, an Assistant General Counsel, and a Legal Assistant. The Legal Department’s primary function is to provide legal support the entire agency. We primarily support the Commissioner, the Examination Department, and the Licensing Department. Our trial docket consists mainly of upholding the denial of licensing applications and taking enforcement actions against both licensees and non-licensees. These actions are conducted before an administrative law judge. The rules governing these cases are the Contested Case Rules of the Finance Commission and the Administrative Procedures Act.
We are routinely asked to interpret and apply the Texas Finance Code, the Texas Constitution, and the United States Constitution. The Legal Department typically researches issues in the following areas of law: credit, secured transactions, administrative law, litigation, constitutional law, federal preemption, consumer law, criminal law, and contract law.
About the Internship: The Law Clerk Internship is a volunteer position. The program allows interns to work on a project of their choosing; interns are given a choice from 3 or 4 different projects. Most projects are designed to produce a writing sample that the intern may find valuable when seeking future employment. Interns are also allowed to assist counsel in preparing for trials that occur during the term of the internship, including preparing witnesses and attending trial. Enrollment in law school is usually required to participate in an internship.
The OCCC is looking for interns year round. In the past, the OCCC has accommodated students who did not live in Austin as well as students who could not commit to working an entire semester.
Requirements for Law Clerk Intern Candidates: The OCCC seeks Law Clerk Interns who are analytical, able to challenge and be challenged, and willing to work in a team environment.
To Apply for a Law Clerk Internship: Interested candidates should contact Sealy Hutchings, General Counsel to arrange for an interview. Please send a letter explaining your interest in our agency. You may forward the letter by email to sealy.hutchings@occc.state.tx.us.
