Law Student Volunteer, Summer 2026

Closing Date: 25th January, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The United States Attorney's Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the Western District of North Carolina. This includes all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The district extends over 13,563.9 square miles and includes 32 counties. The population of our district is over three million people. Mecklenburg is the largest county in WDNC with over one million people. Graham is the smallest with just over 8,000 people. Charlotte is the largest city in the state, the 2nd largest banking center in America, and has a metropolitan area of 1.8 million people. Half of the great Smoky Mountains National Park, approximately 800 square miles is in the Western District of North Carolina as well as 250 of the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Pisgah and Nantahala Forest cover over one million acres of our district. The largest Native American Community in the eastern half of the United States, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is in WDNC.

Job Description:
Selected candidates will be assigned work from the criminal and civil divisions. Our goal is to introduce law students to the federal system and litigation involving the United States. We strive to assist students in developing their legal research and writing skills. Students will perform legal research and writing; draft various pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents; and assist with witness preparation, depositions, and hearings or trials. Students will also be provided with several opportunities to meet members of the judiciary, representatives of various federal agencies, and to participate in substantive programs to familiarize them with the federal legal system. The Criminal Division may give students an opportunity to work on a wide variety of practice areas, including narcotics, public corruption, healthcare fraud, cybercrimes, terrorism, and other federal crimes. Within the Civil Division, students may work in a wide variety of defensive and affirmative litigation, including employment discrimination, medical malpractice, general torts, constitutional torts, immigration, prisoner litigation, commercial, financial, and civil fraud.

• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
• The internship will begin approximately in May and last a minimum of 10 to 12 weeks until August.
• There is a required background check because of the sensitive nature of the work performed by our office.
• The United States Attorney's Office is a Drug Free workplace.

Qualifications:

• Current law students: 1Ls (rising 2Ls in summer 2026), and 2Ls (rising 3Ls in summer 2026).
• Eligibility: Any law student enrolled at least half-time, and who has completed at least one semester of law school from an accredited institution
• is eligible for a volunteer legal internship. Part-time law students and joint-degree candidates may also apply for volunteer internship positions. Law school graduation terminates eligibility for volunteer positions except for graduate law (LL.M.) students who are enrolled at least half time and not practicing law.
• Student Status: Definition of a student - applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, two-year or four-year college or university, graduate/professional school, or certificate program equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study (go to http://www.ed.gov/accreditation
• to verify accreditation status) pursuant to 5 CFR 362. You must be considered in good academic standings by the school. Individuals must be taking at least a half-time academic, vocational, or technical course load leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate. "Half-time" is defined by the school in which the student is enrolled.
• Grade Point Average: You must have at least a 2.5 GPA.
• Citizenship: Student Interns must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.)
• Background Investigation: Prior to entry on duty, all interns must undergo a suitability/fitness determination based on information provided in their pre-employment paperwork.
• Volunteer Legal Intern/Extern Agreement: All interns are required to sign the Department-wide agreement established by OARM (will be completed later during the security process if selected).
• Drug Testing: It is the policy of the Department of Justice to achieve a drug-free workplace. Employing offices have the discretion to require drug testing for volunteer legal interns.

Application Process:

• To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
• The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/25/2025 to receive consideration.

To apply for this internship, please go to USAJOBS URL: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/851696900

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process).
• Required: Your cover letter.
• Required: Your resume cannot exceed two pages - you will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration if your resume exceeds two pages - see USAJOBS for formatting requirements

. Include relevant employment history as outlined below for each job:

• Official position title (if Federal, include series/grade),
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (for full consideration you must include month, day, and year),
• Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

• Required: Current Law School Unofficial transcript or proof of current enrollment, e.g., recent letter from the registrar's office. (Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required prior to your first day.)
• Required: One legal writing sample.

Salary:
Student Volunteers, Without Compensation, Course credit and/or work-study credit are possible depending on school requirements.

A Benefits Package is not authorized for this position.

• Number of Positions
• 1 vacancy - Asheville, North Carolina; 2 vacancies - Charlotte, North Carolina

Travel:

• Occasional travel - Interns may be expected to travel within the district to other offices or courthouses on occasion.
• Relocation Expenses
• Payment of relocation expenses will NOT be authorized.

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