Summary
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.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Students who have completed at least one full year with an accredited law school, at the beginning of the current academic term.
Duties
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 that 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.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national authorized to work in the U.S.
- Must be able to successfully pass an appropriate background investigation.
- Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
- Students must have completed at least one full year with an accredited law school at the beginning of the current academic term.
Qualifications
Students must have completed at least one full year with an accredited law school at the beginning of the current academic term.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Law clerk candidates are subject to a suitability review, adjudication, and appropriate background check of the candidates' pre-employment forms (which cover a period of seven to ten years).
OSC can withdraw an offer of Internship if the review process reveals information that precludes a security and/or suitability clearance.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package through the online Apply Now feature, which includes the following required documentation:
- Cover Letter: Should include a personal statement reflecting your background and interest in the position. Your cover letter must also identify the semester(s) and unit(s) that you wish to be considered for when submitting your application.
- Resume: Please include employment history, dates of employment (MM/DDDD), education history, volunteer activities, and awards/achievements (scholastic/professional).
Applications will be accepted through the closing date of this announcement or until all available positions are filled.
If you submit multiple copies of the same document, only your most recent uploaded document (by date & time stamp) will be considered. If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above-mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be considered further. If your application materials contain sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered.
Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job or Internship offers.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
Your application and supporting documents must be submitted and received through the online application process by 11:59 pm EST on the following dates:
- July 21, 2024, to be considered for Fall 2024, or
- November 1, 2024, to be considered for Spring 2025, or
- February 17, 2025, to be considered for Summer 2025.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents as outlined in the "Required Documents" section above. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account if you do not have one.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your application was received.
Your application will be evaluated as outlined above and if you are found to be among the best candidates, you will be referred to management for consideration. We anticipate a large number of Volunteer Applicants, and only the top candidates will be contacted for interview.
You will receive automated notifications through the USAjobs system as updates are available. Applicants will be provided status updates during:
- August 2024 for the Fall 2024 semester
- December 2024 for the Spring 2025 semester
- March 2025 for the Summer 2025 semester
Interviews may be conducted individually, by panel, by third party, teleconference, video teleconference, or in person.
Selecting officials have the option to interview any, all or none of the referred candidates.
Management has the right to fill or not a fill this vacancy, as well as to cancel and re-announce as appropriate.
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