The Legal Externship Volunteer Program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is a volunteer program that offers law students the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and to earn academic credit while working in the headquarters Office of the General Counsel in Washington, D.C.
The opportunity to be considered for the Legal Externship Volunteer Program for “Summer 2021” has closed. Please check back periodically for updates regarding the program, including the next opportunity to apply for the Legal Externship Volunteer Program with the DHS Office of the General Counsel.
New applications for the Office of the General Counsel’s Legal Externship Volunteer Program are accepted throughout the year. The length of each externship may vary from four to twenty-one weeks. Volunteers are expected to work 16 to 20 hours per work-week. Applications for full-time volunteers may be given preference over part-time volunteers.
Office of the General Counsel
Washington, D.C.
- Law volunteers are unpaid and not entitled to benefits through the federal government as they are not federal employees.
- Unpaid law volunteers are protected in the event of job related injuries under the Federal Torts Reform Act.
- Relocation expenses and recruitment incentives are not paid for law volunteers.
To be considered you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be a rising 2L, rising 3L, or LLM student at the time of application;
- Undergo a suitability determination by the DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer;
- Demonstrate high academic achievement (GPA of 3.5 or higher required or top 1/3 of the class preferred);
- Possess exceptional research, writing, and analytical skills; and
- Demonstrate interest in homeland or national security law; this may be demonstrated through coursework that directly relates to the DHS mission or extracurricular activities; and
- Enroll in at least one externship credit through your law schools and satisfy your law school's externship program requirements.
The opportunity to be considered for the Legal Externship Volunteer Program for “Summer 2021” has closed. Please check back periodically for updates regarding the program, including the next opportunity to apply for the Legal Externship Volunteer Program with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC).