Law Student Summer Internship Program

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York offers an unpaid summer internship program for first-year and second-year law students. Interns are placed in either the Criminal or Civil Division and are paired with one or two AUSAs to gain unparalleled hands-on litigation experience. Typical assignments include research and writing projects, participating in witness interviews, document analysis, assisting in preparing for depositions and oral arguments in court, and assisting with trials. The Office also hosts a variety of summer events, training sessions and brown bag lunches to educate interns about government lawyering. Interns must commit to working 8-10 weeks over the summer.

Please note that you must be a U.S. Citizen to participate in this internship program.

Application

The Summer Internship Program is open only to first-year and second-year law students. For the 2025 Summer, second-year law students may apply during the period of September 9 to October 11, 2024. First-year law students may apply during the period of December 16, 2024 to January 24, 2025. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible during each application window as we consider applications on a rolling basis. 

To apply, please submit an application via e-mail to [email protected] for the Criminal Division or to [email protected] for the Civil Division. You may apply to only one division. The subject line of your email should be “Summer Internship Applicant [Name], [Law School], [1L or 2L].” In the body of the message, please include your last name, first name, e-mail, phone number, name of your law school, year of law school, and the division of interest.

Please attach the following documents in Word or PDF format:

1. A one-page cover letter indicating the division to which you are applying. If you are applying to our criminal division and you would prefer to work in the Office’s White Plains location, please also indicate that in your cover letter. 
2. Your resume.
3. A writing sample of no longer than five pages.
4. Your law school transcript (unofficial copies are acceptable).  First-year law students may apply before they receive their law school grades and supplement their application when their grades become available.   
5. Voluntary Form regarding Race and National Origin Identification (PDF) - You are not required to fill out this form. Furnishing the requested information is entirely voluntary on your part and your failure to do so will have no effect on you or on your application.

Externships During the School Year

The United States Attorney’s Office accepts a certain number of law student externs during the school year, in both our Civil and Criminal Divisions in Manhattan, and in our White Plains branch office. Law students interested in committing to no less than ten hours per week for 12-16 weeks during the spring or fall semester, may submit an application for an externship. An application for an externship consists of a resume, a law school transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable), a writing sample (no longer than five pages), and a cover letter explaining your interest in working in the Office and your preference for a work location (Civil, Criminal, or White Plains). The application should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected].

To be considered for a spring externship in 2025 we must receive your application no later than October 11, 2024. To be considered for a fall externship in 2025 we must receive your application no later than April 11. We will consider applications on a rolling basis.

Eligibility Requirements and Conditions for All Internship and Externship Programs

U.S. Citizen
Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

U.S. Residency Requirement
For three of the five years immediately prior to applying for an internship, the applicant must (i) have resided in the United States; (ii) have worked for the United States overseas in a federal or military capacity; or (iii) have been a dependent of a federal or military employee serving overseas.

Background Check
Students who have been preliminarily selected for an internship or externship position must thereafter supply information for a background check and be granted a favorable security clearance in order to work in this Office.

School Permission
Your law school must execute a Volunteer Agreement as part of the final clearance process for students who have been preliminarily selected for an internship or externship position.

No Payment
Internships and externships are unpaid. Summer interns may apply for stipends that are offered by private fellowship associations with funds administered by a committee of the Federal Bar Council. Further information concerning these stipends is made available at the time a student is preliminarily selected for the summer internship.

Conflict of Interest
Law student interns and externs cannot work for or be paid by another law firm or similar entity during the period of the internship or externship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Interns and externs are also prohibited from participating in any law school or other legal clinic involving litigation with or proceedings before the United States or any federal entity during the period of the internship or externship. Written consent from the U.S. Attorney’s Office is required to participate in any other type of law school or legal clinic, or in any other type of outside employment, during the period of the internship or externship.

Non-Discrimination
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment or selection of interns or externs on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a parent, genetic information, disability, age, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. The Office encourages applications for internships and externships from students of diverse backgrounds.