LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEER, ACADEMIC YEAR

Office of Legal Policy (OLP)
Law Student Volunteer, Academic Year
Department of Justice
Washington, DC 20530
United States
OLP 2024 SPRING INTERN
About the Office: 

The mission of the Office of Legal Policy (OLP) is to develop and implement the Department’s significant policy initiatives, handle special projects that implicate the interests of multiple Department components, coordinate with other interested Department components and other Executive Branch agencies, and serve as the primary policy advisor to the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General.  OLP also reviews and coordinates regulations promulgated by the Department and all of its components, and reviews draft regulations of other agencies that are circulated for review.  In addition, OLP assists the Attorney General and White House Counsel’s Office with responsibilities in vetting candidates for federal judgeships, and coordinates the judicial nomination and confirmation process with the White House and the Senate. 

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Job Description: 

OLP law student interns will conduct legal and non-legal research and analysis, prepare memoranda and talking points, and assemble briefing books and other materials relating to legal and policy issues for the Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorneys General, and other members of the office.  This is a substantive, hands-on internship: OLP interns attend and participate in Department meetings and calls, as appropriate, and will meet and learn from attorneys throughout the Department.  By the end of the internship, law students should have a better awareness of their legal interests, whether to pursue a career in government service, and how the Department and other government agencies operate.   

Minimum Weeks Required: 8, with at least 20 hours per week.

Internship Location: Washington, DC; on-site.  Interns working a minimum of 35 hours per week may be eligible for a hybrid work option which OLP will determine on a case-by-case basis.  

Qualifications: 

This internship is open to all law students.  Excellent research and writing skills, including Lexis+ and Westlaw proficiency, are required.  The successful applicant will collaborate effectively with OLP and other Department colleagues, exercise sound judgment, and have a positive attitude.  Demonstrated commitment to the Department’s mission and prior work experience with legal policy, legislation, regulatory matters, or judicial nominations preferred but not required.

Salary: 
This position is unpaid. Applicants may be able to access law school, public interest, or other acceptable funding sources.
Travel: 
None
Application Process: 

Please submit a cover letter (specifying the dates of your availability), resume, references, and your most recent law school transcript (can be unofficial) in a consolidated PDF file (the file name to be saved as: YourLastName_YourFirstName_Spring2024InternApplication) to the following email address: (OLPinbox@usdoj.gov).

Please note that OLP will review applications and extend offers on a rolling basis.  Therefore, the hiring process may conclude prior to the November 1, 2023 deadline.  

Application Deadline: 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Relocation Expenses: 
None
Number of Positions: 
Up to 3
Updated August 31, 2023

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Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity:  The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor.  The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.

Reasonable Accommodations:  This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities:  The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements.  Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority.  Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.   

Suitability and Citizenship:  It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.  Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. 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 (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). 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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans:  There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

USAO Residency Requirement:  Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof.  See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.