Lana Oconnell
Law students seeking internships with federal courts have several options. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Program offers internships to students from high school to graduate level, allowing them to explore federal careers and earn a income. The Attorney General's Honors Program is a highly competitive recruitment program for entry-level attorneys, considering academic achievement, law review experience, and clinical experience. The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is another option, though specific requirements should be confirmed with individual law schools. The U.S. Department of Labor offers law student internships with the Atlanta Regional Solicitor's Office, providing litigation experience and exposure to employment law. The San Francisco Regional Solicitor's Office also offers internships with a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week, facilitating academic credit. These internships provide experience in federal district courts and administrative tribunals, preparing interns for a career in law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the internship | Volunteer positions, part-time or full-time |
| Work experience | Exposure to the federal work environment, missions, and responsibilities of various federal agencies and departments |
| Location | Local geographic region |
| Opportunities | Observe the judicial decision-making process, research and writing experience, see how a courtroom works, attend oral arguments, assist with research and drafting of the judge's opinions, etc. |
| Application process | Mark "APPLICATION" in large letters on all envelopes |
| Requirements | Academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, summer or part-time legal employment, specialized academic studies, work experience, extracurricular activities, etc. |
| Number of interns | 1800 volunteer interns selected each year |
| Internship programs | The Department of Justice Pathways (DOJ) Programs, Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP), Attorney General's Honors Program, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Judicial internships vs clerkships
Judicial internships and clerkships are both excellent opportunities for law students to gain experience and build a strong resume. Judicial internships are often volunteer positions that can be undertaken during the summer or the academic year. They provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the judicial system and gain research and writing experience. Interns work closely with judges and their staff, including law clerks, and may also attend oral arguments and court proceedings.
On the other hand, judicial clerkships are considered more prestigious and are usually paid positions. They are often undertaken after graduation and provide a unique insight into the judicial decision-making process. Clerks observe and assist judges in their daily work, including research and drafting of opinions. Clerkships are highly competitive, and judges tend to look for clerks with ties to their local geographic region.
One key difference between internships and clerkships is the level of responsibility. Interns may have more varied responsibilities, including legal research, writing memoranda, and assisting with case preparation. Clerks, on the other hand, have more focused responsibilities directly related to the judge's decision-making process. They may also have more opportunities to interact with attorneys, parties, and witnesses.
Another distinction is the duration of the position. Internships are typically shorter, ranging from a few weeks during the summer to a full academic year. Clerkships, on the other hand, usually last one or two years, providing a more long-term opportunity to learn and grow within the judicial system.
In terms of application processes, both internships and clerkships require a strong application package, including a well-written cover letter, a professional resume, and writing samples. For clerkship applications, it is especially important to emphasize research and writing experience, analytical skills, and any ties to the jurisdiction.
Overall, judicial internships and clerkships offer valuable experiences for law students at different stages of their careers. Internships provide a great introduction to the judicial world and can often lead to clerkship opportunities after graduation. Clerkships, on the other hand, offer a more in-depth and prestigious experience, providing new attorneys with a rare perspective on the judicial process.
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Application process
The application process for law student internships with federal courts varies depending on the specific court and program. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:
Identify the Opportunity
Start by researching the various federal courts and their internship programs. Federal courts at the state and national levels offer internships, including trial and appellate courts. Some notable examples include the Judicial Internships at Catholic Law in Washington, DC, and the Atlanta Regional Solicitor's Office internship program. You can also explore opportunities within the Department of Justice through the DOJ Pathways Programs, which include the Internship Program, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program.
Review Eligibility Criteria
Each internship program will have specific eligibility criteria that you must meet. For example, some internships may be open to all law students, while others may specifically target students in their second or third year of law school. Additionally, consider factors such as location and competitiveness when deciding where to apply. Judges often prefer applicants with ties to their local geographic region, as they may intend to mentor attorneys who will practice in the local legal community.
Prepare Your Application Materials
Application requirements may vary, but you will typically need to submit a resume or CV, a transcript, letters of recommendation, and a cover letter or statement of interest. Ensure your application materials highlight any relevant experience, academic achievements, legal aid or clinical experience, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment to public service and protecting workers' rights.
Submit Your Application
Follow the specific instructions provided by the court or program to which you are applying. For federal clerkship applications, ensure that you clearly mark "APPLICATION" in large letters on all transmittal envelopes. This helps distinguish your application from other types of court correspondence. Some internships may have application deadlines, so stay organized and apply well before the due date.
Interview Process
If your application is successful, you may be invited for an interview. Be prepared to schedule the interview promptly and make yourself available for the meeting. The interview is a chance for you to showcase your interest and suitability for the internship, so ensure you are well-informed about the role and the court.
Federal court internships are highly competitive, and the application process can be rigorous. However, these opportunities provide invaluable experience and can often lead to prestigious clerkship positions after graduation.
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Federal employment paths
Judicial Internships
Judicial internships are volunteer positions that provide an opportunity for law students to learn about the judicial world before graduation. Judicial internships can be full or part-time positions in a particular judge's chambers and can take place during the summer or academic year. Judges in federal and state courts hire judicial interns, who gain research and writing experience and observe courtroom proceedings and judicial decision-making. These internships can lead to post-graduate judicial clerkships, highly prestigious positions that allow new attorneys to observe the judicial decision-making process from a judge's perspective.
