What are the responsibilities and job description for the Unpaid Law Student Volunteer, Summer - Fraud Section position at U.S. Department of Justice?
Washington, DC 20002 - United States
The Fraud Section of the Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, represents the United States in federal district courts in civil matters brought to redress fraud against the Government. Our office enforces the civil False Claims Act, investigating, litigating, and frequently settling multi-million dollar cases for false claims across various Government programs. Many of our cases involve healthcare (Medicare and Medicaid) and government contracting (especially defense).
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The Civil Fraud Section seeks highly qualified interns to provide legal research and writing support for our most active cases. Interns are typically assigned to one large case for the majority of their projects, allowing them to integrate into a team and closely observe case development throughout their internship. Opportunities to work on other matters are also available.Each intern is assigned a Fraud Section mentor and invited to observe attorneys in action. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to:
Practice legal research and writing
Experience the role of a DOJ lawyer
Explore substantive areas of our practice, including litigation, investigation, negotiation, civil enforcement, healthcare, and government contracting
The Civil Fraud Section aims to develop interns' legal skills while benefiting from their support of our critical mission.
We encourage applications from:
First-year law students
Second-year law students
Joint degree students
LLM students
The ideal candidate will possess:
Superior research and writing skills
A strong academic record
Demonstrated interest in public service
Additional desirable qualifications:
Coursework or demonstrated interest in healthcare, government contracting, litigation, and/or negotiations
Requirements:
U.S. citizenship
Ability to pass DOJ's background screening
Minimum of 40 hours per week for at least eight weeks between mid-May and August
We can often accommodate split summer for rising third-year students with a six-week minimum commitment
To apply, email the following documents to Civil.Fraud@usdoj.gov:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Transcript
- Writing sample
Subject line format: "Law Student Intern, Summer [Year], [Your Name]"
Example: "Law Student Intern, Summer 2025, Jane Smith".
Important Dates:
Summer Deadline: February 15th
1Ls: We will begin accepting 1L applications on December 1st. To ensure consideration, please submit applications by January 1st. Applications received later than January 1 will be considered if openings remain available
Volunteer (uncompensated). Course-credit, work-study, and externship opportunities are available depending on school requirements.
