Volunteer Law Student

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao

Duties

The District of North Dakota is seeking motivated and outstanding Law Student Interns for its 2025 Internship Program to be conducted during the Summer 2025 Semester. The start dates of internships are negotiable; - however, we ask that our interns commit to eight to ten consecutive weeks, working a minimum of 24 hours per week.

Responsibilities: An internship with the U.S. Attorney's Office offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated law student: an opportunity to work on some of the most significant, complex and visible cases being litigated today. Working with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other staff, you will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and property of citizens. The United States Attorney's Office serves as the principal litigator for its judicial district and is responsible for coordinating multiple agency investigations within the district. The United States Attorney has the responsibility and authority to prosecute violations of Federal criminal statutes, defend the government in civil actions, seek the enforcement of a variety of civil enforcement statutes, and institute proceedings for the collection of fines and penalties.

Typical assignments for law student interns involve all facets of case preparation including: researching legal issues, drafting/writing motions, responses, and various pleadings; providing trial support, interviewing witnesses; and assembling exhibits for trial. Interns are generally afforded extensive opportunities to attend trials, hearings, attorney conferences, meetings, and other legal proceedings. Students who satisfy Student Practice Rule 1.4 of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota may appear in court under the direct supervision of a supervising attorney. In addition, interns may attend depositions, meetings with agents, and accompany the attorney to observe court proceedings.

Practice Areas:
Civil Litigation
Criminal Litigation

Salary

• $0

Conditions of Employment

- You must be a United States Citizen or National.
- Background Investigation, credit check, and fingerprinting required.
- You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
- You must meet half-time student enrollment requirements.
- You must submit a current transcript or proof of enrollment with your application.
- You must be at least 16 years of age or older.
- You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
- A legal writing sample is required.

Qualifications To be eligible for this internship ALL of the following requirements must be met:

• Law Student Status: Acceptance of applications for this announcement will be limited to first year (second semester), second-year, and third-year law students. Law school graduates are not eligible for law student volunteer positions. An eligible student is an individual who is enrolled in law school pursuing a Juris Doctor Degree and is taking at least half-time academic course load in an accredited university. Successful candidates must have outstanding academic records, superior writing skills, and be in good academic standing at his/her university.
• Citizenship: Student Interns must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.)
• Background Investigation: You must successfully complete a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Volunteer Agreement: All interns are required to sign the Participant Agreement.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

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. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Other Information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

A benefits package is not authorized for this position.

Veterans' Preference - 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 veterans' preference documentation as specified in the, "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

EEO Statement: The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism.

Diversity Statement: As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

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: Your resume.
• Required: Current Unofficial law school transcript.
• Required: Your legal writing sample.
• Required: Your cover letter clearly specifying which office you wish to be considered for.
• 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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. (It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)

3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online, contact Amber Wagner, amber.wagner@usdoj.gov or 701-271-2387 as soon as possible to arrange an alternative application process.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/01/2024 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your proof of submission in the event verification is needed.

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 A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.