Student Trainee (Legal)

Summary

This announcement is for the OSD Honors Legal Internship Program, First and Second Year Law Students. Expected start date is May 31, 2027. This program is 10 weeks in duration. This is a Public Notice under the DoW Direct-Hire Authority for Pathways Post-Secondary Students. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

Duties

The legal issues considered by DoW OGC are broad. While unique legal issues arise as a result of the national security and military missions of DoW, such as those involving international relations, military operations, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the DoW counternarcotics program, military education, industrial security, intelligence and counterintelligence policy, DoW OGC also advises in all of the practice areas common to the practice of law by Federal government attorneys in any Federal agency to include constitutional law issues, procurement and acquisition law, fiscal law, environmental law, property law, administrative law, employment and labor law, information disclosure (the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act), government ethics, legislation, litigation support, and the review of investigations. Perhaps surprising to those not familiar with DoW are the legal issues arising from practice areas that some may not immediately associate with DoW such as healthcare law (DoW runs its own hospital and health care system) and education law (DoW operates its own K-12 school system for military dependents, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate schools). Interns will be assigned to specific offices within DoW OGC or DLSA, such as the Offices of the Deputy General Counsels for Energy, Environment and Installations; Fiscal; International Affairs; Intelligence; Legal Counsel; or Personnel & Health Policy; the Standards of Conduct Office; and other DLSA offices such as the Offices of General Counsel for Washington Headquarters Service. There are few, if any, offices that can provide summer interns the experiences that are available as an OSW Honors Legal Intern in DoW OGC. Summer interns in the OSW Honors Legal Internship Program are given considerable flexibility in their assignments. There are substantial opportunities to enhance research and drafting skills by working closely with OGC attorneys. Interns will assist in drafting and commenting on legislation, regulations, congressional testimony, litigation materials, and legal opinions. Interns will also have the opportunity to assist in the process of formulating DoW legal policy on high-profile topics of current interest. Our intern program may include visits to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Senate Armed Services Committee, military installations, Defense agencies and DoW field activities, and are all intended to familiarize the interns with the practice of law by Federal attorneys and the work of DoW in general.

Qualifications and evaluation

DoW OGC seeks applicants with high academic qualifications and outstanding skill in written communications. Interns will be selected based on merit. Selection criteria include, but are not limited to: a demonstrated interest in the DoW mission, coursework, work experience, research projects/publications, and participation in extracurricular activities. If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Education

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

How to apply

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO APPLY TO THE OSW SUMMER HONORS LEGAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM MUST PROVIDE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS VIA EMAIL TO: osd.summerhonorslegalinterns@mail.mil

Required documents

TO APPLY, EMAIL ALL THE DOCUMENTS LISTED BELOW TO osd.summerhonorslegalinterns@mail.mil ON OR BEFORE 11:59PM EST NOVEMBER 9, 2026. INCOMPLETE OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. To apply for this position, you must provide all the documents listed below. Each document must be saved as a PDF file using the following naming convention: "Last Name, First Name, Document Name.pdf." The following documents are required: 1. Cover letter. Indicate why you would like to serve as an intern at OGC. The cover letter must be submitted as a separate attachment to your application email and not as text in the email. The cover letter should also include your current telephone number and e-mail address. The cover letter should provide more detailed information on your interest in the program (list the OGC sub-offices you would prefer). There is no guarantee you will be placed in a particular office within OGC. 2. Resume. Be sure to include relevant experience such as prior experience with DoW or another Federal agency, or legal work experience. Also, include relevant volunteer experience and extracurricular activities. 3. Writing Sample. A writing sample is required. A legal memorandum or a legal brief is preferred. 4. Undergraduate Transcripts. An unofficial transcript may be submitted as part of the initial application, but an official transcript or equivalent document will be required before a final offer is made. 5. Letter of Proof of Current Law School Enrollment. Statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating that you are a current law student. 6. Law School Transcripts. An unofficial transcript may be submitted once available, but an official transcript or equivalent document will be required before a final offer is made. In addition, if the transcript does not contain grade point average (GPA) or class rank, you must also provide a separate statement of law school class rank, GPA or an equivalent measure of academic placement, from the law school, or a statement from the law school that no such measures are in place. First-year law students should submit their law school transcript as soon s possible, once transcripts become available. Submit all other application materials (1-5 above) by midnight on December 15, 2026. ADDITIONAL APPLICATION MATERIALS (if applicable): 1. Graduate Transcripts. If your resume mentions graduate school (other than your current law school), please include a copy of the transcript from that school (an unofficial transcript is acceptable). 2. Documentation of Veteran Status. Selectees with prior military service are required to submit photocopies of their DD 214(s), Certificate(s) of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, covering all periods of military service. 3. Relatives Employed by DoW. Applicants who have family members employed by OSW or the Joint Staff must specify in their application materials the organizational entity or entities (e.g., Directorate, Office of an Under or Assistant Secretary of War, Staff Office or equivalent) in which these individuals are employed. All application materials become property of the office and will not be returned. Interns are generally ineligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits (5 CFR § 890.102) and retirement coverage (5 CFR § 831.201, 842.105). Employees hired under the Pathways Program on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave. As provided in 5 U.S.C. 6303(b), employees whose appointments are limited to less than 90 days may be eligible for annual leave if they have previously served for a continuous period of 90 days under successive appointments.

Additional information

About the Position & Direct-Hire Authority: This position is being filled in the Competitive Service under the Department of War (DoW) Direct-Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students. Under this specific statutory authority, traditional rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply to this Public Notice. Veterans' preference is not applied to selections made under this direct-hire authority.