Hiring Organization
Civil Division (CIV)
Hiring Office
Appellate Staff
Location:
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530 - United States
About the Office
The Appellate Staff of the Civil Division prepares appellate briefs and presents oral argument in all federal courts of appeals, representing the United States, its agencies, and its officers in many of the most significant and sensitive cases in the country. Staff attorneys:
Prepare recommendations for or against further review in cases the government has lost in the district courts or courts of appeals
Advise on intervention or amicus participation when the government is not a party
Draft certiorari petitions, briefs in opposition to certiorari, invited amicus briefs (when the Supreme Court requests the government’s views), and Supreme Court merits briefs on
behalf of the Solicitor General’s office
Staff litigation covers a broad range of critical legal issues, including separation of powers, federalism and preemption, First and Second Amendment rights, administrative law, False Claims Act, Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act, commercial disputes, intellectual property, tort claims, and Bivens/constitutional tort litigation.
Job Description
Law student volunteers will:
Conduct legal research and draft memoranda on complex appellate issues
Prepare initial drafts of appellate briefs
Perform statutory interpretation, including legislative history research and treatise review
Serve as moot court judges for staff attorneys
Present moot oral arguments based on completed assignments
Attend oral arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. and Federal Circuits, when possible
Interns are vital contributors to the Appellate Staff team and experience first-hand the preparation and strategy that underpins government appellate litigation.
All work must be performed in person at the Washington, DC office; telework is not permitted.
Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements
U.S. citizenship or national status
Must be a rising second or third year law student
Completion of at least one year of law school by the start date of the internship
Must be a current law student enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school
Successful completion of a background investigation
We require 8 weeks of full-time work for current 1Ls (rising 2Ls) and 6 weeks of full-time work for current 2Ls (rising 3Ls). 2Ls (rising 3Ls) may split their summer with another employer if desired.
Current 3Ls are ineligible for this unpaid internship.
Preferred Qualifications
Outstanding academic performance
Exceptional legal research, analytical, and legal writing abilities
Application Process
Submit the following materials in a single, combined PDF file titled "[LAST NAME], [FIRST NAME] –2026 Internship Application, [LAW SCHOOL] [CLASS YEAR]" to civapp.internjobs@ usdoj.gov, with the subject line matching the file name:
Cover letter
Resume (not to exceed two pages)
Writing sample
Law school transcript (unofficial accepted)
Undergraduate transcript (official or unofficial accepted)
Additional Information
Please do not apply unless available for the full internship period.
Selected candidates will be required to complete security forms and a background check.
Law school graduates and LL.M candidates are ineligible.
The application deadline for current 2Ls is Oct. 15, 2025. The application deadline for current 1Ls is Dec. 15, 2025.
Salary
Position is unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if applicable. Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting.
