Law Student Volunteer, Civil Division, Environmental Torts Litigation (ETL) Section (Summer 2026)

Law student volunteers in the Environmental Torts Litigation Section (Torts-ETL) will have the opportunity to engage in substantive legal work supporting the Section’s high-impact environmental tort and complex civil litigation docket. Responsibilities include:

Assisting with the preparation, citation-checking, and formatting of legal documents such as motions, briefs, discovery responses, and correspondence

Investigating cases and helping to organize and maintain large, document-intensive case files

Researching federal and state law, as well as applicable federal agency regulations, policies, and guidelines relevant to environmental tort claims

Researching expert witnesses, reviewing and summarizing their reports and related materials, and helping attorneys evaluate complex scientific and medical evidence

Summarizing deposition transcripts and medical records and drafting factual and legal memoranda

Assisting in handling large mass tort and multi-district litigation matters

Working on a broad and diverse range of legal case matters, from individual tort claims to major nationwide actions

Being part of a litigation team with real responsibility, visibility, and importance

This internship offers a unique opportunity to:

Develop core professional skills, including legal research and writing, case analysis, organization, and teamwork

Gain insight into the intricacies of environmental tort cases, scientific and medical evidence, and federal liability

Work directly with litigation teams on high-profile cases and contribute meaningfully to the work of the Department of Justice

See first-hand how strategy, evidence, and procedure intersect in federal litigation that affects communities nationwide

All work must be performed in person at the Washington, DC office; telework is not permitted.

Eligibility Requirements

U.S. citizenship or national status

Must be a current first or second year law student (current 1L, rising 2L, or current 2L rising 3L)

Completion of at least one year of law school by the start date of the internship

Current 1Ls must have completed their first year before the internship begins

Must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited law school

Good academic standing at the law school

Successful completion of a background investigation

Ability to commit to a minimum of 35 hours per week for at least 8 weeks during Summer 2026

Preferred Qualifications

Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

Ability to manage and prioritize multiple assignments in a litigation environment

Effective communication and teamwork skills, including a demonstrated commitment to collaborative work

Professionalism, reliability, and a strong work ethic

Demonstrated interest or prior coursework/experience in environmental law, tort law, toxic torts, complex multi-party or mass tort litigation, or related fields

Submit the following materials in a single, combined PDF file titled [LAST NAME], [FIRST NAME] - Summer 2026 Internship Application to etlintern.hiring@usdoj.gov, with the subject line matching the file name:

Cover letter (may be addressed to Nathan J. Bu or “T-ETL Volunteer Coordinator”)

Resume (not to exceed two pages)

Legal writing sample (5–10 pages, may be excerpted)

Unofficial law school transcript

Unofficial undergraduate transcript (optional)

Additional Information

Please do not apply unless available for the full internship period.

Selected candidates will be required to complete security forms and a background check.

Law school graduates and LL.M candidates are ineligible.

Position is unpaid. Interns may receive academic credit or funding through external programs such as Federal Work Study, if applicable. Transit subsidy available for in-person commuting.