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Summer Law Intern Program

How would you like to get paid for the experience of a lifetime?

That is just what the Department’s Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) has to offer. The SLIP is the Department’s competitive recruitment program for compensated summer internships.  Law students who participate in the SLIP benefit from an exceptional legal experience and invaluable exposure to the Department of Justice.  Interns represent diverse backgrounds and  interests, and come from a wide range of law schools throughout the country.

Eligibility for the Summer Law Intern Program

Law students who have completed at least one full semester of legal study by the application deadline are eligible to apply. Most successful applicants intern the summer between their second and third year of law school; however, graduating law students who will enter a judicial clerkship or a full-time graduate law program may intern following graduation.  Part-time law students are also eligible to apply. All applicants should review eligibility rules.

Participating Components

Every year, various components and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices hire students through the SLIP.  Justice annually hires approximately 50 SLIP interns. Check out the list of the components participating this year along with the estimated number of positions available.

Selection Criteria

Justice takes pride in the fact that it considers the “whole candidate” when making selections for employment. Selections are made based on many elements of a candidate’s background, including a demonstrated commitment to government service, academic achievement, leadership, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, past employment, and extracurricular activities that relate to the work of the Department.

How to Apply

  • Applications must be submitted via the online application
  • For summer 2025, the application opens on July 31st and closes Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  • Read the application tips and checklist and assemble requested information before starting the online application.
  • Requests for an accommodation in order to complete the application should be directed to Deana Willis or AskOARMFor technical assistance in submitting your application, please contact the AVUE Help Desk via Live Chat at the top right of the application screen within the Avue Platform (available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., EST).

SLIP Deadlines & Key Dates

  • July 31: Application Opens
  • Tuesday, September 5, 2023:  Application Deadline
  • Early October: Interview Candidates Selected
  • Mid. Oct – early November: Telephone Interviews
  • Late Nov. – January/ February:  Offers Extended

Status Updates

Applicants can check their status online.  The Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management posts status updates at key decision points in the selection process.  The Community message board associated with the online application is also helpful to applicants with questions or who wish to review informational updates.  

Next Steps

The Department will update candidate status online to show selection for consideration for employment, analogous to selection for an interview. The online status will also show which component(s) selected the candidate in the "Selected By" column. Due to space constraints, a code is used for each component. Not all components conduct interviews and those that do generally interview by telephone.  Components independently contact SLIP candidates to schedule interviews, if desired. If you are selected for consideration for employment for the SLIP, or a component has contacted you for an interview, see the list of component contacts and component-specific requirements.  Questions regarding submissions or interviews should be directed to the appropriate component contacts.

Additional Information

Applications for the 2025 Summer Law Intern Program open July 31st and close on September 3, 2024.   

The submission deadline is Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (10:59 p.m. Central; 9:59 p.m. Mountain; 8:59 p.m. Pacific).  

Updated February 21, 2024