U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Summer Legal Intern Program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking motivated and enthusiastic applicants for its 2009 Summer Honors Legal Intern Program. Legal internship opportunities are available in the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD offices.

Overview: The OGC-CMS Division counsels both the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on a wide variety of challenging legal issues that affect the Medicare and Medicaid programs, among others.

The OGC-CMS Division recruits law students to work as interns each summer. Interns will have the opportunity to assist Division attorneys in all aspects of their work, including research, writing and client meetings. In addition, the nationwide OGC summer intern program coordinator hosts events that given the interns in all OGC divisions an opportunity to meet, socialize and learn about the Department and current legal topics.

Internships are generally unpaid. However, if funding permits, the Division may be able to fund one position. Unpaid interns may receive course credit if such credit is available from the law school.

Selection Criteria: The OGC-CMS Division reviews many elements of a candidate's background before offering an internship opportunity. These elements include: academic achievement, membership on a legal journal, moot court experience, clinical legal experience, demonstrated commitment to public service and specialized coursework in administrative, health or federal procedure law.

Eligibility: All currently enrolled first year, second year and third year law students that do not expect to graduate in May 2009 are eligible to apply for the 2009 Summer Honors Legal Intern Program. Graduating law students are eligible to apply only if they will be starting a judicial clerkship or full-time graduate program in the Fall of 2009.

Deadlines: The deadline for receipt of application materials is January 16, 2009. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified by February 6, 2009.

Application Process: If you are interested in applying, please submit a cover letter, resume, brief legal writing sample and law school transcript via US mail or email as follows:

VIA US MAIL:


Submit by Mail and Delivery:
SUMMER HONORS LEGAL INTERN COORDINATOR
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
OGC-CMS Division, Room 5309 Cohen Bldg.
330 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201

VIA EMAIL:
don.parker@hhs.gov

Please submit these materials in a single package and include your email address in your cover letter or resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Length of internship: Interns typically work for 10-12 weeks. However, split summer requests will be considered. Candidates will be asked at their interview whether they prefer to work in the Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD office.

Citizenship requirements: All U.S. citizens that meet the criteria listed above are encouraged to apply. While non-US citizens may also apply, such appointments are extremely rare and are granted only when they serve a purpose necessary to accomplishing the Department's mission.