Closing Date: 15th February, 2027

Description:

About the Office:
The International Trade Field Office (ITFO) is part of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division. International Trade Field Office (ITFO) represents the United States, its departments and agencies, and federal officials in both affirmative and defensive litigation in the United States Court of International Trade (USCIT). ITFO also handles appeals of USCIT decisions in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Matters within ITFO's area of responsibility include, among others: importer challenges to U.S. Customs and Border Protection decisions concerning the classification and valuation of imported merchandise, and other questions arising under the tariff laws; lawsuits relating to the interpretation and application of trade-related presidential proclamations, executive orders, international treaties and free trade agreements; disputes over the government's refusal to grant or the revocation of various licenses under the customs laws; and actions for the collection of duties and penalties under the customs laws.

Job Description:
The International Trade Field Office is seeking applications from qualified students for in-person, full-time volunteer internships for Summer 2027 term. Interns will support attorneys and staff with projects such as:

Conducting legal research
Drafting pleadings, motions, and memoranda
Supporting trial attorneys with discovery, such as deposition prep, locating expert witnesses, responding and serving discovery requests
Attending trials, hearings, oral argument, or moot courts, depending upon the stage of litigation

To ensure that all interns finish the term experience with a good writing sample, every intern will work under the guidance of a Trial Attorney to prepare documents to be filed with the court.

This position is in-person only at the office's New York, NY location, in accordance with applicable Department of Justice work policies; telework is not permitted for this internship.

Qualifications:
Eligibility Requirements:

U.S. citizenship
Must be a current first-or second-year law student (current 1L, rising 2L, or current 2L rising 3L)
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 U.S. law school and able to maintain enrollment throughout the duration of the internship term
Successful completion of a background investigation
Ability to commit to a minimum of 10 weeks and at least 35-40 hours per week
Availability to participate for the full duration of the internship

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated excellence in legal research and writing
Strong attention to detail
Proven ability to collaborate effectively within a small professional team
Demonstrated commitment to fairness and integrity in the administration of the federal judicial system

This is an excellent opportunity for students with a background and interest in international trade law and policy, pre-trial and trial practice, and administrative law.

Note: Current 3Ls, law school graduates, and LL.M. graduates are not eligible to apply

Application Process:
Submit the following materials in a single, combined PDF file titled "[Last Name, First Name] ITFO Summer 2027 Internship Application" to Mathias Rabinovitch at nyitfo.intern.application@usdoj.gov with the subject line matching the file name:

Cover Letter
Resume
Unofficial Transcript
Writing Sample (legal only, if applicable)

Early submission is encouraged, as positions may be filled before the deadline.

Application Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2027

Additional Information:

Per NALP guidelines, 1L students may not apply until December 1, 2026
Please do not apply unless available for the full internship period
This position is in-person only at the office's New York, NY location; telework is not permitted
Selected candidates will be required to complete security forms and a background check
Current 3Ls, law school graduates, and LL.M candidates are not eligible to apply

Salary:

Positions are unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if applicable. Interns may also receive funding from their school (e.g. externship stipends, cost-of-living grants, or school-administered fellowships). Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting.

Private Funding Prohibition: Interns may not receive private funding, stipends, or compensation from non-federal third-party sources (law firms, foundations, outside sponsors, etc.) during or for their internship tenure with the Civil Division. This prohibition does not apply to funding received from the intern's own law school.

Number of Positions

Travel:

Not required

Relocation Expenses

Not provided