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                    GAO's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) serves GAO and the Congress, following the federal dollar wherever it goes. The scope and depth of our legal expertise is unparalleled in the federal government. Check out our blog post on GAO's Attorneys. Learn more about working for OGC (PDF, 2 pages). Vacancy announcements for current job openings, including lateral attorney positions and entry-level positions, are posted on USAJOBS, but applicants must submit their materials to LegalCareers@gao.gov. Information about applying to GAO’s Summer Associate program is provided below.


GAO: GAO's Summer Associate Legal Honors Program
        
  Description
              Attorneys at the Government Accountability Office describe the legal services they provide to support GAO’s mission, and the agency’s summer associate legal honors program.
      GAO: GAO's Summer Associate Legal Honors Program
          
  Video URL
              GAO: GAO's Summer Associate Legal Honors Program
        
  Transcript
              TranscriptMost of our attorneys are assigned to teams to provide legal advice, analysis, and services to the Comptroller General and GAO analysts assessing federal programs. These services can fall under such diverse practice areas as:

homeland security and immigration
	environment and energy
	banking and financial services regulation
	health care
	administrative law and regulatory process
	telecommunications
	federal contracts
	information technology
	criminal law
	legislative drafting and analysisWe also have a group of attorneys who act as quasi-administrative law judges to resolve disputes over the award of federal contracts. Read more about our bid protest process.

Another group serves as the federal government’s experts on appropriations law. Read more about our appropriations law work.

In addition, some of our attorneys serve as in-house counsel to GAO. We deal with a variety of issues in equal employment opportunity, personnel, and labor laws. We also represent GAO in administrative hearings and litigation involving GAO’s work.Summer Associates**The Legal Honors Program**Recruiting for the 2025 Summer Associate Class      
    

  In summer 2024, GAO’s Office of the General Counsel will begin recruiting for our 2025 Summer Associate class.  On July 8, 2024, we will begin accepting applications from rising 2L (or equivalent) law students who expect to graduate in the spring of 2026. (Applications submitted before July 8th will not be considered.) We will be inviting applications from students who attend any ABA accredited law school.  Applicants will be required to submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, and writing sample of up to 10 pages. Interviews will be conducted virtually. To apply, please send the materials noted above to LegalCareers@gao.gov.  Include “2025 Summer Associate” in the subject heading of your message.  Please check back on July 8, 2024, for a USAJobs posting containing more details about the program and how to apply.  The application deadline is 11:59 pm (EDT) on August 7, 2024.




  
      Summer Associates      
    

  OGC’s summer associate legal honors program is the primary hiring tool for building OGC’s workforce of highly capable attorneys. Summer associates work a minimum of 10 weeks, but may work longer if their schedules permit.Typically, summer associates work in two of OGC’s various teams. In their time at GAO, summer associates can gain experience in such areas as homeland security and immigration law, environmental and energy law, fiscal law and constitutional law, or government contracts—to name a few.OGC gives its summer associates significant responsibility during the summer. They complete intellectually stimulating projects that are equivalent in complexity to those given to entry-level attorneys. For example, a summer associate may advise an audit team on legal matters or fully participate in a bid protest decision. Summer associates who perform well may receive offers of permanent employment.In addition to the important and rewarding work, summer associates have a wide range of other experiences and activities planned for their summer at GAO. OGC also holds several social gatherings designed to allow summer associates the chance to meet their OGC colleagues.GAO pays summer associates at rates competitive with other federal agencies, and they are eligible for transit benefits to cover local commute-related public transportation costs.




  
      Entry-Level Attorneys      
    

  GAO’s honors program for entry-level attorneys, known as the Attorney Development Program (ADP), offers top candidates the opportunity to start their legal careers working on the most important issues facing the federal government, in a dynamic and collegial environment.Entry-level attorneys are primarily hired through OGC’s summer associate legal honors program.ExternshipsOccasionally, OGC may provide opportunities for unpaid externships to individuals who express interest. Externs must be students who are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school. Externs arrange with their law schools to earn course credit in exchange for working at GAO. If you are interested in an externship, please submit a resume, cover letter, transcript, and writing sample to LegalCareers@gao.gov. In your cover letter, please indicate when you are available for an externship (for example, "fall 2024" or "2024-2025 academic year") and any deadlines associated with your law school's externship program.BenefitsGAO provides a full range of benefits to all staff, including attorneys. These include flexible work hours, student loan repayments, and a transit subsidy. GAO staff can also take advantage of our on-site fitness center and an on-site day care center.See more about benefits for all GAO staff.The following benefits are specific to GAO attorneys:**Professional Development**You get the information and resources you need for professional growth. Intensive training programs help you handle a wide range of assignments and keep you up-to-date on challenges in the law and major public policy issues.**Annual bar dues reimbursement**GAO pays for our attorneys to remain active members in one state bar.**Competitive Salaries**GAO is not subject to the GS scale used by most executive branch agencies. Instead, GAO uses a band system. For Washington, D.C. based employees the 2024 salary ranges are:Band Level2024 Salary RangesEligibility for Promotion ConsiderationI$99,913 - $144,268After two years, eligible for promotion to Band IIII$137,015 - $191,760After two years at Band II, eligible for promotion to Band IIIIII$170,757 - $191,900
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