What does the Bureau of Competition look for in a law student?

• The Bureau seeks talented and dedicated law students with an exceptional level of commitment to protecting consumers by enforcing the nation’s antitrust laws. We look for candidates with a strong background in economics or business who are interested in serving the public’s interest. We seek students with substantive experience from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, writing skills, leadership, and involvement in their law schools and communities.

Are summer interns assigned to a specific division?

• Yes, you will be assigned to a specific division of the Bureau during your internship. We want our clerks to become fully integrated within an investigative team and to be given substantive work during the summer, so you will be paired with a small group of attorneys during the Summer Program. Both first year and second year law students work as members of an investigative team with experienced attorneys in one of three practice areas: Mergers, Anticompetitive Practices, and Health Care. Assignments are made in the spring and are based on managers’ preferences, student preferences and experience, and workload requirements.

What types of assignments do summer interns receive?

• Summer interns receive substantive legal work during the Summer Program. Assignments may include: drafting pleadings, discovery requests and responses; appearing in court or at hearings and depositions with Bureau of Competition attorneys; attending meetings with parties and their outside counsel; leading interview calls and summarizing findings through written reports; reviewing documents; and researching a wide range of legal issues. The type of work given to summer law clerks is similar in complexity to assignments given to junior attorneys.

What kind of training will I receive as a summer intern?

• The Bureau of Competition is committed to providing interns with a comprehensive training program. In the first week of June, you will participate in a day-long training session to orient you with the Bureau and the work of each of our divisions. We also organize brown bag sessions for you to develop skills as well as learn about different career opportunities available within the Bureau.

When are callback and offer decisions made?

• We try to make callback decisions as quickly as possible after the initial interview, generally within three weeks. Offers will be made on a rolling basis, so early applications via bcrecruit@ftc.gov are encouraged. The Federal Trade Commission follows the NALP General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decisions.

Will the Bureau pay for travel costs?

• No, we do not pay travel costs.