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Legal Careers

Law Student Volunteer, Spring Semester

Hiring Organization
National Security Division (NSD)
Hiring Office
Foreign Investment Review Staff (FIRS)
Location:
600 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004 - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

The National Security Division's (NSD) Foreign Investment Review Staff, United States Department of Justice (DOJ), seeks spring interns for positions located in Washington, D.C.

The National Security Division's Foreign Investment Review Staff (FIRS) serves as DOJ's representative on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) - a multi-agency body that reviews acquisitions of U.S. companies by foreign entities in order to determine the effects of the acquisition on national security - and Team Telecom - an informal inter-agency group that provides opinions to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as to whether granting particular licenses to foreign-owned or -controlled entities will pose national security risks. FIRS attorneys review foreign acquisitions and provide recommendations regarding these acquisitions to the Deputy Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and other senior leadership. Recommendations can include the negotiation and drafting of national security agreements and, in some circumstances, the drafting of recommendations to the President of the United States. Team Telecom reviews FCC license applications to determine if a proposed communication provider can pose a risk to national security that is sufficient to merit the imposition of mitigating measures or opposition to the license. FIRS attorneys also supervise compliance of national security agreements between the Department of Justice and foreign-owned U.S. businesses.

In addition to working with a variety of Justice Department components, FIRS works closely with the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Defense, and the Intelligence Community. FIRS also handles a variety of matters at the nexus of international trade, national security, law, intelligence, and policy and represents the Department in several inter-agency committees before the National Security Council.

In the above-described capacities, FIRS supports the mission of the National Security Division, which is to coordinate the Department's efforts in carrying out its top priority of preventing and combating terrorism and protecting the national security. NSD provides legal and policy advice on national security matters, litigates counterterrorism, counterespionage and foreign intelligence surveillance matters, represents the government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and other federal trial and appellate courts, and conducts oversight over Federal Bureau of Investigation national security investigations and foreign intelligence collection.

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

Intern projects may include: researching facts and legal questions, drafting memoranda or other legal and policy analyses, conducting intra- or inter-agency coordination, organizing contracts, evaluating contractual deliverables, preparing briefing material, conducting elements of national security risk assessments, and assisting with presentations and supporting materials for the Chief, Foreign Investment and Corporate Engagement.

Internship Location: Washington, DC

Qualifications

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. law school at the time of application and throughout their internship. Strong research and writing skills are required. Prior interest or experience in national security is highly preferred.

Spring Internship: January-May (a minimum of two full days per week required)

Application Process

Cover letter, resume with two references, transcript (official or unofficial), and a writing sample (not to exceed ten pages). Please submit these materials AS ONE PDF via email to ebony.johnson@usdoj.gov. Paper or faxed applications will not be considered.

Application Deadline:

Spring 2018 - August 31, 2017

Salary

Volunteer (uncompensated). If your school offers interns academic or work study, we will work with you to meet school requirements whenever possible.

Number of Positions
2

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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.

Updated August 3, 2017