Law Student Volunteer, Civil Division, Office of Immigration Litigation – General Litigation and Appeals Section (Spring 2026)

The Office of Immigration Litigation – General Litigation and Appeals Section (OIL‑GLA) is a major component of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division. OIL‑GLA litigates immigration matters on behalf of the U.S. government in federal district courts and courts of appeals, addressing a broad range of complex immigration, nationality, and civil-immigration detention issues. Work spans:

Defense of agency actions, programmatic and class action challenges to visa and related policies

Affirmative civil litigation, including denaturalization proceedings

Appellate litigation on issues involving removability, constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and criminal law

Coordinating with other executive branch components to ensure uniform immigration law application

OIL‑GLA’s attorneys brief and argue cases in federal courts, and the office is comprised of approximately 340 attorneys across 18 appellate and 9 district court-focused teams.

Law Student Volunteers will:

Conduct legal research and write briefs and other pleadings for submission in federal court under attorney supervision

Practice oral argument skills by mooting a case before experienced attorneys

Participate in training sessions, office tours, networking events, and “first cuts” meetings—where section leaders discuss whether to seek further review of adverse decisions

Work on a diverse and high-impact caseload involving complex legal and policy issues in immigration law

Interns must work in person at the Washington, D.C. office; no telework or remote work options are available.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen

Must be a current or rising second or third year law student

Must have completed at least one year of law school by the internship start date

Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Enrollment in an accredited U.S. law school is required

Successful completion of a background investigation is necessary

Must work at least 20 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks (full or part-time)

Must be available to begin the internship on Monday, January 12, 2026

Preferred Qualifications

Strong legal research and writing skills

Demonstrated interest in immigration law

Note: Applications from first-year law students will not be considered.

Submit the following materials as a single PDF file titled "[Last Name, First Name] - OIL GLA Spring 2026 Internship Application by email to oil‑gla.internprogram@usdoj.gov with the subject line matching the file name.

Required Documents:

Cover letter

Resume (not to exceed two pages)

Law school transcript (unofficial accepted)

5–10 page legal writing sample

Undergraduate transcript (unofficial accepted)

Additional Information:

Applications not in compliance with these requirements will not be considered.

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

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

Applications from first-year law students will not be considered.

Positions are 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.