2027 Spring Internship - Counselor to the Chief Justice

Summary

This is a full-time position with the Counselor to the Chief Justice Office at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C. Closing Date: Saturday, 09/26/2026, 11:59 PM ET Please note that this vacancy has a limit of 200 applicants. The job opportunity announcement will automatically close if that limit is reached prior to the closing date.

Duties

Congress created the statutory position of the Counselor to the Chief Justice in 1972 to aid in the increasingly complex planning and leadership duties of the Chief Justice. Within the Court, the Counselor serves as the Chief Justice's chief operating officer. Outside of the Court, the Counselor supports the Chief Justice in his broad-ranging responsibility as head of the federal judiciary, including in his roles as presiding officer of the Judicial Conference of the United States, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center, and Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The Counselor is also the Chief Justice's point of contact and representative for many varied entities having business with the Court, including judicial organizations, bar associations, foreign courts, and visiting dignitaries. Interns in the Counselor's Office conduct background research for briefings provided to guests of the Supreme Court; draft correspondence; collect, track, and summarize relevant news articles; and assist in other projects as assigned. The Counselor's Office accepts only students available to intern on a full-time basis, five days per week.

Qualifications and evaluation

We will review and assess your application package in comparison with the posted qualifications for the position. Your answers to the assessment questionnaire are required and will be used to evaluate your application. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13048043

Education

At least two semesters of undergraduate study are required.

How to apply

You must upload the cover letter, resume, short essay, transcript, and two letters of recommendation. These documents are required and must be received by the closing date, 09/26/2026, in order to be considered. Please submit only these documents unless you have prior federal and/or military experience. In that case your most recent SF-50, Statement of Service, and/or DD-214 will also be required. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJobs account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJobs resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJobs account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJobs account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJobs account or your application will be incomplete.

Required documents

The following documents are required: A resume A cover letter that explains why you are seeking an internship position with the Supreme Court of the United States in the Counselor to the Chief Justice's Office, your dates of availability, and confirming you are able to work on a full-time basis, five days per week A Short Essay. Please attach an original short essay about a former Justice of the Supreme Court. The essay should explain your choice of Justice and what parts of his or her work and biography hold particular interest and significance to you. The essay should be two to four pages, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and Times New Roman 12 point. Your essay MUST be in either PDF or Microsoft WORD format. A transcript Two letters of recommendation, upload with the application or recommenders may send to internships@supremecourt.gov.

Additional information

Internship Program participants are eligible for the SmartBenefits transit subsidy. Please note that the Court does not offer a parking benefit.