Office of the Pardon Attorney Student Opportunities

Volunteer Non-Law Internships

The Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON) is pleased to accept applications for our 2025 Volunteer Non-Law Internship Program. PARDON will provide students with the opportunity to work directly with attorneys and staff across our office to gain hands-on skills and experience needed for today’s government. During the internship program, students learn skills such as business writing, critical analysis techniques, problem solving and new technologies by working closely with government professionals. The goal is to prepare them for entry level opportunities in civil service with real-world work experiences.

The Office of the Pardon Attorney offers unpaid internships for students currently enrolled in a qualifying college (two- and four-year) degree program. Students with a demonstrated interest in criminal justice would be a particularly good fit for the position. These volunteer internships afford interns the opportunity to develop professionally and to explore career goals.

Selected candidates will report directly to the Senior Advisor to the Pardon Attorney. Candidates will be expected to work on-site, in-person at our office in Washington, DC. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student
• Minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
• Must be eligible to work for the United States federal government
• Must be able to work in-person in Washington, DC

Application Process

Applicants interested in pursuing non–paid, volunteer internship with PARDON are encouraged to send the following to Pardon.InternVacancies@usdoj.gov with the subject heading “Internship Application”:  

• Cover letter
• Resume (maximum 2-pages)
• Transcript (Unofficial is acceptable)
• Availability
  • Please provide a minimum of 8 weeks to a maximum of 6 months of availability. Additionally, provide the days of the week and time (in 2-hour increments).

Individuals selected for the Volunteer Non-Law Student Internship may be required to complete fingerprinting, a drug test, and a background questionnaire.

Applications will be considered on a rolling-basis. The posting will remain open until the open positions are filled.