The House Office of the Legislative Counsel provides legislative drafting services to the committees and Members of the United States House of Representatives on a non-partisan, impartial, and confidential basis. Our goal is to work with committees and Members to understand their policy preferences in order to implement those preferences through clear, concise, and legally effective legislative language.
Summary
The House Office of the Legislative Counsel provides legislative drafting services to the committees and Members of the United States House of Representatives on a non-partisan, impartial, and confidential basis. Our goal is to work with committees and Members to understand their policy preferences in order to implement those preferences through clear, concise, and legally effective legislative language.
The House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) is looking to hire up to two (2) Summer Associates to start in June of 2026. Appointments to all positions in HOLC are made without regard to personal political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the work.
Summer Associates assists Attorneys at HOLC of the United States House of Representatives, and its Committees and Members, in drafting legislation and performing related legal functions on a nonpartisan basis. The legal issues encountered in furnishing this assistance involve constitutional, statutory, and administrative law questions, as well as questions in other fields of Federal law. An Attorney performs the following duties:
Drafts legislation and prepares bills according to statutory style and format standards.
Drafts bills and amendments at each stage of the legislative process, from introduction through conference.
Analyzes policy proposals, engages with clients, applies relevant legal principles and court decisions, and conducts research as necessary to prepare effective statutory language.
Advises clients regarding the legal effect and constitutionality of proposed legislative measures in the context of existing laws and legislative procedure.
Attends sessions of a subcommittee and full committee of the House and of a conference committee between the House and the Senate; may respond as requested to questions from legislators and legislative staff; may assist members by being present to provide drafting assistance to members on the House Floor.
May communicate with various stakeholders, at the request of the Member or Committee, as necessary to draft legislation.
After gaining necessary experience in these duties and responsibilities, trains newly hired attorneys, provides mentorship to team members, and may assume a leadership role on teams.
On a volunteer basis, may assist with office management initiatives to promote the effective operation of the office.
Performs related duties as assigned
The ideal candidate should have a desire to work in nonpartisan public service and a strong academic background. The ideal candidate should actively and enthusiastically embrace and promote the HOLC's work culture, develop effective working relationships with other attorneys and employees, and strive to provide exceptional service to clients.
Ideal candidates will have knowledge of legal principles, applications, and practices of law, as well as basic knowledge of fundamental subjects of law and legal research procedures. Strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to remain impartial at all times with respect to the policies to be incorporated into a legislative proposal are a must for this position. The ability to analyze complex problems and handle difficult situations as they arise with judgment, tact, and discretion, as well as excellent problem-solving skills, and a strong interest in learning within a high-performing environment are all key characteristics of a successful Summer Associate.
The Summer Associate program is available to law students only during the summer before their last year in an accredited law school and may lead to an offer of full-time employment upon completion of law school, depending on performance and the needs of HOLC. Summer Associates, working under close supervision, are expected to perform similar duties to that of the full-time Attorneys, with the understanding Summer Associates will work for a minimum of six (6) weeks, and with the assignment ending by the beginning of August.
All applicants must be United States Citizen.
To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, submit your résumé, cover letter, a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages, a copy of your law school transcript, and the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least three references.
Within the cover letter, please directly answer the following questions:
What specifically interests you about this position and why would you like to work with the House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC)?
Are you a U.S. Citizen?
Have you held an internship, fellowship, or similar position (paid or unpaid) in a partisan office? If so, did you seek out the placement, or were you placed there by your school or sponsoring organization? Please provide any relevant details, as well as your responsibilities.
Résumé should reflect years and months of employment and/or relevant legal experience.
Additional information
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.
You will be evaluated using a structured interview process.
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.
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.
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.
