Hiring Organization
USAO Eastern District of Michigan
Job ID
26-MIE-001-SLV
Location:
Detroit, MI 48226 - United States
Application Deadline:
Friday, October 30, 2026
About the Office
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan encompasses 6.5 million people in the Eastern half of Michigan's lower peninsula. Our jurisdiction consists of 34 counties, stretching from the Ohio border north to the Mackinac Bridge, and from mid-Michigan east to Canada.
Job Description
An internship with the U.S. Attorney's Office offers a unique and challenging experience for the highly motivated law student. This internship provides 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. In addition, interns may attend depositions, meetings with agents, and accompany the attorneys to observe court proceedings.
Practice Area:
Appellate Litigation
Civil Litigation
Criminal Litigation
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience
Qualifications
To be eligible for this position, an applicant must (1) be a rising second (2L) or third year year (3L) law student; (2) be a U.S. citizen who has lived in the United States for three of the last five years; and (3) pass a background investigation due to the sensitive nature of the work performed by the USAO.
Time Commitment: Depending on availability, law student volunteers may choose to work the entire year (August 2026 - July 2027), academic year (August 2026 - May 2027), fall semester only (August-December 2026), winter semester only (January-May 2027), or summer semester only (May-July 2027).
For the year-long law student volunteer positions, a commitment to working 40 hours per week during the summer months (May-July 2027) is required, and half summers are permitted. The work hours would then reduce to 16-20 hours per week during the academic school year (August 2026-May 2027). Time away for vacations and other obligations is permitted.
For the academic year-long law student volunteer positions, a commitment to working 16-20 hours per week during the academic school year 9August 2026-May 2027) is required. Time away for vacations and other obligations is permitted.
For the fall-only (August-December 2026) or winter-only (January-May 2027) law student volunteer positions, a commitment to working 16-20 hours per week is required. Time away for vacations and other obligations is permitted.
For the summer-only (May-July 2027) law student volunteer positions, a commitment to working 40 hours per week during the summer months is required. Time away for vacations and other obligations is permitted.
Application Process
Students interested in applying must submit the following to
[email protected].
Cover Letter (Please indicate which division(s) e.g., Criminal, Civil, and/or Appellate, you are applying for.)
Resume (Must not be more than 2 pages.)
Unofficial law school transcript.
Legal writing sample (5 pages or more).
References (please list 2-3 with title, phone number, and email address).
Semester Availability: Identify if you are applying for the entire year (August 2026 - July 2027), academic year (August 2026 - May 2027), fall semester only (August-December 2026), winter semester only (January-May 2027), or summer semester only (May-July 2027).
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 30, 2026. However, there are cut-off dates for each law student volunteer position to allow time for background investigations.
Cut-off dates are:
Fall semester only (August-December 2026): July 15, 2026
Entire year (August 2026 - July 2027) and academic year (August 2026 - May 2027): July 15, 2026
Winter semester only (January-May 2027): August 28, 2026
Summer semester only (May-July 2027): October 30, 2026
Salary
Law student volunteers are uncompensated but may receive academic credit per school policies.
