Volunteer Legal Internships - Conditions of Employment
- Eligibility
- Security and Suitability Issues
- Drug Testing
- Multiple Internships Within 12 Months
- Offer Response Deadlines
- Withdrawal of An Offer of Employment
- Citizenship Requirements
- Veterans' Preference Eligibility
Students enrolled at least half-time in law school may participate in volunteer legal internships up to the time of graduation from law school. Law school graduates who are enrolled in graduate law programs (e.g., LL.M. programs) at least half time may also serve as volunteer interns.
Security and Suitability Issues:
Prior to entry on duty, all interns undergo a suitability determination based on information provided in their security forms, a credit report, and fingerprint check. This process can take two to three months to complete. The Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) can advise candidates considering employment on issues regarding potential suitability problems. Law students who have received offers should contact the individual listed in their formal offer letter. Other law students should reach out to their Career Services Office to contact OARM.
It is the policy of the Department of Justice to achieve a drug-free workplace. Drug testing for volunteer internships may be required at the discretion of the employing office.
Multiple Internships Within 12 Months:
Working at the Department requires access to DOJ information, DOJ IT systems, and DOJ facilities. Security regulations permit short term access for not more than six months without requiring a background investigation (BI). If one internship or multiple internships within a twelve-month period last more than six months in total, a background investigation is required. In some cases, organizations sponsoring legal interns may not be in a position to justify the time and cost of the BI process in these short-term employment situations. If you have served in a prior DOJ internship/externship and are considering a second DOJ internship within 12 months of the start of the first internship, and the total time spent in DOJ internships would be more than 6 months, we encourage you to raise this issue with the hiring component prior to accepting an offer.
Volunteer legal internship offers to law students will remain open for at least 14 days after the date the offer was issued. Components have the discretion to extend response deadlines.
Withdrawal of An Offer of Employment:
The Department can withdraw an offer of employment if the suitability inquiry reveals information that precludes a security and/or suitability clearance. Common problems that arise in background investigations that may result in the withdrawal of an offer include a history of unlawful use of drugs, failure to fulfill tax obligations, failure to comply with financial obligations, failure to register with the Selective Service, or misrepresentation on the security forms.
Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act. Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans’ Preference Eligibility:
There is no formal process to apply veterans preference to unpaid, volunteer positions. Preference in hiring applies to permanent and temporary positions in the competitive and excepted services of the executive branch. The Department of Justice’s policy in volunteer legal intern placement is to select the best qualified applicant for the position in terms of skills, background, knowledge, and relevant experience.
If you are a veteran and wish to learn more, please visit the Department’s Veterans Employment Program Office website.