Law Student Volunteer, Summer 2026

Closing Date: 9th January, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The USAO for the Northern District of Illinois is responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes within the district. The Office also represents the United States and its departments and agencies in civil proceedings filed in federal court and in the Seventh Circuit. The primary goals of the Law Student Intern Program are to provide law students with the greatest possible exposure to and participation in federal trial and appellate practice and to obtain excellent legal talent to assist this Office in handling its multitude of cases.

Job Description:
The work of the law student interns includes assisting in all aspects of trial preparation, legal research, writing memoranda of law, drafting pleadings and appellate briefs, assisting in preparation and taking of depositions, assisting in pretrial conferences and trials of civil and criminal cases. Law student interns are required to work 40 hours per week for 10 weeks.

Qualifications:
Students must be first year, second-year, or third-year law students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Residency Requirement: For a total of three years (not necessarily consecutive years) of the past five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the United States; 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a federal or military employee serving overseas. The Residency Requirement ensures an adequate background investigation can be completed. Due to the sensitive nature of the work performed by the Office, all offers to candidates are conditioned upon the successful completion of a required background investigation. Interns are not permitted to work in a legal capacity - private or public - during the internship unless prior authorization is given. Under no circumstance will an intern be permitted to work on any outside criminal matters or matters adverse to the federal government during the period of their internship with our office.

Salary:
This internship is not compensated. No matching contributions available. Work-study or academic credit may be available through a student's law school. Students must make arrangements through his/her law school.

Number of Positions
10

Travel:

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