Volunteer Law Student

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit www.justice.gov/usao/.As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Duties

Overview of the United States Attorney's Office - Northern District of Indiana - With a talented workforce of over 100,000 people, the mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. The U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Indiana is one of 94 USAOs in the nation.

The United States Attorney's Office Law Internship Program provides an exciting opportunity and insight into the federal legal system and receive an introduction to federal procedures in both the civil and criminal settings. Interns will work with several different Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) over the course of the semester. Typical duties of the interns may include:

• Performing legal research and/or assisting with research projects;
• Drafting legal documents including motions, pleadings, or briefs;
• Assist in trial preparations;
• Observe court proceedings; and
• In limited instances, may be allowed to represent the government in routine hearings under the supervision of an AUSA before various federal courts.

The primary goal of the program is to introduce interns to the federal legal system, to develop their legal skills and above all, to enjoy their overall internship experience.

Applicants will be asked to indicate which semester(s) they wish to be considered for when submitting their online application. Applicants will be notified when their applications have been reviewed/referred for further consideration.

Salary

• $0

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• 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.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• You must submit a transcript or proof of enrollment with your application.
• You must be enrolled at least as a half-time student and in good academic standing with an accredited law school.

Qualifications

Students must have completed at least one full semester with an accredited law school at the beginning of the current academic term. Preference will be given to second and third-year law students.

Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov. OR FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. 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. Residency Requirements: You must have resided in the United States for a total of three years (not necessarily consecutive years) of the past five years immediately prior to applying for a position. You must have: 1) resided in the United States; 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a federal or military capacity, or 3) been a dependent of a federal or military employee serving oversees. The Residency Requirement ensures an adequate background investigation can be completed. 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. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): 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. Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement. The following items are required documentation:

• Online Application Questionnaire: This is completed automatically when clicking "Apply Online" for this announcement.
• Cover Letter: Should include a personal statement reflecting your background and your interest in participating in this program.
• Resume: Please include employment history, dates of employment (MM/DDDD), education history, volunteer activities, and awards/achievements (scholastic/professional).
• Proof of enrollment or unofficial college transcripts: Current Unofficial transcript or proof of current enrollment, e.g., recent letter from the registrar's office. Should clearly show the name of the academic institution, grades for completed coursework, cumulative GPA, and current academic standing. In addition, first year law students should include any undergraduate transcripts.
• Legal Writing Sample: Should be no longer than 20 pages.

Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered. All application materials must be submitted via the USAJOBS website by the closing date of the announcement. No hard copy or emailed documents will be accepted.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/02/2026 to receive consideration.The application process is as follows:

• Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
• Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

Essay Questions: The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question (see the application questionnaire). You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

1. 1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. 1. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. 1. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. 1. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help or Application Manager Online Help websites which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.

Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact usainn.hr@usdoj.gov for assistance.