Law Student Volunteer, Civil Division, Appellate Staff (Fall 2026)

Hiring Organization Civil Division (CIV)

Hiring Office Appellate Staff Location:

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530 -

United States Application Deadline:

Saturday, May 30, 2026 About the Office The Appellate Staff of the Civil Division prepares appellate briefs and presents oral argument in all federal courts of appeals, representing the United States, its agencies, and its officers in many of the most significant and sensitive cases in the country.

Staff attorneys:

Prepare recommendations for or against further review in cases the government has lost in the district courts or courts of appeals Advise on intervention or amicus participation when the government is not a party Draft certiorari petitions, briefs in opposition to certiorari, invited amicus briefs (when the Supreme Court requests the government's views), and Supreme Court merits briefs on behalf of the Solicitor General's office Staff litigation covers a broad range of critical legal issues, including separation of powers, federalism and preemption, First and Second Amendment rights, administrative law, False Claims Act, Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act, commercial disputes, intellectual property, tort claims, and Bivens/constitutional tort litigation. Job Description Law student volunteers will: Conduct legal research and draft memoranda on complex appellate issues Prepare initial drafts of appellate briefs Perform statutory interpretation, including legislative history research and treatise review Serve as moot court judges for staff attorneys Present moot oral arguments based on completed assignments Attend oral arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. and Federal Circuits, when possible Interns are vital contributors to the Appellate Staff team and experience first-hand the preparation and strategy that underpins government appellate litigation. All work must be performed in person at the Washington, DC office; telework is not permitted. Qualifications Eligibility Requirements U.S. citizenship or national status Must be a current second- or third-year law student during the Fall 2026 semester Must have completed at least one year of law school by the start date of the internship Must be a current law student enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school Successful completion of a background investigation Preferred Qualifications Outstanding academic performance Exceptional legal research, analytical, and legal writing abilities

Work Schedule Expected Start Date:

Late August/Early September 2026 (based on your school's academic calendar) Interns may work either full-time or part-time Minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for at least 10 weeks Interns are expected to work for the full semester Application Process Submit the following materials in a single, combined PDF file titled "[

LAST NAME

], [

FIRST NAME

] - Fall 2026 Internship Application, [

LAW SCHOOL

] [

CLASS YEAR

]" to civapp.internjobs@usdoj.gov, with the subject line matching the file name: Cover letter Resume (not to exceed two pages) Writing sample Law school transcript (unofficial accepted) Undergraduate transcript (official or unofficial accepted) Additional Information Please do not apply unless available for the full internship period. Selected candidates will be required to complete security forms and a background check. First-year law students (1Ls) are not eligible for the Fall 2026 term. Law school graduates and LL.M candidates are ineligible. Salary Position is unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if applicable. Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting.