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Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist)
Department of Justice
Offices, Boards and Divisions
Environment and Natural Resources Division
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Summary
As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist) in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing critical legal advice in support of the Environment and Natural Resources Divisions internal operations, litigation, and other work.
Learn more about this agency
Summary
As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist) in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing critical legal advice in support of the Environment and Natural Resources Divisions internal operations, litigation, and other work.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/13/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $57,736 - $91,815 per year Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Promotion potential 9
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Multiple Schedules Travel Required Not required
Appointment type Internships
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Other Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number ENRD-26-046-EXC Control number 874054500
This job is open to
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Students
Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.
Clarification from the agency
You must be a current student for the Summer or Fall semester. If you are a recent graduate, you are not eligible for this paralegal specialist internship program.
Duties
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Who May Apply: Applicants must be CURRENT students for the Summer or Fall semester in an accredited high school, college; professional; technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree program; or other qualifying education institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in a field related to the position. Such fields may include law, legal studies, paralegal studies, or other related field. In addition, the individual selected is expected to continue as a student for at least one year after appointment; therefore, students graduating prior to December 2027 will not be considered.
The Environment and Natural Resources Division is seeking a student to fill a paid paralegal specialist intern position. Ideally, students who are able to work 40 hours per week during standard working hours is preferred. Students attending evening classes in a graduate program are ideal for this position.
The student paralegal specialist intern will be assigned to projects in several substantive areas of the Divisions work and will also have the opportunity to obtain experience working with lawyers at one of the Nations premier litigation organizations.
As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist), your typical work assignments may include the following:
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Qualifications
Student Pathways Program: This is a Student Internship opportunity that provides students enrolled in a qualifying educational institution with paid opportunities to work in Federal agencies while completing their education. In order to qualify, candidates must meet the program requirements and educational requirements listed below. If this is your first appointment in the Federal service, your pay will be set at step 1 of the grade selected.
Program Requirements: Applicants must be enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment for the current semester as a full-time or part-time student into an accredited college or university in a degree-seeking program or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in a field related to this position. Such fields may include law, legal studies, paralegal studies, or other related field.
Qualification Requirements
In addition to the program requirements listed above, candidates must meet the minimum education or experience requirements to qualify for the 0999 series either at the GS-7 or GS-9 grade level:
GS-7:
A. Must have a bachelors degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA), or
B. Must have one full year of graduate level education, or
C. Must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-5 Federal grade level performing legal research and reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed format on case precedents and decisions, or
D. Must have a combination of education and specialized experience, that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
Superior Academic Achievement: This provision applies to persons who have completed all the requirements for a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university as evidenced by one of three methods described below (within a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled):
Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies.
GS-9:
A. Must have a masters or equivalent degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or LL.B or J.D., or
B. Must have at least one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-7 Federal grade level performing legal research; reviewing and summarizing information in a prescribed form on case precedents and decisions; and preparing written analysis of legal questions containing well-supported conclusions and citations, or
C. Must have a combination of education and specialized experience when combined, is equivalent to 100% of the qualification requirement. (Only graduate education in excess of the first full year may be used in this calculation).
NOTE: An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university.
You must submit an unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. For qualification purposes, degree requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this job announcement and your transcript(s) submitted must reflect this.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skill and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To preview questions, please click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12991154.
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
This is an Excepted Service appointment which may continue as long as the student maintains an active half-time or full-time enrollment status in a qualifying educational institution throughout the duration of their appointment. Losing your student status results in a failure to meet basic eligibility requirements, leading to termination. Student are initially appointed for a position not-to-exceed one year. However, continued employment is not guaranteed. Upon graduation, this position may be eligible for conversion to the competitive service.
Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veteran preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/
To verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214; official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reserve side of the SF-15, Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference. If you are claiming 10-point DERIVED PREFERENCE as a relative you must submit Member Copy 4 of the veterans DD-214 and an SF-15 in addition to the supporting documentation required and identified on the reverse side of the SF-15. If you fail to do so, you will receive consideration as a non-veteran.
Benefits: DOJ offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
General Employment Information:
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire.
The ideal candidate will have strong analytical, research, and writing skills, the ability to balance a diverse workload and set of priorities, and excellent judgment. Also desirable are interest in environmental, natural resources, Indian, and/or administrative law, a commitment to public service, a strong work ethic, ability to work on teams, ability to meet deadlines, and organizational skills and attention to detail. Selection for employment will be based on factors including academic achievement, work experience, and clinical or other experience.
Note - If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualifications requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference applicants.
Your application must demonstrate your ability to perform the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and other characteristics):
Please Note: Additional candidates may selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after the HR office issues the selection certificate.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
You must submit a detailed resume containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
Additional required documents must be submitted by the closing date of the job announcement. Documentation requirements may vary from applicant to applicant based on your eligibility claims. It is your responsibility to carefully review the list below to determine which documents are required for your application.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
School Transcripts:
If you are claiming veterans preference, you must submit:
If you are claiming 10-point veterans preference as a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, in addition to the documents specified above, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF-15, and if applicable, a completed SF-15. For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy.
How to Apply
Help
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Office of Human Resources using the contact information listed below.
Agency contact information
Carmen Browne
Phone (202) 616-3127 Email carmen.browne@usdoj.gov Address Environment and Natural Resources Division
150 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
You must submit a detailed resume containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
Additional required documents must be submitted by the closing date of the job announcement. Documentation requirements may vary from applicant to applicant based on your eligibility claims. It is your responsibility to carefully review the list below to determine which documents are required for your application.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
School Transcripts:
If you are claiming veterans preference, you must submit:
If you are claiming 10-point veterans preference as a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, in addition to the documents specified above, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF-15, and if applicable, a completed SF-15. For more information on each type of Veterans Preference, and the documentation required for each, see FedsHireVets.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy.
How to Apply
Help
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Office of Human Resources using the contact information listed below.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact information
Carmen Browne
Phone (202) 616-3127 Email carmen.browne@usdoj.gov Address Environment and Natural Resources Division
150 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the recruitment process has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Offices, Boards and Divisions
Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Department of Justice! ENRD is consistently ranked as a good place to work by the Partnership for Public Service.
Our offices are conveniently located in the historic downtown Pennsylvania Ave NW corridor in the RFK building, commonly referred to as Main Justice and are steps from the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Station (Yellow Line/Green Line), or a short walk from the Gallery Place Metro Station (Red Line). With the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums adjacent to Main Justice there are a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, entertainment venues, and other attractions easily accessible. Employees are able to take advantage of the many attractions that draw tourists year around to experience the history preserved downtown in the Nations Capital.
Agency contact information
Carmen Browne
Phone (202) 616-3127 Email carmen.browne@usdoj.gov Address Environment and Natural Resources Division
150 M Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US
Visit our careers page
Learn more about what its like to work at Offices, Boards and Divisions, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.
https://www.justice.gov/enrd/about-division
Summary
As a Student Trainee (Paralegal Specialist) in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing critical legal advice in support of the Environment and Natural Resources Divisions internal operations, litigation, and other work.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/13/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $57,736 - $91,815 per year Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 9
Promotion potential 9
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Multiple Schedules Travel Required Not required
Appointment type Internships
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Other Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number ENRD-26-046-EXC Control number 874054500
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