Closing Date: 19th October, 2025
Description:
Job Description:The District of South Dakota is seeking outstanding candidates as Law Student Volunteers for the Sioux Falls, Rapid City, or Pierre, SD offices. The program is overseen by experienced Assistant U.S. Attorneys who provide daily supervision and coordinate work assignments. Substantive assignments Law Student Volunteers can expect in this role include:
- providing research on legal issues and stating findings orally and/or through written memoranda;
- assisting and/or preparing pre-trial and post-trial motions and responses;
- assisting in writing of trial and appellate briefs;
- observing various stages of federal proceedings (witness interviews, depositions, trials, sentencings, appellate arguments, etc.);
- assisting in the preparation of affidavits, exhibits, and notebooks for trial; and
- for those who qualify under the student-practice rules, participating in court hearings.
- Other opportunities provided include:
- meeting with federal agencies (FBI, DEA, ATF, HSI, etc.);
- attending “Law Student Volunteer Panels” hosted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys; and
- receiving personal introductions to federal district judges.
- The summer session runs from approximately June to August. For the best experience, Law Student Volunteers are expected to be in-person, 40 hours a week, for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Qualifications:
To be eligible for this experience ALL of the following requirements must be met:
Law Student Status: Acceptance of applications for this announcement will be limited to students entering their second year of law school. Law school graduates are not eligible. An eligible student is an individual who is enrolled in law school pursuing a Juris Doctorate Degree and is taking at least half-time academic course load in an accredited university. Preferred candidates will have outstanding academic records, superior writing skills, and be in good academic standing with their educational institution.
Citizenship: Law Student Volunteers 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: You must successfully complete a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal selection.
Volunteer Agreement: All Law Student Volunteers are required to sign the Participant Agreement (will be completed later if selected).