the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor Legal Internship Program is accepting applications for the 2018 Fall Legal Internship Program.
Website: https://www.doi.gov/solicitor/intern_extern.
The Office of the Solicitor is responsible for the legal work of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), with nearly 200 practicing attorneys in the headquarters office and more than 300 attorneys nationwide. DOI is the Nation’s premier conservation agency.
Our mission is to protect America’s treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation’s natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife. The work that we do through our offices and bureaus (including the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Surface Mining, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement) affects the lives of millions of people; from the family taking a vacation in a national park to a child studying in an Indian school.
With this diverse work load and the demand of extensive litigation and program counseling, the Office is continually looking for talented, dedicated law students with an interest in gaining practical experience advising agencies on the legal aspects of their mission as well as participating in complex civil litigation before administrative tribunals or assisting the Justice Department in litigating matters before federal courts. Our legal interns/externs are called upon to conduct legal research on a variety of environmental and administrative law issues, as well as issues involving Indian law. The Office resolves appeals under the Freedom of Information Act and is also home to the Department’s Ethics Office. Students typically draft legal memoranda, briefs and motions, and assist with discovery in active federal cases. Students may participate in conference calls and strategy sessions with other agency counsel, including Justice Department lawyers and agency officials. There may be additional opportunities to attend hearings and meetings in the Washington, D.C. area.
Because of our unique responsibilities to support the Department’s programs to benefit American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native American candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The United States Government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.
Salary: Intern positions are volunteer (without compensation), but are eligible to participate in the Transit Subsidy Benefit Program.
Qualifications: To qualify, you must be a student in good standing at an accredited law school with excellent legal research and writing skills.
How to Apply: Students should submit the following documents as one consolidated .PDF in the order below:
- Resume with two professional or academic references
- Completed Request for Consideration Form.
Available on our website: https://www.doi.gov/solicitor/intern_extern
(designate locations/divisions for which you wish to be considered) - Cover Letter addressed to “To Whom It May Concern”
- Copy of most recent transcript (official or unofficial)
- Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)
Please submit the application package via email to studentemployment@sol.doi.gov, and include the YEAR and SEMESTER in the subject line.
Deadline: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date.
If you have questions regarding this program, please contact Ariana Rigsby at (202) 219-2295 or Lori Jarman at (202) 208-5764