Legal Internship (Aug 2025)

Legal interns will support the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor, gaining hands-on experience in environmental, administrative, and Indian law while assisting with litigation and legal research.

Your Role:

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting legal research on environmental, administrative, and Indian law issues.
• Drafting legal memoranda, briefs, and motions.
• Assisting with discovery in active federal cases.
• Participating in conference calls and strategy sessions with agency counsel, Justice Department lawyers, and agency officials.
• Attending hearings and meetings in the Washington, D.C. area when possible.
• Resolving appeals under the Freedom of Information Act.
• Supporting the Department’s Ethics Office.
• Advising agencies on legal aspects of their mission and participating in complex civil litigation.

About You:

Candidates should possess the following qualifications:

• Must be a current 1L, 2L, or LLM student enrolled at least part-time in a Juris Doctorate or LLM program at an ABA-accredited law school.
• Must be in good academic standing and able to provide official documentation from their school.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background investigation.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify Selective Service registration or exemption.
• Native American candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Must maintain student status and good standing during the internship.
• Eligible students include undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time, public policy graduate students, first-year (second semester), second- and third-year law students, and law school graduates enrolled in graduate law programs at least half-time.

Compensation & Benefits:

• This is a volunteer position and does not qualify for salary or federal benefits.
• Eligible to participate in the Transit Subsidy Benefit Program.
• Students may receive academic credit if approved by their law school.

Training & Development:

• Interns gain practical legal experience through research, drafting, and participation in litigation and agency counseling.
• Opportunities to attend hearings, meetings, and strategy sessions with experienced attorneys.
• Exposure to a wide range of legal issues and federal agency operations.

Career Progression:

• Provides valuable experience for future legal careers in government, environmental law, administrative law, and related fields.
• Offers networking opportunities with attorneys and officials across the Department of the Interior and the Justice Department.

How to Apply:

• Applicants must submit the following documents as one consolidated PDF in the order below:
• Resume with two professional or academic references.
• Completed Request for Consideration Form (designate locations/organizations for consideration).
• Cover Letter addressed to "To Whom It May Concern."
• Copy of most recent transcript (official or unofficial).
• Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages).
• Submit all required documents through the USAJOBS application process, ensuring all eligibility questions and questionnaires are completed.

This job may close before the stated closing date, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible

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