Closing Date: 9th January, 2026

Description:

About the Office:
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida (“USAO-SDFL”) is responsible for representing the federal government in litigation involving the United States in the Southern District of Florida, one of the largest Districts in the country. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the United States, actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers, and civil rights litigation. The main office of the USAO-SDFL is in Miami, and there are branch offices in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce.

Our mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. Applicants from the many communities, orientations, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service are welcome to apply.

About Our Internship Program:
Law Clerk Interns (“Interns”) are assigned to one of the Offices and Divisions for the duration of the internship.

The Criminal Division prosecutes violations of federal criminal law, including narcotics, fraud, environmental, bank robbery, firearms, child exploitation, and human trafficking crimes.
Interns assigned to the Criminal Division in the Miami Office will be assigned to one of the following sections: (1) Economic Crimes & Cyber Fraud; (2) General Crimes Section; (3) Violent Crime & Special Victims; (4) Border & Immigration Crimes Enforcement or (5) Narcotics.
Interns in the Criminal Divisions in the Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce offices will work on a wide range of criminal cases.
The Civil Division investigates and litigates False Claims Act cases involving Health Care Fraud and other fraud on the United States and defends government agencies and employees who have been named as defendants in civil actions involving discrimination, bankruptcy, immigration, and the Federal Tort Claims Act. Interns in the Civil Division will be assigned to either the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach office.
The Asset Forfeiture Division works in both the criminal and civil areas to seize property which has been identified as subject to forfeiture to the United States. Interns in the Asset Forfeiture Division will be assigned to the Miami office.
The Appellate Division works on matters representing the United States in both criminal and civil appeals. Interns in the Appellate Division will be assigned to the Miami office.

Job Description:
Job Description:
Our goal is to introduce Interns to the federal legal system; to refine their legal research and writing skills; and above all, to make their time at the Office enjoyable and worthwhile. During the Simmer academic term, Interns research and draft pretrial and trial motions and memoranda and appellate briefs. Interns work directly with AUSAs on both short and long-term projects and have opportunities to observe trials, motion and settlement conferences, and appellate arguments.

Depending upon an intern's academic schedule, the Summer program also provides opportunities for Interns to meet with a variety of speakers from the federal legal system. We also host sessions with AUSAs on effective advocacy. Interns are strongly encouraged to attend and observe court proceedings and to attend office training programs. Each Intern also has one supervising attorney who provides assistance and support consistently throughout the Summer.

Internship Locations: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. Internship will be in-office.

Hours/Weeks Required: 240 hours (minimum) 8 – 12 weeks. Under certain circumstances and if feasible, we are amenable to permitting interns to work more than 240 hours if necessary to meet their law school externship requirements. The application cover letter should make clear if the student desires to work more than 240 hours in an academic term.

Qualifications:
Second and third-year law students with a strong academic record. Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited law school at least half-time. Law school graduates and graduating students are not eligible. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Due to the nature of the USAO's work, before beginning employment, Applicants who are offered an internship, must pass a required suitability review and receive a favorable determination based on information provided in the security forms, a credit report, and fingerprint check that can take three or more months to complete.

Application Process:
Application Process:

The Application package shall include in ONE PDF document labeled with Applicant's First Name Middle Initial Last Name - Summer 2026 USAO-SD Fla Internship Application:
A cover letter, addressed to the USAO-SD FLA Volunteer Law Internship Committee, describing the Applicant's:
Interest in working as a Law Clerk Intern with the USAO-SDFL
Office preference(s) (e.g., Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and/or Fort Pierce, Florida – more than one is acceptable),
Top 5 assignment preferences (see choices above). If the Applicant specifies the Miami Criminal Division as a preference, the applicant shall specify the Section(s) within that Division in which they are interested;
Resume (not to exceed two pages);
The Applicant's most recent available law school transcript (Applicants may also include their final undergraduate and any post-graduate transcript); and
A legal writing sample (no more than 5-10 pages in length).
Applicants must submit their Applicant packet via e-mail to USAFLS.InternProgram@usdoj.gov. The email subject line should specify
Applicant's First Name Middle Initial Last Name - Summer 2026 USAO-SD Fla Internship Application.

Application Deadline: Summer Semester Internship Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 9, 2026. Please note that incomplete applications and/or applications received after the Application Deadline will not be considered.

Start date: Our Summer Semester program typically begins after Memorial Day and ends by the third week of August.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized

Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls

USAO Residency Requirement Interns must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Salary:
Interns are uncompensated. School credit is possible at the discretion of the law school. Interns are responsible for all parking and transit expenses incurred.

Number of Positions
District-wide (Including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pierce offices): 10-22 students for the Summer Program.