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Summer Internships

The United States Attorney's Office offers unpaid summer internships for students in law school. The 2024 summer internship program will start on May 29, 2024 and end on July 31, 2024. This program is full-time (9am-5pm) in-person in our Philadelphia office. Interns are assigned to work on both criminal and civil matters.

The program allows interns to work on and observe cases litigated in the United States District Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Interns participate with Assistant United States Attorneys in all phases of litigation, from investigations through trial and appeal.

Interns also attend training sessions in which they learn relevant skills and hear from various participants in the criminal justice system. The speakers include judges and staff members of this office. When possible, the office also sponsors field trips to relevant locations (such as prisons and local courthouses).

The office participates in work study programs but does not provide any matching funds.

Requirements

To be hired, an applicant must be:

  • currently enrolled in a law school
  • a United States citizen
  • selected by the internship committee
  • successfully cleared following a background check undertaken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (which includes inquiry into illegal drug use and bad debts)

Application Process

The summer internship program is open to all currently enrolled law students (1st year, 2nd year, attending at night or part time). It is not open to those who have already graduated law school.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will begin accepting applications for the 2024 summer internship program on December 1, 2023, and the submission period will close on January 5, 2024. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and consist of a cover letter and a resume which must be e-mailed to: USAPAE.Summer.Intern.Recruit@usdoj.gov

  • The internship committee selects candidates to interview from the resumes submitted. Please do not call the office to attempt to arrange an interview.  If you are not attending a Philadelphia area school but are going to be in the Philadelphia area on particular dates, please specify those dates in your cover letter.
  • Candidates who are interviewed are asked to provide a law school transcript and writing sample (5 pages).
  • Candidates selected by the committee must provide information for a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check.
  • Final approval for all applicants is obtained from the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

The United States is an Equal Opportunity Employer

 

Updated November 13, 2023