Law Student Volunteer (Hammond), Spring 2022

USAO Northern District of Indiana
Law Student Volunteer, Academic Year
5400 FEDERAL PLZ STE 1500
HAMMOND, IN 46320
United States
22-INN-11273276-LC
About the Office: 

Our mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime, seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to administer and enforce the Nation's laws to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. We strive to build a stronger office through recruitment efforts and maintain the high standards of the office by promoting professional development. We seek to build a legacy of excellence. In all matters, it is our mission to represent the people of the United States in a manner that will instill confidence in the fairness and integrity of our office and the judicial system, and to conduct our work with the highest integrity.

The United States Attorney's Office is the chief law enforcement office in the District and is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the Northern District of Indiana. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The District has three offices located in Hammond, Fort Wayne, and South Bend. Please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin.

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.

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: 

The Northern District of Indiana is currently soliciting applications for the Spring 2022 Semester.

If selected for this internship, your typical work assignments will include performing research projects and assisting in trial preparation. It is likely that interns will work on an appellate briefs. Interns will be assigned projects from both the Civil and Criminal Divisions. Interns will work with several different Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) over the course of the internship. Through research projects and interaction with the AUSAs, interns will be introduced to the federal system and receive an introduction to federal procedures in both the civil and criminal settings. Interns are encouraged to attend court with the AUSAs during the internship and watch court proceedings. In limited instances, interns may be allowed to represent the government in hearings before the various federal courts. Each Branch Office of the USAO for the Northern District of Indiana is located in a federal courthouse. This enables the interns to meet Judges, their clerks and network among federal officials. Our goal is to introduce our interns to the federal legal system, to develop their legal skills and, above all, to enjoy their internship.

Qualifications: 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • You must be a United States Citizen/Naturalized U.S. Citizen;
  • Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
  • You must be enrolled at least as a half-time student and in good academic standing with an accredited law school;
  • You must be able to work at least 10 hours per week for duration of internship (at least 135 hours spread over the entire semester);
  • You must be able to pass a background investigation that will cover employment history, criminal history, credit history, foreign travel, residency, citizenship, and drug/alcohol use; and you must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Residency Requirement:  For a total of three years (not necessarily consecutive years) of the past five years immediately prior to applying for a position.
  • Outside Employment Restriction:  Interns are not permitted to work in a legal capacity - private or public- throughout the duration of the internship.
  • Telework Eligibility:  While this position has been identified as being eligible for telework, an interns’s eligibility to telework will be at the agency’s discretion in accordance with established policies.
  • You must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine, subject only to such exceptions as required by law.
  • You must meet all of the requirements for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Students must have completed at least one full semester with an accredited law school at the beginning of the current academic term. Preference will be given to second and third-year law students.

EDUCATION:

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov

Salary: 
This internship is not compensated. No matching contributions available. Work-study or academic credit may be available through a student's law school. Students must make arrangements through his/her law school.
Travel: 
No travel required for this internship.
Application Process: 

You are REQUIRED to apply online at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/618134600

You must provide a complete Application Package BY 11:59pm EST by the closing date of this announcement. A complete application package includes the following required documentation:

  • Online Application Questionnaire - This is completed automatically during the apply online process.
  • Cover Letter - Should include a personal statement reflecting your background and your interest in participating in this program.
  • Resume - Please include employment history, dates of employment (MM/DDDD), education history, volunteer activities, and awards/achievements (scholastic/professional).
  • Legal Writing Sample – Should be no longer than 25 pages.
  • Unofficial Law school transcripts – Should clearly show the name of the academic institution, grades for completed coursework, cumulative GPA, and current academic standing. In addition, first year law students should include any undergraduate transcripts.
  • If applicable: Veterans' Preference documentation - See Required Veterans' Preference Documentation below. Please note, if you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming in your application, check the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference, and submit the required documentation as specified below.

Required Veterans' Preference Documentation:
-In order to verify your Veterans' Preference entitlement, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); or if you are a current Active Duty member you must submit a certification on appropriate military branch letterhead that indicates: 1) your service dates, 2) expected discharge or release date from active duty with a release/discharge date no later than 120 days from the closing date of this announcement, and 3) the character of service (e.g., Honorable); or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower if a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" dated October 2013 and all the required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.

Please see the official vacancy announcement at www.usajobs.gov for additional information for how to apply for this position.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, November 12, 2021
Relocation Expenses: 
Any relocation expenses will not be authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated October 21, 2021

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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.