Legal Internship / Externship Program

The Office of the Solicitor is responsible for the legal work of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), with nearly 200 practicing attorneys in the headquarters office and more than 300 attorneys nationwide. DOI's mission makes it the Nation's premier conservation agency. The work that we do through our offices and bureaus (including the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Surface Mining, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement) affects the lives of millions of people; from the family taking a vacation in a national park to a child studying in an Indian school.

With this diverse workload and the demand of extensive litigation and program counseling, the Office is continually looking for talented, dedicated law students with an interest in gaining practical experience advising agencies on the legal aspects of their mission as well as participating in complex civil litigation before administrative tribunals or assisting the Justice Department in litigating matters before federal courts. Our legal interns/externs are called upon to conduct legal research on a variety of environmental and administrative law issues, as well as issues involving Indian law. The Office resolves appeals under the Freedom of Information Act and is also home to the Department’s Ethics Office. Students typically draft legal memoranda, briefs and motions, and assist with discovery in active federal cases. Students may participate in conference calls and strategy sessions with other agency counsel, including Justice Department lawyers and agency officials. There may be additional opportunities to attend hearings and meetings in the Washington, D.C. area.

Because of our unique responsibilities to support the Department’s programs to benefit American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native American candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The United States Government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Salary: Intern positions are without compensation, but are eligible to participate in the Transit Subsidy Benefit Program.

Qualifications:  Applicants must be students. The following students are eligible: undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time; public policy graduate students; first-year (second semester), second- and third-year law students; and law school graduates who are enrolled in graduate law programs (e.g., L.L.M. programs) at least half-time. All students must be in good academic standing and will be required to provide official documentation from their school. First-year, first-semester law students may apply after December 1 for internships the following summer. 

How to Apply:  Students should submit the following documents as one consolidated PDF in the order below:

1. Resume with 2 professional or academic references
2. Completed Request For Consideration Fillable Form (designate locations/organizations for which you wish to be considered).
3. Cover Letter addressed to “To Whom It May Concern”
4. Copy of most recent transcript (official or unofficial)
5. Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)

Please submit the application package via email to studentemployment@sol.doi.gov, and include the YEAR and SEMESTER in the subject line. Additionally, you may submit your application using USAJobs.

Deadline: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date.

If you have questions regarding this program, please contact studentemployment@sol.doi.gov.