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Volunteer Internships

Legal Internships

The Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice invites you to apply for volunteer legal internships in the Criminal Division sections listed below. Criminal Division Volunteer Legal Interns assist Division attorneys on a variety of case-related work, including: conducting factual research; digesting substantive materials and transcriptions of trial testimony or depositions; compiling, indexing, duplicating, and collating documents; preparing and organizing charts and other materials for use as exhibits in litigation; collecting, reviewing and analyzing information, including statistical and financial data, relevant to criminal cases and matters; editing documents, to include legal briefs, motions and other correspondence, and performing a variety of other duties which may be assigned. Interns also may have the opportunity to attend hearings, trials, and arguments for appellate matters. Interns also may assist Division attorneys in drafting proposed legislation and changes to federal rules and sentencing guidelines. Interns are offered opportunities throughout the summer to attend D.C. outings to destinations such as the National Archives, the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. Superior Court, the Library of Congress, and the Pentagon.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. First-year (second semester), second- and third-year law students, as well as law school graduates who are enrolled in graduate law programs (e.g., L.L.M. programs) at least half-time, may also serve as volunteer interns. Interns may work from 8 weeks (minimum) up to 6 months (maximum) during an academic semester or summer session. These positions are volunteer (without compensation) or may be used for work-study credit.

Interested law students should apply directly to the Criminal Division Section of their choice. Applications may be submitted to more than one Section.

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace, and the candidate(s) selected will be required to pass a drug test to screen for illegal drug use. Internship opportunities are also contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation adjudicated by the Department of Justice.

For additional information on the conditions of employment for legal interns, please go to Conditions of Employment webpage.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
905 Pennsylvania, Avenue, N.W.
Room 1264
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: Appellate Volunteer Legal Intern Information 
Note: Applicants should e-mail a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample (10 pages or less), and transcript (official or unofficial) to App.Interns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue NW
11th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:
CEOS Volunteer Legal Intern Webpage
Note: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, current law school transcript, and legal writing sample at least five pages in length via email to ceos.interns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue, N.W. 6th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:
CCIPS Volunteer Legal Intern Webpage
CCIPS Volunteer Legal Intern (Academic Year)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1400 New York Avenue, N.W.
4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: Law Student Volunteer, CRM, Fraud Summer 2025
Note: Applicants must submit, a cover letter, a resume, a short or partial writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), a list of three references and an unofficial law school transcript to: FRA.Intern.Hiring@usdoj.gov - ATTN: Kiana Burgess, Intern Hiring Coordinator.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue, N.W.
2nd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: HRSP Volunteer Law Intern Webpage
Note: For legal internships, please submit via e-mail a cover letter (including dates available), resume, writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), transcript (official or unofficial), and three references, to HRSPInterns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1400 New York Avenue, N.W.
2nd and 10th Floors
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:
MLARS Volunteer Legal Intern (Academic Year)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
145 N ST, NE, Second Floor, East Wing, Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information :  NDDS Volunteer Legal Intern Information 
Note: Please send applications to ndd.interns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
More Information: OEO Volunteer Legal Intern Webpage
Note: Qualified law students should submit an application package in PDF form including the following: 1) cover letter describing your interest in an internship with the FOIA and Privacy Office; 2) resume; 3) most recent available academic transcript; 4) writing sample; 5) two references.  Application packets should be emailed to OEO Applications (OEO.Applications@usdoj.gov) and should indicate the semester for which you are applying (fall, spring, or summer).

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue N.W.
9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: USAJobs announcement
Note: OIA is seeking undergraduate, graduate, and law school interns.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: Volunteer Intern

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CRIMINAL DIVISION
1400 New York Avenue, N.W.
12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:
Law Student Volunteer Information
Note: Please submit, in a single .pdf document, the following information via email to pin.interns@usdoj.gov: cover letter, resume, short or partial writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), three references, and an unofficial law school transcript.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:
VCRS Volunteer Legal Intern
Note: Please submit the following information via e-mail to OCGSInterns@usdoj.gov: Cover letter, resume, law school transcript (official or unofficial) and legal writing sample.


Undergraduate and Graduate Internships

The Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice invites you to apply for volunteer undergraduate and graduate internships in the Criminal Division sections listed below. Internships vary within the Criminal Division; internships offered include Computer Forensic Science, International Relations, Finance, and Human Resources. The majority of our internships are pre-law.  The interns assist Division personnel and Division attorneys on a variety of case-related work, including, conducting factual research; digesting substantive materials and transcriptions of trial testimony or depositions; compiling, indexing, duplicating, and collating documents; preparing and organizing charts and other materials for use as exhibits in litigation; collecting, reviewing and analyzing information, including statistical and financial data, relevant to criminal cases and matters; editing documents, to include legal briefs, motions and other correspondence, and performing a variety of other duties which may be assigned.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Undergraduate students enrolled at least part-time, as well, as graduate students enrolled at least part-time may serve as interns. Interns may work from 8 weeks (minimum) up to 6 months (maximum) during an academic semester or summer session. These positions are volunteer (without compensation) or may be used for work-study credit.
Interested undergraduate and graduate students should apply directly to the Criminal Division Section of their choice. Applications may be submitted to more than one Section.

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace, and the candidate(s) selected will be required to pass a drug test to screen for illegal drug use. Internship opportunities are also contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation adjudicated by the Department of Justice.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
ATTN: CEOS Intern Coordinator
1400 New York Avenue, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: CEOS Undergraduate Intern Information
Note: If mailing application, do not use US Mail. Please use FedEx, UPS, DHL or other courier service. Email ceos.interns@usdoj.gov or fax applications to (202) 514-1793.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue, N.W., 2nd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: HRSP Volunteer Undergraduate Webpage
Note: For legal internships, please submit via e-mail a cover letter (including dates available), resume, writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), transcript (official or unofficial), and three references, to HRSPInterns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1400 New York Avenue, N.W., 2nd and 10th Floors
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:   MLARS Volunteer Legal Intern (Academic Year)
Note: Applicants should e-mail (preferred) or fax a cover letter (including dates available), resume, transcript (official or unofficial), a brief legal writing sample, and 3 references to Wendy.Taylor@usdoj.gov.
FAX: (202) 514-5522.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
145 N ST, NE, Second Floor, East Wing, Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information :  NDDS Undergraduate Intern Information
Note: Please send applications to ndd.interns@usdoj.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1301 New York Avenue N.W.
9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: USAJobs announcement
Note: OIA is seeking undergraduate, graduate, and law school interns.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information:   Undergraduate Volunteer

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CRIMINAL DIVISION
1400 New York Avenue, N.W. , 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20530
More Information: PIN Undergraduate Intern Information
Note: Please submit, in a single .pdf document, the following information via email to pin.interns@usdoj.gov: cover letter, resume, short or partial writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), three references, and an unofficial law school transcript.

Updated October 30, 2024