Law Student Volunteer Job in Rockville, MD

Vacancy No. OGC-2026-0001 Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $0.00 to $0.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Part-time
Open Date 4/16/2026 Close Date 4/30/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Rockville, MD


Summary

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Office of the General Counsel is seeking motivated and detail-oriented law students to serve as interns in a 4-to-6-week volunteer program. This opportunity provides students with exposure to federal legal work and the opportunity to support attorneys and program staff on a variety of legal and policy matters.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Students

Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency

The NRC is currently accepting applications from law students enrolled at an accredited ABA law school.

Duties

Law student interns may assist attorneys and program staff with a variety of assignments including but not limited to:

  • Conducting legal research and analysis on statues, regulations, and case law.
  • Assisting with drafting legal memoranda, summaries, and briefing materials.
  • Supporting the review of policies, guidance documents, and regulatory materials.
  • Assisting with litigation preparation or administrative law matters, as applicable.
  • Attending meetings, hearings, or briefings when appropriate.
  • Supporting special legal or policy projects within the office.
Assignments will vary based on office priorities and the intern's interests and skills.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • This is a drug testing position.
  • Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.
  • You must submit a law school transcript.
  • Be in good standing - J.D. or LL.M candidate an accredited ABA law school.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

To be eligible for this volunteer internship all of the following requirements must be met.

  • You MUST submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the eligibility requirements. (Unofficial is acceptable)

Qualifications

Applicants must have completed at least one full semester at an accredited law school at the begining of the current academic terms and possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or rank in the upper half of their class.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a law school that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet the criteria, see www.ed.gov.

Additional information

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 287-0745 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.
The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.

If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

Other Information:

  • Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.
  • A Benefits Package is not authorized for this position.
  • Interns may be eligible for transportation subsidies, pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended.
  • Veterans' Preference - If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the required veterans' preference documentation as specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement.
  • Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Volunteers are not eligible to receive agency benefits.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application includes your:

  • Responses to the online questionnaire
  • Resume
  • Current transcripts showing enrollment (REQUIRED - an unofficial transcript is acceptable)

Required Documents

  • Resume/Cover Sheet
  • Transcripts
  • Proof of Disability
  • DD-214
  • VA Preference Letter
  • SF-15
  • Other
Additional Resume Information

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your résumé to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder.

How to Apply

Carefully review this entire announcement and all instructions before starting your application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all vacant questions (if applicable), and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply.
You have two options for submitting these required documents:

  1. Upload from USAJOBS: Utilize the "USAJOBS" feature to download documents directly from your existing USAJOBS portfolio.
  2. Direct Upload: Use the "Upload" feature to upload files directly from your computer. Acceptable file types include: .gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .docx.
To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process.
Important Considerations:
  • Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below.
  • Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted.
  • Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission.

Agency contact information

Kamani Baskins
Phone
301-415-4087
Email
Kamani.Baskins@nrc.gov
Address
Office of the General Counsel
11555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
US

Next steps

You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBs and selecting "Application Status".

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

If you are curious, inspired, or interested in bringing your energy to a committed team in a dynamic science, engineering, technical, or administrative career, consider the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We are professionals dedicated to protecting people and the environment by safeguarding the use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry, and research.

NRC is an independent agency established to protect public health and safety as nuclear energy fuels electrical power and a variety of industrial, medical, and research applications. We come from varied educational and experiential backgrounds-the military, industry, and academia.

The NRC prides itself on creating a work environment rich in opportunity, leadership, training, teamwork and work life balance. Help guide our nation into the next generation of nuclear safety by completing your USAJOBs profile and reviewing our job announcements. Begin a challenging career with the NRC where you can be a part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry and research.

Agency contact information

Kamani Baskins
Phone
301-415-4087
Email
Kamani.Baskins@nrc.gov
Address
Office of the General Counsel
11555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
US

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https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/employment


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