Volunteer Internships
The Department of Justice (DOJ) offers volunteer internships through its Pathways Programs, which include the Internship Program, Recent Graduates Program (RGP), and Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. The Internship Program provides paid opportunities for students to explore Federal careers while still in school, and successful completion may lead to permanent civil service jobs. The DOJ selects approximately 1800 volunteer interns annually, with around 800 interns during the academic year and 1000 in the summer. These internships are highly sought after as they offer valuable responsibility and experience.
Paid Internships
The U.S. Department of Labor offers paid internships through its Atlanta and San Francisco Regional Solicitor's Offices. These internships provide law students with litigation experience and exposure to employment law. Interns perform legal tasks, conduct research, write memoranda, evaluate cases, participate in discovery, negotiate settlements, attend court proceedings, and develop litigation skills. These internships are open to 2L and 3L students with a demonstrated commitment to public service and protecting workers' rights.
Additional Opportunities
Law students can also seek internships with the Attorney General's Honors Program, a competitive recruitment program for entry-level attorneys, and the Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP). Additionally, the Workforce Recruitment Program offers summer work experience and full-time employment for students with disabilities, partnering with federal agencies and sub-agencies.
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Department of Labor internships
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) offers a variety of internship and externship opportunities for law students. The DOL values the contributions of students and recent graduates from diverse backgrounds and has several programs to support their professional development.
One notable opportunity is the Law Student Internship Program offered by the Atlanta Regional Solicitor's Office. This program provides law students with valuable litigation experience and exposure to employment law. Interns perform legal tasks under the guidance of experienced trial attorneys, including research, writing memoranda, evaluating cases, participating in discovery, and attending court hearings. The Atlanta Regional Solicitor's Office regularly pursues enforcement actions against violations of federal labor laws, such as those related to employee pension plans, occupational safety, wage issues, and non-discrimination rights.
Another option is the San Francisco Regional Solicitor's Office internship program. This internship has a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week, and the office works with the intern's law school to facilitate academic credit. Interns assist with litigation in federal district courts and administrative tribunals, preparing memoranda, court documents, and participating in meetings with client agencies.
The DOL also offers internships through its SOL National Office and Regional Offices across the country. These internships provide law students with the opportunity to work on legal research and writing projects, analyze the impact of legislative developments, and gain exposure to litigation in Federal district courts and administrative law judges.
Additionally, the DOL's Honors Program in the Office of the Solicitor offers challenging professional opportunities for outstanding law school graduates. The program provides exposure to substantive legal work in the Solicitor's Office in Washington, D.C., or one of the seven regional offices.
The DOL also runs three Pathways Programs for current or recent students, including the Recent Graduates Program and the Presidential Management Fellows Program, which is a leadership development initiative for advanced degree candidates.
Overall, the U.S. Department of Labor offers a range of internship and externship opportunities for law students, providing valuable experience in litigation, legal research, and exposure to federal labor laws and their enforcement.
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Litigation experience
Judicial internships are volunteer positions that offer law students the opportunity to learn about the judicial world before graduation. They can take place during the summer or the academic year and are a great way to gain litigation experience. Judges in federal and state courts, trial and appellate, hire judicial interns.
As a judicial intern, you will gain a great deal of research and writing experience. You will also gain insight into how a courtroom works and how judicial decisions are made. Your duties may include reviewing motions, researching the applicable law, and drafting memoranda to assist the judge with their decisions. Appellate interns may also attend oral arguments and assist with the research and drafting of the judge's opinions.
The Atlanta Regional Solicitor's Office, for example, offers an internship program that provides law students with meaningful litigation experience and exposure to the world of employment law. Interns perform a variety of legal tasks, including researching and writing memoranda under the supervision of seasoned trial attorneys. They also evaluate cases, participate in all aspects of discovery, negotiate settlements, prepare for and attend depositions, witness interviews, and meetings with client agencies, and attend court hearings and trials.
The Seattle Regional Solicitor's Office is another example, where interns research and prepare internal legal memoranda and court documents involving federal employment and labor laws. They may also assist with litigation before administrative law judges and federal district courts, as well as participate in meetings, contact and interview witnesses, and help with trial preparation.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) Legal Intern Program offers law students the opportunity to assist attorneys in areas such as providing legal opinions on a range of topics, including the statutory powers of the FDIC and its role as a federal agency. Interns may also handle labor and employment issues, including administrative hearings and negotiations, and litigate professional liability actions, including claims against directors and officers arising from failed banks.
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Frequently asked questions
A judicial internship is a full or part-time position in a particular judge's chamber. It can take place during the summer or the academic year. Judicial internships can lead to clerkships after graduation.
A judicial intern will gain research and writing experience and will see first-hand how a courtroom works and how judicial decisions are made. Duties may include reviewing motions, researching the applicable law, and drafting memoranda to assist the judge with their decisions.
Applications for federal clerkships should be marked "APPLICATION" in large letters on all envelopes. Students are urged to consider the location of the court and the competitiveness of the court when applying.
The Department of Justice Pathways (DOJ) Programs provide paths to federal employment for students. The Internship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to work in agencies and explore federal careers. The Attorney General's Honors Program is a highly competitive recruitment program for entry-level attorneys. The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is another program managed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Law student interns perform a variety of tasks, including research, writing memoranda, evaluating cases, participating in discovery, negotiating settlements, and attending court hearings.
