Law Internships (Volunteer /Academic Credit)

Student Intern Program
Intern Application Process
 

Student Intern Program

The USAO offers a limited number of volunteer student internships to eligible second and third year law students at its office in Concord, New Hampshire. Responsibilities vary depending on the needs of the office, but interns can expect to research and draft motions in pending criminal and civil cases; to research legal issues related to charging documents, investigations, and appellate briefs; to participate in the preparation of cases for trial; and to observe trials and other court proceedings on which they are working or in which they are interested. We also expect to offer summer interns the opportunity to participate in a mock criminal trial. The office goals are to introduce interns to the federal legal system, develop their legal research and writing skills, and provide a challenging and rewarding internship experience.

Intern Application Process

All employees and volunteers at the USAO are required to have security clearances prior to entry on duty. To ensure that valuable internship time is not consumed by the background check process during the academic year, interested students should be prepared to apply for internships with the USAO as follows:

• For Fall semester, applications no later than May 1.
• For Spring semester, applications no later than October 1.
• For Summer semester, applications no later than January 12.

Applications shall consist of a resume, grade transcript (if available), and statement of the student’s interest. Applications can be emailed to AUSA Georgiana Konesky at Georgiana.Konesky@usdoj.gov .

After the interview process, internship candidates are selected and contacted to re-affirm their interest and to review the various potential obstacles to obtaining a background clearance. If the internship candidate believes that there will be no potential obstacles to obtaining such a clearance, he or she will be provided with the necessary papers for a clearance application. These are to be diligently completed by the prospective internship candidate in a timely manner and submitted as directed by the USAO in order to permit sufficient time for the clearance process to be completed by the commencement of the academic year. Failure to obtain the necessary clearance will disqualify the internship candidate from further consideration. In order to provide an early and clear understanding of the areas that are likely to prevent approval of a security clearance, interested students should take note of the following problem areas relevant to the clearance process. These include:

1. ) Lack of United States citizenship;
2. ) Failure to file income tax returns;
3. ) Failure to pay income tax;
4. ) Delinquent credit card or other debts;
5. ) Student loan defaults;
6. ) Student loans that should be, but are not, in payment status and that have not been given appropriate extensions;
7. ) Other significant financial difficulties;
8. ) A record of criminal convictions or domestic violence;
9. ) Significant history of psychological illness;
10. ) Illegal drug use in the recent past; and
11. ) Excessive use or abuse of alcohol.

In the event a student is aware that such circumstances are likely to arise in the course of the background check, care should be taken by the student to consider seriously whether continuing the application process is worthwhile. Potential student applicants should be aware that the knowing falsification or concealment of a material fact on the background check application is a federal felony offense punishable by a term of up to five years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.

Internships at the USAO are at will and subject to termination in the discretion of the USAO. For example, the USAO reserves the right to discharge a student intern at any time for conduct that is disruptive to the function of the Office including, but not limited to, the failure to comport oneself in a professional and businesslike manner, the harassment of any member of the USAO or court personnel, or any conduct which constitutes an offense against the United States or is otherwise a violation of state or local law.

The U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire, is an equal opportunity employer. Well-qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or any other non-merit factors.