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Northern District Of Illinois Law Student Volunteer Intern Program

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois offers intern positions to 12-18 law students during the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. The students are required to work 16 hours a week for 12 weeks during the Spring and Fall semesters. Students participating in our Summer program are required to work for 40 hours a week for 10 weeks.

Our intern positions are only offered to students who are enrolled in law school. All of our intern positions are uncompensated. Interns may not work at another legal job while working as an intern in the United States Attorney’s Office. Some schools offer work study programs whereby the students may receive money from their schools or through grants they apply for through their school. Some schools offer class credit for participating in our intern program. Students should check with their individual schools for this information. The United States Attorney’s Office will work with the schools by providing information or evaluations that may be required by each school. Summer only intern opportunities may be available in the Rockford Branch Office

The work of law student interns includes assisting in all aspects of trial preparation, legal research, writing memoranda of law, drafting pleadings and appellate briefs, assisting in preparation and taking of depositions, assisting in pre-trial conferences and the trials of civil and criminal cases.

Spring Semester Interns*

  • January through May
  • Notices sent to schools early May
  • Application packages due early September
  • Interviews through the end of September
  • Offer letters and security clearance paperwork sent early October and due back by mid-October

Summer Semester Interns*

  • Late May through August
  • Notices sent to schools mid-October
  • Application packages due mid-December
  • Interviews late December through mid-January
  • Offer letters and security clearance paperwork sent late January and due back mid-February.

Fall Semester Interns*

  • September through December
  • Notices sent to schools mid-February
  • Application packages due date mid-April
  • Interviews through late May
  • Offer letters and security clearance paperwork sent early June and due back mid June.

*Dates subject to change.

All offers made to law students for intern positions are contingent upon the student passing the security clearance process through the Department of Justice. Submitted references will be checked. United States Citizenship is required.

For more details, go to: Volunteer Legal Internships


Questions Regarding our Intern Program should be directed to:

Denise DesCamp
Administrative Assistant for the Intern Program
(312) 353-0518

United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Illinois
219 South Dearborn Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
 

Updated February 22, 2024