The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is organized into six operational units: the Immediate Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Counselor, Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Investigations, and Office of Management and Administration. OIG has offices in more than 60 locations throughout the country.
This internship is located in the Office of the Counselor. The Office provides a range of legal services in furtherance of the OIG's mission.
Summary
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is organized into six operational units: the Immediate Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Counselor, Office of Audits and Evaluations, Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of Investigations, and Office of Management and Administration. OIG has offices in more than 60 locations throughout the country.
This internship is located in the Office of the Counselor. The Office provides a range of legal services in furtherance of the OIG's mission.
This opportunity is open to students who are U.S. citizens and U.S. Nationals enrolled on at least a half-time basis, or accepted for enrollment, in a law degree program of an accredited college or university.
The Student Trainee (Legal) is a summer internship position located within the Office of the Counselor to the Inspector General. The primary purpose of this position is to provide a variety of legal assistance to attorneys in the Office of the Counselor including conducting legal research, composing legal memoranda, assembling and organizing materials for administrative trials, and preparing summaries and outlines of hearings.
As a Student Trainee (Legal), you will:
Conduct legal research in matters arising under the U.S. Constitution, United States Code, Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, utilizing tools such as Westlaw and the Commission's website and in-house library.
Research and analyze issues for attorneys using reference sources such as legislative history, treatises, administrative decisions, Federal district and circuit court decisions, and Supreme Court decisions.
Prepare memoranda reflecting Merit Systems Protection Board (M.S.P.B.), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C.), and Federal Court case law precedent discovered during the course of legal research and applies precedent to pertinent facts in cases before judges.
Prepare draft memoranda, based upon analysis of the legal research, for review by an Administrative Law Judge.
Prepare drafts of decisions, orders, and notices, based upon results of the legal research, in cases before an Administrative Law Judge.
Provide official documentation of enrollment and registration;
Provide verification of academic status (transcript) at the end of each academic semester/quarter;
In coordination with supervisor, prepare and implement an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that will include a combination of on-the-job-training, mentoring, formal training courses, and developmental assignments;
Maintain satisfactory performance; and
Complete 640 hours of work experience in order to be considered for conversion to a Career or Career-Conditional appointment. You may be made permanent upon graduation if you meet all qualifications, eligibility, and educational requirements, are recommended for conversion by your supervisor, and funding is available.
Key Requirements:
You must have been accepted for enrollment or be enrolled and seeking a law degree in a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis.
You must remain in good academic standing during the duration of this program.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
A Public Trust Background Investigation will be required.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
If selected, you will be asked to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/ Electronic Funds Transfer.
Qualifications
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Basic Qualifications:
You MUST meet the definition of a STUDENT for the duration of your appointment.
The definition of a student is: an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled), including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program under Public Law 93-842. Students need not be in actual physical attendance, so long as all other requirements are met. An individual who needs to complete less than the equivalent of half an academic/vocational or technical course-load immediately prior to graduating is still considered a student for purposes of this Program.
To qualify for this internship at a GS-7 grade level, you must have:
Completed one (1) full academic year of graduate level education (One full academic year of graduate education is the number of credit hours determined by the college, university to represent one (1) year of full-time study); OR
Completed a bachelor's degree and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership; OR
Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
Grade-point average (G.P.A.) Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies
Education
If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript or unofficial transcript.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in 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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
Additional information
This is an Internship position not to exceed one year.
Candidates go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
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 based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
To be found minimally qualified, you must demonstrate proficiency in the competencies required for the position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Attention to Detail, Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Problem Solving, Self-Management, and Technology Application.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Rating: This announcement is issued under excepted service hiring authority (5CFR 213.3402). All candidates who meet the qualification and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. Competitive examining rules providing for rating and ranking and veterans' preference do not apply.
Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. Applicants who are selected for an interview may ask questions about the evaluation process at the time they are contacted for an interview.
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.
Completion of your USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if applicable.
Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 200th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of the announcement; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.
All applicantsare required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. Cover letters are optional. USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages. Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience. To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches. Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) designating semester or quarter hours earned or a course listing for the appropriate job specific question showing the type of information that appears on a transcript such as course title, department, hours earned (semester or quarter), and grade to ensure proper credit. You may submit unofficial transcripts with your application. However, if selected for the position, you will be required to submit your official transcript. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
CURRENT PROOF OF ACADEMIC ENROLLMENT: You MUST submit a copy of your current schedule or upcoming schedule as proof of enrollment.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation. In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.
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.
The following instructions outline our application process. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.
You must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday).
If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date if a reasonable accommodation is required for this, or any part of the application and hiring process.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside at least 2 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Under "application status," click "Track this application" and you will be taken to the agency website where you can check your application status.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Counselor to the Inspector General
Federal Talent Management Center
1900 E. Street NW
Washington, DC 20415
US
Next steps
We will review your résumé and transcript(s) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct any required suitability and/or security background investigation.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Completion of your USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if applicable.
Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in the announcement. As a result, the announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the date of receipt of the 200th application or at 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of the announcement; whichever occurs first. Any required documents should be submitted at the time that you apply as documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.
All applicantsare required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. Cover letters are optional. USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages. Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience. To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches. Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) designating semester or quarter hours earned or a course listing for the appropriate job specific question showing the type of information that appears on a transcript such as course title, department, hours earned (semester or quarter), and grade to ensure proper credit. You may submit unofficial transcripts with your application. However, if selected for the position, you will be required to submit your official transcript. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
CURRENT PROOF OF ACADEMIC ENROLLMENT: You MUST submit a copy of your current schedule or upcoming schedule as proof of enrollment.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation. In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.
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.
The following instructions outline our application process. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.
You must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday).
If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date if a reasonable accommodation is required for this, or any part of the application and hiring process.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside at least 2 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Under "application status," click "Track this application" and you will be taken to the agency website where you can check your application status.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Counselor to the Inspector General
Federal Talent Management Center
1900 E. Street NW
Washington, DC 20415
US
Next steps
We will review your résumé and transcript(s) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct any required suitability and/or security background investigation.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
