Spring, Summer, and Fall 2024

The Department of Energy’s (DOE or Department) Office of the General Counsel is accepting applications for its Law Student Intern Program in accordance with the time frames listed at the end of this announcement.

The Office of the General Counsel offers an exciting opportunity for law students to gain firsthand exposure to the fast-moving and evolving practice of energy, environmental and Federal agency law.  The General Counsel is charged by the Secretary of Energy with the authority to determine the Department’s authoritative position on any question of law.  The General Counsel’s Office provides legal advice, counsel, and support to the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and program offices throughout DOE to further the Department’s mission of advancing the national, economic, and energy security of the United States through scientific and technological innovation and the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.

The intern program is designed for a select group of law students to become integrated members of our practice groups by working closely with attorneys throughout the Office of the General Counsel.  Interns can expect demanding legal research and writing assignments concerning an array of practice areas, including: administrative litigation, appropriations, and ethics; civilian nuclear programs; electricity, fossil energy, cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency response; enforcement; environment; legislation, regulation and energy efficiency; international and national security programs; litigation; procurement and financial assistance; technology transfer and intellectual property; and loan guarantee programs. 
DOE headquarters Office of the General Counsel staff is composed of over 140 attorneys who work within various and distinct issue areas. The following offices accept interns

All interested students are encouraged to apply; however, the positions are very competitive.  U.S. citizenship is required.  No paid internships are available.

Internships are available during the summer and for both spring and fall semesters during the academic year.  Although we can be somewhat flexible on start dates to accommodate academic schedules, we require interns to work a minimum of ten weeks in the summer and a minimum of twelve weeks for both fall and spring.  Internships will be remote with in-person or hybrid options depending on the office.  To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample, and rankings list of your top five office preferences directly to the Office of the General Counsel’s email at gcintern@hq.doe.gov

Candidates interested in more than one term must apply separately under the appropriate time frame below for each period of interest.  Further, we will not send notices of non-selection, therefore, if you do not hear from our office by the recruitment closing dates below, you may assume you will not receive an offer for that term period.  Below are the application, interviewing, recruitment, and internship dates for our 2024 programs.

Spring Internship Program 2024

August 1 – September 30, 2023
Open season for applications

October 31, 2023
Recruitment program closes with offers extended

January, 2024
Internships begin

April, 2024
Internships end

Summer Internship Program 2024

November 1 – February 15, 2024
Open season for applications

March 31, 2024
Recruitment program closes with offers extended

May, 2024
Internships begin

July, 2024
Internships end

Fall Internship Program 2024

March 1 – April 30, 2024
Open season for applications

May 31, 2024
Recruitment program closes with offers extended

August, 2024 
Internships begin

November, 2024
Internships end

Internships for law students are also available with the Department of Energy's Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA). OHA is the quasi-judicial arm of the DOE, and it is a legal office separate from the Office of the General Counsel. OHA is composed of attorneys and staff members who specialize in investigating, evaluating, and resolving legal disputes. Legal issues that come before the OHA usually involve discrete disputes between individuals and the agency or its contractors. OHA holds personnel security hearings and handles Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals, whistleblower hearings and appeals, product efficiency appeals, and other legal matters. Due to OHA’s independent nature and the skill set of its staff, OHA also serves as the home of the DOE’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Office (ADRO). You may learn more about OHA at /oha/office-hearings-and-appeals. US citizenship is required for all applicants, and no paid internships are available. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample to OHA's email at OHA@hq.doe.gov. (Please note that this application process is separate from the Office of General Counsel internship application process; applicants may apply to either or both programs.)