Legal Careers
Law Student Volunteer, Civil Division OFL/OIJA Offices (Spring 2026)
Washington, DC 20530 - United States
The Office of Foreign Litigation (OFL) safeguards the United States Government’s interests in litigation pending in foreign courts, handling both civil and criminal matters, with the majority of cases being defensive in nature. These cases span a broad array of issues reflecting the extensive international activities of the U.S. government. OFL is also responsible for affirmative litigation, undertaking cases such as those involving procurement fraud or disputes arising from federal contracts abroad. Staff attorneys coordinate with other Department of Justice components, federal agencies, and U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to address complex legal challenges presented by foreign legal systems. The office provides authoritative advice and works to secure successful outcomes in cases that may have far-reaching diplomatic and legal consequences.
The Office of International Judicial Assistance (OIJA) is designated as the United States Central Authority for several significant international conventions. These include the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory, and its Additional Protocol. OIJA fulfills U.S. treaty obligations by processing over 500 formal requests for evidence originating from foreign courts each year, ensuring compliance with U.S. law and procedure. In addition to facilitating these cross-border judicial processes, OIJA interprets complex treaties and collaborates with both domestic and international partners. The office’s efforts help maintain the rule of law and promote international cooperation in civil litigation, serving as an essential resource for federal, state, and local authorities seeking or responding to judicial assistance from abroad.
Interns with OFL and OIJA during the Spring 2026 semester will contribute to a caseload focused on international litigation and treaty-based judicial assistance. Duties will vary but are expected to include:
- Conducting legal research and analysis on international, administrative, and comparative law topics
- Reviewing and assessing incoming requests for judicial assistance from foreign courts for compliance with applicable treaties and statutes
- Drafting memoranda, legal correspondence (e.g., referral or rejection letters), and case summaries
- Supporting litigation strategy through fact development, legal interpretation, and coordination with DOJ components and overseas posts
All work must be conducted on site in the Washington, DC office. Remote work is not permitted.
Term & Work Schedule
- Spring Term: January 2026 – May 2026
- Minimum required weekly hours: 20 hours/week
- Minimum total duration: 10 continuous weeks
Eligibility
- Open to current second and third year (2L/3L) law students
- Enrolled at least half-time in an accredited U.S. law school
- Must be in good academic standing
- Must be a U.S citizen or national
- Must be able to pass a background check
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated legal research and writing experience
- Completion of coursework in international law, civil procedure, or comparative law
- Interest or academic background in international law, civil litigation, or treaty law
- Foreign language proficiency is helpful but not required
- Ability to work independently, manage assignments, and meet deadlines
- Commitment to professionalism and confidentiality
Submit the following documents in a single PDF titled LastName_FirstName_Spring2026.pdf:
- Cover letter
- Resume (not to exceed two pages)
- Law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
- Brief legal writing sample (5-10 pages preferred)
Send your application to OFLIntern@usdoj.gov with "Spring 2026 Law Student Volunteer Application" in the subject line.
Application Timeline
- Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Application review begins: September 1, 2025 (rolling basis)
This is an unpaid volunteer position. Participants may receive academic credit, externship credit, or Federal Work Study compensation, subject to the requirements of their institution.
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.