Law Student Volunteer (Fall 2026)

Summary

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is distinct among U. S. Attorney’s Offices due to the breadth and scale of its work. It acts as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital. Locally, it handles cases ranging from misdemeanor drug possession to murders, while federally, it handles cases ranging from child pornography to gangs, financial fraud, and terrorism. The Office also represents the district in civil suits.

Duties

• Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work.
• It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital.
• On the local side, AUSAs assigned to the
• Division prosecute cases in the
• Court of the
• Columbia ranging from misdemeanors to homicides, and appeals of those convictions are argued in the
• On the federal side, AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecute federal crimes in the U.S.
• District Court for the District of Columbia, and appeals of those convictions are argued in the U.S.
• Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
• AUSAs assigned to the Appellate Division argue the direct appeals of all criminal convictions in both the local and federal Courts of Appeal.
• AUSAs in the Special Proceedings Division handle post-trial litigation involving habeas claims, record sealing, and other requests for extraordinary relief in the trial courts.
• The Civil Division further defends the United States in civil suits brought in the District of Columbia.
• Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is seeking second and third year law students for our unpaid Fall Internship Program, which runs from September 14, 2026 to December 11, 2026.
• Law Student Interns will be responsible for drafting various legal documents such as responsive motions, dispositive motions, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs.
• They will also gain familiarity with the
• Evidence, the local rules of practice for the
• Court, and the local and
• Federal rules of
• Interns may also attend dispositions and meetings with agents and accompany attorneys to observe court proceedings.
• Responsibilities increase and assignments become more complex as training and experience progress.
• This internship experience provides unique exposure to the inner workings of the criminal justice system and participants receive invaluable mentorship from some of the nation's best litigators.
• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
• For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
• This is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Intern Program.
• This appointment may be extended until the selectee's educational program requirements have been completed.
• After successful completion of the program requirements, the individual may at agency discretion be converted to a TERM or permanent appointment.
• For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov. Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Required Documents

• You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
• Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Required: A cover letter.
• Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages
• You will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages
• See USAJOBS for formatting requirements.
• Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job: Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade), Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• Required: Current Unofficial transcript or proof of current enrollment, e.g., recent letter from the registrar's office. (Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required prior to your first day.)
• Required, if applicable: Veterans' Preference documentation. (See also required
• Veterans' Preference Documentation below.) Please note, if you are entitled to
• Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the required documentation as specified below.
• Veterans' Preference Documentation: In order to verify your
• Veterans' Preference entitlement, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); or if you are a current Active Duty member you must submit a certification
• On appropriate military branch letterhead that indicates: 1) your service dates, 2) expected discharge or release date from active duty with a release/discharge date no later than 120 days from the closing date of this announcement, and 3)
• The character of service (e.g., Honorable); In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower if a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran,
• You must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," dated October 2013 and the required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.
• Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.
• If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political
• Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office by providing a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following
• Information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A,
• Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.