Closing Date: 15th February, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The Environmental Torts Litigation Section (Torts-ETL), part of the Civil Division's Torts Branch, defends the United States in complex civil litigation involving property damage, wrongful death, and personal injury claims arising from exposure to toxic substances in the environment, workplaces, and government-owned housing. Torts-ETL's cases are brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and frequently require the analysis of intricate scientific and medical evidence, as well as close coordination with expert witnesses.

Torts-ETL's litigation portfolio is broad and impactful, spanning individual claims, multi-plaintiff lawsuits, and major mass tort actions, including multi-district litigation involving per-fluorinated compounds (PFAS), lead contamination claims related to the Flint Water Crisis, groundwater contamination litigation arising from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility release in Hawaii, and allegations of false statements during environmental remediation at the Hunters Point Superfund Site in San Francisco. Through this work, Torts-ETL operates at the intersection of environmental policy, public health, and federal liability, shaping legal outcomes that affect communities nationwide and offering law student volunteers the opportunity to contribute to cases with significant real-world impact.

Job Description:
Law student volunteers in the Environmental Torts Litigation Section (Torts-ETL) will have the opportunity to engage in substantive legal work supporting the Section's high-impact environmental tort and complex civil litigation docket. Responsibilities include:

Assisting with the preparation, citation-checking, and formatting of legal documents such as motions, briefs, discovery responses, and correspondence
Investigating cases and helping to organize and maintain large, document-intensive case files
Researching federal and state law, as well as applicable federal agency regulations, policies, and guidelines relevant to environmental tort claims
Researching expert witnesses, reviewing and summarizing their reports and related materials, and helping attorneys evaluate complex scientific and medical evidence
Summarizing deposition transcripts and medical records and drafting factual and legal memoranda
Assisting in handling large mass tort and multi-district litigation matters
Working on a broad and diverse range of legal case matters, from individual tort claims to major nationwide actions
Being part of a litigation team with real responsibility, visibility, and importance

This internship offers a unique opportunity to:

Develop core professional skills, including legal research and writing, case analysis, organization, and teamwork
Gain insight into the intricacies of environmental tort cases, scientific and medical evidence, and federal liability
Work directly with litigation teams on high-profile cases and contribute meaningfully to the work of the Department of Justice
See first-hand how strategy, evidence, and procedure intersect in federal litigation that affects communities nationwide
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 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
Current 1Ls must have completed their first year before the internship begins
Must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school
Good academic standing at the law school
Successful completion of a background investigation
Ability to commit to a minimum of 35 hours per week for at least 8 weeks during Summer 2026

Preferred Qualifications:

Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple assignments in a litigation environment
Effective communication and teamwork skills, including a demonstrated commitment to collaborative work
Professionalism, reliability, and a strong work ethic
Demonstrated interest or prior coursework/experience in environmental law, tort law, toxic torts, complex multi-party or mass tort litigation, or related fields

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.

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.

Number of Positions
Up to 8

Travel:

N/A

Relocation Expenses
N/A