**Program Description:**

The Office of the General Counsel’s (OGC) Legal Internship Program provides law students with an opportunity to build valuable legal and professional skills in research, writing, and advocacy, while learning about different areas of OGC’s work, such as education law and policy (e.g., early learning, K-12 education, career and technical education, other higher education, civil rights, special education), litigation, regulatory matters, employment and privacy law, contracts, and more.

Interns are typically assigned to two or more of OGC’s seven Legal Divisions and assist with research and writing to support attorneys providing legal advice and counseling to clients or assist in drafting and filing briefs or motions in litigation in support of the Department’s education mission and its operations. Interns also may be involved in matters related to proposed guidance, regulations, or legislation. For more information about OGC and its seven Legal Divisions, please visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ogc/org.html.

We also provide our interns with professional and first-hand opportunities. Interns may attend sessions of Congress or Congressional hearings, particularly on topics related to education. Interns are invited to attend speeches or events in which the Secretary of Education or other senior leaders are speaking. We work to integrate our legal intern program with the Department’s broader intern program and provide our interns with opportunities to meet other interns and participate in social activities across the Department and within OGC.

**Qualifications:**

In previous years, selected interns have demonstrated strong academic achievement, excellent legal research and analytical skills, strong writing and verbal communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and an interest in the work of the Department.

In select circumstances, we may consider a candidate who is an undergraduate or graduate student with a demonstrated interest in education law and policy.

Our internship program accepts up to six law students per term, with terms beginning in the spring, summer, and fall. Interns work full-time in the summer, and full-time or part-time (e.g., 20 hours per week) in the fall or spring in order to accommodate coursework and schedules. We are happy to work with institutions to ensure that interns receive academic credit for their internship work.

**How to Apply and Deadlines:**

***Spring 2024***: For the Spring 2024 term, applicants should submit - (1) a cover letter, (2) resume, (3) unofficial transcript, and (4) brief writing sample (no longer than 10 pages) in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word Document format to OGCInterns@ed.gov. This is an unpaid position. The deadline for submitting applications is **December 1, 2023.**

***Summer 2024***: The 10-week 2024 summer program will begin in late May. For 2024, these are unpaid positions. Applicants should submit - (1) a cover letter, (2) resume, (3) unofficial transcript, and (4) brief writing sample (no longer than 10 pages) in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word Document format to OGCInterns@ed.gov. The deadline for submitting applications is **January 5, 2024**.

We encourage you to proofread your internship application to guarantee it is accurate and free of grammatical or typographical errors.

**Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and positions may be filled before the deadlines indicated. As such, we encourage you to consider applying earlier than the deadline to help ensure consideration.**

Keep in mind that summer is our most competitive term. We welcome and encourage spring and fall applicants as well. If you have questions regarding our internship program, please email OGCInterns@ed.gov.