Law-Student Clerkship

Full-time

No

Law-Student Clerkship
Clerkship Term: Fall
Applications Accepted: Rolling Basis
Clerkship Begins/Ends: September 1–December 15


Because OIG is a law-enforcement agency with broad oversight authority, our office offers an experience that is unique within Federal government. From the investigative side, law students will have an opportunity to gain experience in criminal law from the investigative stage through prosecution. Law clerks play a key role in researching high-profile and challenging questions of law regarding DOT programs. The Office of Chief Counsel has been involved in key issues such as the Recovery Act, cross-border trucking under the North American Free Trade Agreement, and other major transportation legislation. Given the mission of the OIG, law clerks may also gain experience with government-wide laws, regulations, and policies regarding government contracts, ethics, grants, information technology security, and privacy issues.

In addition to the investigation- and audit-specific support role, our office serves as “in-house” counsel for the OIG, a government agency with approximately 400 employees. The legal support role and environment is unique to government administration but has wide-reaching transferability across the public and private sectors.

Examples of past responsibilities include:

Conducting research and drafting memoranda on legal issues that arise in OIG’s audits and investigations including:
Whistleblower protections available to transportation industry workers,
DOT’s oversight over programs administered by state agencies,
The impact of an agency’s failure to follow Federal acquisition rules, and
The use of copyrighted material in government reports;
Participate in and prepare for decision-making meetings on OIG audits;
Working with the attorneys in the development of legal training;
Drafting summaries of pending legislation with a focus on provisions that impact the OIG and its areas of interest; 
Assisting attorneys with FOIA requests and drafting FOIA appeal decisions;
Assisting with preparing senior officials for Congressional testimony;
Drafting motions in Federal court and administrative bodies such as the EEOC and MSPB; 
Drafting referrals of criminal matters to the Department of Justice for prosecution; and
Assisting staff with administrative and clerical assignments including copy, scanning, assembling briefing binders and filing.

Your application must include:

Cover Letter (noting desired start and end date, including the number of hours per week you could work);
Resume; 
Writing Sample (no longer than 15 pages);
References (3) including contact information; and 
Transcript. 

This is an unpaid internship, but we do offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office. Applicants must be a . citizen and enrolled in an accredited law school to apply. 

We offer fall, spring, and summer clerkships.
We will make accommodations for trimester schedules and varying academic calendars, and we will consider part-time schedule requests.

Clerkship Term


Applications Accepted


Clerkship Begins/Ends

(all dates are approximate)

Spring


Rolling Basis


January 5–April 20

Summer


June 8–August 8

Fall


September 1–December 15

Qualification and Experience Our office seeks current law students with excellent verbal and written ability, strong analytical and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated achievement. We take a number of factors into account including academic performance, life experience, writing ability, and personality. 

Legal