Legal Careers
Law Student Volunteer, Academic Year (Fall 2025 - Spring 2026)
Washington , DC 20005 - United States
The Intellectual Property Section of the Commercial Litigation Branch represents the United States in matters where a patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret is at issue. Many of the cases the Section handles involve complex technologies, such as pharmaceutical compositions and highly sophisticated electronic devices. Litigation forms the majority of the Section's workload. Our attorneys represent the United States in suits in the United States Court of Federal Claims under Section 1498 of Title 28 of the United States Code. That statute provides patent and copyright owners a means of resolving claims of manufacture or use of patented inventions or the infringement of copyrights by government agencies and, in some cases, government contractors. The Section also advises and represents government agencies with respect to trademark and other intellectual property matters.
As a Law Student Volunteer you will conduct research, draft memoranda, and assist in discovery and trial efforts. you will be given assignments in different subject matters, providing exposure to a variety of intellectual property practice areas. Our goal is to introduce you to the federal legal system in general and our office's practice areas in particular, and to develop your legal skills.
Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time and have completed at least one semester of law school. First-year (second semester), second- and third year law students are encouraged to apply. Superior research and writing skills, an eye for detail, and a desire to work as part of a small team of professionals are essential. A technical background and a demonstrated interest in intellectual property law are strongly preferred. Must be a U.S. Citizen or national and be able to pass a background check. Interns must be able to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week for 8 weeks.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, current law school transcript, and legal writing sample 5-10 pages in length via email to civil.ip@usdoj.gov. It is best to send all documents in PDF format. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Volunteer (uncompensated). Course credit, work-study, and externship opportunities are available depending on school requirements.
Department Policies
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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.
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.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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.
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).
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.
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.