OIL-ENF prosecutes affirmative civil enforcement actions arising out of immigration offenses, including the civil prosecution of naturalization fraud. OIL-ENF has principal Departmental authority to coordinate and handle civil denaturalization affirmative litigation, including cases against terrorists, violent criminals, child sex abusers and other sex offenders, human rights violators, war criminals, and other serious criminals. The section prosecutes such actions in all 94 federal district courts and handles the appeals arising out of such actions in the federal circuit courts of appeals. OIL-ENF also regularly provides advice on criminal naturalization fraud prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. § 1425 and participates in such prosecutions on a case-by-case basis.
The office is located close to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - a short walk from Gallery Place/Chinatown, Archives/Navy Memorial, and the Judiciary Square Metro stations.
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.
This legal internship provides a unique and challenging opportunity for highly-motivated law students to work within the Department of Justice section dedicated to investigating and litigating revocation of naturalization illegally obtained by terrorists, war criminals, sex offenders, and other serious criminals. Interns will work on some of the most significant, complex, and visible immigration enforcement cases being litigated today. Interns, under the direct supervision of a Department of Justice attorney-mentor, will experience all phases of litigation, which may include: case investigation and development; drafting of complaints, briefs, and legal memoranda; participating in discovery, including attending depositions; and attending and preparing for oral argument. Responsibilities will generally include conducting legal research, preparing memoranda, and providing legal support for active cases. Interns will be expected to draft and work with OIL-ENF attorneys to finalize at least one pleading or motion and to prepare and deliver a mock oral argument on an assigned case before a panel of subject-matter experts.
Acceptance of applications will be limited to law students who have completed at least one year of law school by the start date of the internship and who are enrolled in law school pursuing a Juris Doctor degree. Successful candidates must have outstanding academic records, superior writing skills, and be in good academic standing at their law school. Only U.S. citizens or nationals will be considered, and candidates must be able to pass a background investigation to determine suitability for Federal employment following an offer. Applicants must commit to working at least 8 weeks for at least 35 hours per week.
Prior to entering on duty, interns must disclose any stipend or compensation for work done as part of this program to permit appropriate ethics and professional responsibility review by the Department of Justice. Such disclosures will include the sponsor's identity, a copy of any sponsorship agreement, and the amount of compensation.
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.
Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, a writing sample of no more than 10 pages, and two professional references to internships.oil-enf@usdoj.gov. The application must be consolidated into a single PDF document.