Legal Volunteer Intern – Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, National Courts Section (C-Nat Cts) (Spring 2027)

About the Office

The National Courts Section is a litigating component of the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Its primary mission is to protect taxpayer dollars in lawsuits brought against the United States Government. The Section handles a wide variety of cases involving government contracts, international trade and tariff matters, constitutional claims, government pay and personnel suits, and veterans’ and other benefits appeals before the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of International Trade, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “national courts”).

In a sense, the National Courts Section serves as the “U.S. Attorney” in these specialized national courts. Because these courts exercise nationwide jurisdiction, Section attorneys often travel outside of Washington, DC for trials and other proceedings. The National Courts Section also handles occasional matters in other federal district and circuit courts, as well as in administrative tribunals, providing attorneys and interns with exposure to a broad range of federal litigation practice.

Job Description

Law student volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in substantive legal work supporting the National Courts Section’s mission of protecting taxpayer dollars in lawsuits brought against the United States. Interns work alongside Civil Division attorneys on assignments that closely parallel the Section’s routine legal work and contribute directly to active matters in the “national courts.”

Responsibilities may include:

• Researching and drafting appellate briefs for cases
• Preparing dispositive trial court motions (for example, motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b) and motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56)
• Researching and drafting legal memoranda on a wide range of substantive and procedural issues
• Assisting attorneys in all phases of litigation, including motions practice, discovery, mediation, and trial preparation
• Attending depositions, moot courts, oral arguments, hearings, mediations, and meetings with client agency counsel and opposing counsel, as schedules permit

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or national status
• Must be a current second- or third-year law student during the Spring 2027 semester
• Must have completed at least one year of law school by the start date of the internship
• Must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school program
• Must be in excellent academic standing (the office evaluates the applicant's full background and experience)
• Successful completion of a background investigation
• Enrollment status must be maintained throughout the duration of service
• Must commit to a work schedule of at least 10 weeks during the Spring 2027 term, either part-time (minimum 15 hours per week) or full-time (40 hrs per week)

Preferred Qualifications

• Top third of law school class preferred
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Interest in federal litigation

Application Process

Submit the following materials in a single PDF file to nationalcourts.interns@usdoj.gov with the subject line: “National Courts Spring 2027 Internship Application”:

• Cover letter
• Resume (not to exceed two pages)
• Law school transcript (official or unofficial) demonstrating completion of at least one year of law school by the start of the internship (provide once available)
• Brief legal writing sample

Start dates may vary but must allow completion of a minimum 10-week internship during Spring 2027. Applications will be reviewed after the October 15, 2026 deadline. Early submission is encouraged.

Additional Information

• Please do not apply if you will not be available for the full internship period
• Selected candidates will be required to complete security forms and pass a background investigation

Salary

Positions are unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if applicable. Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting. 

Number of Positions

4-6

Travel

Not required

Relocation Expenses

Not provided

Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.

Reasonable Accommodations

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities

The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.

Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs

Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.

Suitability and Citizenship

It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Veterans

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

USAO Residency Requirement

Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.