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Careers

Summer Honors Program for Law Clerks in EPA's Office of General Counsel (OGC)

OGC operates a highly-competitive, 12-week Summer Honors Program for law clerks who have completed their second year (or the equivalent for part-time students) at an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

Who Should Apply?

OGC seeks law clerks with strong academic credentials who have a demonstrated interest in environmental, administrative, government operations, civil rights, or public interest law. The effectiveness of EPA's legal responsibilities depends upon the recruitment and hiring of excellent and diverse legal talent. We recognize the need for attorneys and legal interns of varied backgrounds and skills, and we offer an inclusive environment that relies on those diverse perspectives to ensure that we effectively serve the American people.

Students who participate in our programs will experience a new era of outreach and protection for communities historically underrepresented in EPA decision-making. The Agency is building strong working relationships with tribes, communities of color, economically distressed cities and towns, young people and others, but this is just a start. Therefore, we want to recruit the best, the brightest and most diverse candidates ever, and ensure that EPA continues to be a place for people who are talented, smart, and passionate about protecting the environment.

  • Law clerks must be U.S. citizens.
  • EPA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this student volunteer appointment will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.
  • Veterans are encouraged to apply.

OGC is committed to providing law clerks with a tremendous legal learning experience. Law clerks can expect to gain experience researching and writing about administrative, environmental, and general law issues. Law clerks also are assigned individual mentors and have opportunities to participate in client meetings, attend field trips, and improve professional skills.

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How to Apply

Students can submit their application by email or mail their applications to:

Angela L. Johnson
OGC Recruitment Coordinator (johnson.angelal@epa.gov)
Office of General Counsel
Mail Code 2311A
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460.

Those students whose schools we are visiting for on-campus interviews need to apply by the on-campus interview application deadline as determined by their career service office. We generally require that mail-in applications must be received by (NOT POSTMARKED BY) the last day of August in each year. Applications must include:

Often, OGC is able to conduct on-campus interviews at law schools in the Washington, D.C., area and, for other finalists, will offer either telephone interviews or in-person interviews at certain law schools. Travel expenses to interview locations will not be paid by EPA. OGC generally conducts interviews each August and September and begins contacting finalists about hiring decisions each October.  EPA is committed to offering selectees with a summer-long professional development experience. We expect those who accept an offer to honor and adhere to their commitment.

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