Volunteer Law Student (Clerk)

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is seeking law students with a desire to learn and gain valuable on the job experience! You will have the opportunity to work within any of the OSC program areas to promote accountability, integrity and fairness in the Federal workplace. Students must have completed at least one full year with an accredited law school at the beginning of the current academic term to be considered. Volunteers may be accepted in the DC commuting area or remotely as needed.

Responsibilities:

The duties of a Volunteer Student Law Clerk will vary depending on their assigned Program Unit.
Please review our Law Clerk Opportunities site for an overview of each Program Unit, respective law clerk duties, and any specific unit requirements. Note: The Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit requires students to have past mediation experience or to have taken a mediation course(s).

The general duties of a Volunteer Law Clerk may include assisting with:

• research projects and reporting on important/relevant Congressional hearings;
• screening new allegations for OSC jurisdiction and directing to the appropriate unit;
• initial review of complaints to identify legal and/or factual issues;
• drafting letters and memoranda explaining legal conclusions;
• investigating and litigating cases, developing case strategy, reviewing documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses, settlement negotiation;
• legal research on court opinions, executive orders, regulations, rules and administrative decisions;
• initial review of disclosures, review of whistleblower documents, whistleblower interviews;
• all stages of mediation, including reviewing cases for suitability for mediation, contacting the parties, and assisting OSC neutrals;
• providing training and technical assistance to Congress, the public, and other stakeholders;
• devising innovative methods to educate Federal employees and drafting educational materials for public use.