Closing Date: 9th January, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The United States Attorney's Ofﬁce, Western District of Virginia, covers 52 of the state's counties and employs approximately 33 Assistant United States Attorneys over three staffed ofﬁces. The main ofﬁce is located in Roanoke, Virginia, with branch ofﬁces in Abingdon and Charlottesville. The United States Attorney's Ofﬁce prosecutes federal criminal offenses and represents the U.S. government's interest in civil cases both afﬁrmatively and defensively. The Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes federal criminal cases arising from a wide array of criminal activity. Our Ofﬁce typically prosecutes large illegal drug distribution conspiracies, ﬁrearms offenses, violent crimes, immigration crimes, child pornography offenses, computer crimes, human trafﬁcking, civil rights violations, health care fraud, tax fraud, mail and wire fraud and environmental crimes.

The Civil Division handles civil cases including discrimination cases (race, sex, age, disability, and religion), representation of federal agencies in bankruptcy cases, Federal Tort Claims Act cases, and medical malpractice defense cases. Civil Division attorneys also act as plaintiff's counsel in afﬁrmative civil cases such as Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases, quit am cases, and other cases in which the United States has been injured ﬁnancially or where injunctive relief is needed.

More information on the Ofﬁce can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/usao/vaw/

Job Description:
Internships are usually 8- 10 weeks during the summer starting late May through Early August. Intern projects include a wide array of opportunities for research, writing and case preparation and presentation. Legal writing areas include responses to defense motions in federal felony cases, responsive briefs to federal appellate courts, and responses to habeas corpus petitions. Interns may also participate in witness interviews, meetings with law enforcement personnel, trial preparation, and courtroom proceedings. Students who have satisﬁed the Virginia State Bar Third Year Practice Rule requirements are given the opportunity to participate in trial work and in the presentation of petty offense cases in United States Magistrate's Court.

Qualifications:
First-year law students and rising second-and third- year law students are encouraged to apply. Superior research and writing skills, an eye for detail, a desire to work as part of a small team of professionals, and a commitment to fairness and integrity is essential. Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Law school graduates are not eligible for internship positions. Internships are subject to a background investigation due to the sensitive nature of the work performed by this Ofﬁce.

Salary:
Volunteer (uncompensated). Academic course credit may be offered depending on the applicant's law school.

Number of Positions
Multiple positions may be filled from this posting

Travel:

Minimum travel to other staffed and/or non-staffed ofﬁces.

Relocation Expenses
Relocation expenses will not be authorized.