Civil Division, Torts Section, Constitutional T...

Closing Date: 15th February, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The Civil Division, Torts Section, Constitutional Tort Litigation Staff (T-CSTL), Office of Vaccine Litigation represents the interests of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in all cases filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. These cases involve claims of injury allegedly resulting from the administration of certain vaccines.

The Office's mission is to ensure that fair compensation is provided to individuals whom Congress intended to benefit under the Act. Key aspects of the Group's work include:

• Representing the United States in vaccine injury claims before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• Ensuring compliance with Congressional intent for fair and efficient compensation
• Regular appearances by attorneys before both the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Providing interns with the opportunity for meaningful exposure to both trial and appellate practice in a unique area of federal litigation

Job Description:
Law student volunteers in the Office of Vaccine Litigation will have the opportunity to:

• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda on substantive legal issues
• Support case preparation and assist with case management alongside trial attorneys
• Contribute to litigation strategy and document review
• Attend court appearances to observe litigation proceedings and advocacy practice
• Engage directly with experienced attorneys handling high-impact tort litigation
• Interns play an integral role on the team and will gain exposure to the legal, regulatory, and scientific aspects of federal vaccine litigation.

This position is in-person only and requires presence at the Washington, DC office.

Qualifications:
Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship or national status
• Must be a current first- or second-year law student, who will be entering their second or third year of law school by Summer 2026 (current 1L rising 2L, or current 2L rising 3L)
• Completion of at least one year of law school by the start of the internship
• Current 1Ls must have completed their first year before the internship begins
• Must be currently enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law program
• Successful completion a suitability/fitness review and receive a favorable determination based on information provided in security forms
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week for at least 10 weeks during the Summer 2026 term

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent academic credentials and strong legal writing skills
• Sound judgment and professionalism
• Demonstrated interest in tort litigation or related fields
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience or background in the medical sciences is helpful, but not required

Class-Year Limitation

• Current 3Ls and law school graduates are ineligible for this unpaid volunteer internship.
• Current 3Ls interested in summer opportunities should apply for a paid summer internship through the Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) by following the instructions here: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/summer-law-intern-program

Additional Information:

• Please do not apply if you cannot commit to the full internship period
• Selected candidates must complete required security forms and successfully undergo a background investigation
• This opportunity is available only for in-person internships in Washington, DC; remote work/telework is not permitted

Salary:
Positions are unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if qualified. Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting.

Number of Positions
6

Travel:

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