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STUDENT TRAINEE (LEGAL)

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
DoD Office of General Counsel
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement is for the OSD Honors Legal Internship Program, First Year Law Students. Expected start date is May 31, 2022. This program is 10 weeks in duration.

Overview

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Job closed
Posted 11/01/21
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$49,157 - $63,906 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Internships - Excepted Service
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
21SEPWHSDDAAMA943966
Control number
619397600

Duties

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The legal issues considered by DoD OGC are broad. While unique legal issues arise as a result of the national security and military missions of DoD, such as those involving international relations, military operations, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the DoD counternarcotics program, military education, industrial security, intelligence and counterintelligence policy, DoD OGC also advises in all of the practice areas common to the practice of law by Federal government attorneys in any Federal agency to include constitutional law issues, procurement and acquisition law, fiscal law, environmental law, property law, administrative law, employment and labor law, information disclosure (the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act), government ethics, legislation, litigation support, and the review of investigations. Perhaps surprising to those not familiar with DoD are the legal issues arising from practice areas that some may not immediately associate with DoD such as healthcare law (DoD runs its own hospital and health care system) and education law (DoD operates its own K-12 school system for military dependents, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate schools).

Interns will be assigned to specific offices within DoD OGC or DLSA, such as the Offices of the Deputy General Counsels for Energy, Environment and Installations; Fiscal; International Affairs; Intelligence; Legal Counsel; or Personnel & Health Policy; the Standards of Conduct Office; and other DLSA offices such as the Offices of General Counsel for Washington Headquarters Service. There are few, if any, offices that can provide summer interns the diversity of practice areas and experiences that are available as an OSD Honors Legal Intern in DoD OGC.

Summer interns in the OSD Honors Legal Internship Program are given considerable flexibility in their assignments. There are substantial opportunities to enhance research and drafting skills by working closely with OGC attorneys. Interns will assist in drafting and commenting on legislation, regulations, congressional testimony, litigation materials, and legal opinions. Interns will also have the opportunity to assist in the process of formulating DoD legal policy on high-profile topics of current interest. Our intern program may include visits to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Senate Armed Services Committee, military installations, Defense agencies and DoD field activities, and are all intended to familiarize the interns with the practice of law by Federal attorneys and the work of DoD in general.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • False answers or omissions of information on application and processing forms, or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
  • Position is contingent upon acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Positions require access to classified information and selectee will be subject to a background investigation.
  • This is a drug testing designated position.
  • COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Proof of vaccination will be required.
  • To ensure compliance with this mandate, please review the Federal civilian vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates must have completed their first year of law school prior to the commencement of the 2022 summer intern period.

Pathways Program candidates must meet the qualification requirements consistent with OPM qualification standards applicable to the position being filled.

Candidates must be continuing in legal studies throughout the summer and/or into the fall of 2022 to be eligible.

How you will be evaluated

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

DoD OGC seeks applicants with high academic qualifications and outstanding skill in written communications. Interns will be selected based on merit. Selection criteria include, but are not limited to: a demonstrated interest in DoD's mission, coursework, work experience, research projects/publications, and participation in extracurricular activities.

If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Office of the Secretary of Defense

The Department of Defense (DoD), with over 3 million military members and civilian employees, is one of the largest entities served by any group of attorneys in the world. The DoD Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The DoD OGC is the highest level legal organization in DoD. The DoD General Counsel is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and serves as the Chief Legal Officer of DoD, the legal advisor to the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Defense Legal Services Agency (in which capacity he or she oversees the General Counsel Offices of over two dozen Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities). The Office is responsible for advising high-level policy makers in OSD. In addition, the DoD OGC works closely with senior attorneys and policy makers from the military departments, and with officials from the Departments of Justice, State, Treasury, and other Government agencies.

Agency contact information

Washington HQ Services
Phone
000-000-0000
Email
whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil
Address
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Human Resources Directorate
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of the Secretary of Defense, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://ogc.osd.mil/

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