Law Student Volunteer, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section's (MLARS) mission is to take the profit out of crime and protect the U.S. financial system. To accomplish its mission, MLARS pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving financial facilitators and third party money launderers who conceal profits for cartels, drug traffickers, and other criminal organizations; financial institutions and their officers and employees who engage in money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and sanctions violations; and international money laundering schemes and complex international forfeitures related to money launderers who support transnational organized crime.

MLARS is also responsible, in partnership with the Justice Management Division's Asset Forfeiture Management Staff, for management of the Department's asset forfeiture program (AFP) and the Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF). MLARS ensures the integrity of the AFF and AFP and maximizes the law enforcement potential of asset recovery Department-wide. MLARS administers the Department's asset forfeiture victim compensation program, which has provided over $12 billion in compensation for victims between 2000 and 2024, and the Department's equitable sharing program supporting 6,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

MLARS provides expert guidance to Department leadership and expert advice to the Department's components in prosecuting money laundering, financial institution cases, and asset recovery matters. The Section provides assistance to the Department, other agencies, and Congress by initiating, coordinating, and reviewing statutory proposals to enhance the Department's ability to take the profit out of crime. MLARS coordinates with federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions on money laundering and asset recovery enforcement matters.

For more information, please visit MLARS’ website here.

Law student volunteers work directly with MLARS trial attorneys on cutting-edge issues relating to section cases involving domestic and international asset forfeiture, money laundering, transnational criminal organizations, narcotics, and criminal violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and IEEPA. Assignments will vary but may include legal research, drafting pleadings and motions, analyzing policy issues, and drafting section publications. Law student volunteers also may participate in local section-sponsored training, as well as training programs offered by the Department for volunteers.

Requirements or preferences for the internship program are as follows:

Internships are open to first (second semester only), second, and third-year law students.

Internships typically last between ten and twelve weeks. The Section generally requires a minimum commitment of eight weeks for any internship.

Summer legal internships are full time. The Section also encourages applications for full-time positions during the academic semesters, though most semester-based legal internships are part-time and require a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week.

Because of the sensitive nature of the work, internship opportunities are contingent upon successful completion of a suitability review and a favorable determination based on information provided in their security forms, a credit report, and fingerprint check.

Applicants must submit via email a single PDF file that contains a cover letter (including dates available), resume (not to exceed two pages), writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), transcript (official or unofficial), and two references.

All applications must be emailed to MLARS.Hiring@usdoj.gov with your name and the semester and year that you are applying for in the subject line (for example - Smith, Brandon - Spring 2026).

Applications are reviewed and positions offered on a rolling basis. The following are deadlines for each semester/summer term:

Summer: January 15

Fall: June 15

Spring: October 15

Volunteer (without compensation). Academic or work-study credit possible.