The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as a Student Trainee (Legal). This is a temporary 2027 Summer Internship position.
This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) may be used to fill other Student Trainee (Legal), GS-0999-7 positions within the FRTIB in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Summary
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as a Student Trainee (Legal). This is a temporary 2027 Summer Internship position.
This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) may be used to fill other Student Trainee (Legal), GS-0999-7 positions within the FRTIB in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Students who are currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis with a semester/term GPA and cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on their most recently completed academic term.
The FRTIB is filling a Summer 2027 legal internship position. This position is expected to begin at the end of May or early June and will extend through the summer. In rare situations, this appointment may be extended. As a Student Trainee (Legal), you will:
draft legal memorandums and briefs;
assist with conducting legal research in the areas of pension, tax, administrative law, privacy, procurement, investments, and loan activities of the FRTIB;
All qualification requirements must be met prior to appointment.
Must maintain student eligibility for the duration of the internship.
Trial period may be required.
Selective Service. Male applicant born after 12/31/1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or exemption.
Background Suitability Investigation. Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
GS-7 EDUCATION: For the Pathways Internship Program you may qualify based solely on education as follows: One full year of graduate level education as defined by the educational institution (e.g., 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or equivalent). OR
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Based on a Bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); grade point average (3.0/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society. Please see the Superior Academic Achievement provision (S.A.A.) criteria for more detailed information.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR -Selected Placement Factors (SPF) are special qualification requirements, in addition to the minimum requirements, that are essential in successfully performing the duties of this job. If you do not meet the SPF below, you will not receive further consideration under this vacancy announcement.
Completion of at least one year of enrollment at an accredited law school (as defined by the educational institution).
Education
Foreign Education. If you are using education completed at foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs. Foreign education must be deemed equivalent to that gained at an accredited U.S. education program. For further information visit the U.S. Department of Education's website concerning foreign qualifications.
Additional information
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
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.
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.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Writing - writes in an accurate, well-reasoned, logical, organized, clear and concise manner.
Legal Research - knows how to find appropriate legal and factual information.
Legal Analysis - uses analytical skills, logic, and reasoning to evaluate legal issues.
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Category Rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measurement of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories:
Best Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most requirements of the position.
Well Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and meets most requirements of the position.
Qualified - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not possess the relevant competencies to a substantive degree.
The Category Rating process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).
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.
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current federal employee or employee of the FRTIB. Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement will result in your removal from consideration from this position.
1. Resume -Please include on your resume the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month, day and year, and hours worked per week. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications. Only the first 2 pages of the resume/application will be used to verify minimum qualifications. Please be sure to include specific dates of employment and work schedule(s).
2. Responses to the occupational questionnaire.
3. Transcripts and Enrollment Verification - You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies. Transcripts must be legible and possess the school name imprinted on the transcript or be on school letterhead. Transcripts must show you are currently enrolled (e.g., Fall 2026). If your transcripts do not reflect current enrollment (e.g., Fall 2026), you must provide a separate proof of enrollment document or acceptance for enrollment verification. Applications without transcripts or transcripts without the required information are considered incomplete and will be rated "Ineligible". Official transcripts and proof of continuing education through either the Summer or Fall 2027 semesters will be required if selected. If you are currently enrolled, but in your last semester/quarter of completing your degree/certificate requirements, you must provide proof of continuing education, such as an acceptance letter as part of your application package.
4. Veteran Documentation - If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit supporting documentation as described below. Visit the Feds Hire Vets website for more information regarding veterans' preference. Omitting these documents may result in no preference being adjudicated for you. These documents may include, but are not limited to:
Veteran's documentation. All veterans must submit a DD-214, Member Copy 4. If you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
Preference eligible documentation. If claiming 10-point preference you must submit the final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information), as well as the DD-214 Member Copy 4. The SF-15 will be requested if selected.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must apply through the USAJOBS online job application system. Complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/28/2026 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to 09/28/2026.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding submission of an alternate application.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Office of General Counsel
77 K Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once your application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. If your name is referred to the selecting official, you may be contacted directly by the office for a possible interview. You may also check the status of your application through your USAJOBS profile. After the evaluation process is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current federal employee or employee of the FRTIB. Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement will result in your removal from consideration from this position.
1. Resume -Please include on your resume the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month, day and year, and hours worked per week. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications. Only the first 2 pages of the resume/application will be used to verify minimum qualifications. Please be sure to include specific dates of employment and work schedule(s).
2. Responses to the occupational questionnaire.
3. Transcripts and Enrollment Verification - You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies. Transcripts must be legible and possess the school name imprinted on the transcript or be on school letterhead. Transcripts must show you are currently enrolled (e.g., Fall 2026). If your transcripts do not reflect current enrollment (e.g., Fall 2026), you must provide a separate proof of enrollment document or acceptance for enrollment verification. Applications without transcripts or transcripts without the required information are considered incomplete and will be rated "Ineligible". Official transcripts and proof of continuing education through either the Summer or Fall 2027 semesters will be required if selected. If you are currently enrolled, but in your last semester/quarter of completing your degree/certificate requirements, you must provide proof of continuing education, such as an acceptance letter as part of your application package.
4. Veteran Documentation - If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit supporting documentation as described below. Visit the Feds Hire Vets website for more information regarding veterans' preference. Omitting these documents may result in no preference being adjudicated for you. These documents may include, but are not limited to:
Veteran's documentation. All veterans must submit a DD-214, Member Copy 4. If you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
Preference eligible documentation. If claiming 10-point preference you must submit the final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information), as well as the DD-214 Member Copy 4. The SF-15 will be requested if selected.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must apply through the USAJOBS online job application system. Complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/28/2026 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to 09/28/2026.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding submission of an alternate application.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Office of General Counsel
77 K Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once your application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. If your name is referred to the selecting official, you may be contacted directly by the office for a possible interview. You may also check the status of your application through your USAJOBS profile. After the evaluation process is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
