Internships & Externships

Student Trainee (Legal Intern)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Departmental Appeals Board

The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking legal interns in its Washington, D.C. office. 

USAJOBS Job Announcement Link to Apply:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/828504400

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION: It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in this announcement; as a result, this announcement will close at 11:59 PM on the date of receipt of the 175th application or at 11:59 PM on 02/07/2025, whichever comes first.

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.

Grade: Student Trainee (Legal Intern) GS-0999-07 ($57,164 - $74,318 per year)

Opening and Closing Dates: 01/17/2025 to 02/07/2025; This job will close when we have received 175 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

Appointment Type: Internships - This position has a not-to-exceed (NTE) date of August 23, 2025.  Managers may have the option to extend these appointments on a case-by-case basis.  Extensions are not guaranteed and are held at the Agency's discretion.

Work Schedule: Multiple Schedules

Service: Excepted

Promotion Potential:None

Job Family (Series):  0999 Legal Occupations Student Trainee

Remote Job: No

Telework: Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Percentage: Not Required

Job Summary: The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), a staff division within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking legal interns for its summer internship program. Interns can be placed in either our Medicare Operations Division (MOD), Civil Remedies Division-HHS/SSA Program (CRD-HHS), Civil Remedies Division-FDA Tobacco Program (CRD-T), or Alternative Dispute Resolution Division (ADR).

The DAB provides impartial, independent hearings and appellate reviews, and issues final agency decisions under more than 60 statutory provisions governing HHS programs, and provides alternative dispute resolution and mediation services for DAB cases and the HHS workplace.

The DAB consists of several adjudicatory divisions, an Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, the Immediate Office of the Chair, and an Administration Division.

CRD-HHS: CRD-HHS staff support Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who conduct adversarial hearings on a broad range of issues that are critical to HHS healthcare program integrity efforts, as well as quality of care concerns.

CRD-T: CRD-T staff support ALJs in the Tobacco Program who conduct adversarial hearings in actions where the Center for Tobacco Products seeks to impose a Civil Monetary Penalty or No- Tobacco-Sale Order against a tobacco retailer who sells tobacco products in violation of the Tobacco Control Act.

MOD: MOD staff support Administrative Appeals Judges (AAJ) on the Medicare Appeals Council (Council). The Council serves as the final level of agency review for individual claims of entitlement to Medicare and for Medicare coverage and payment. The Council conducts de novo review of decisions issued by ALJs in the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.

ADR Division: ADR staff support the Chair in their role as HHS’s Dispute Resolution Specialist. ADR staff provide mediation services for DAB cases and the HHS workplace. ADR staff also provide policy guidance, training, and information on ADR techniques (including negotiated rulemaking – a collaborative process for developing regulations with interested stakeholders).

Duties:

As a Student Trainee (Legal), you will use your knowledge of and experience with Departmental Appeals Board to optimize business results and customer experience by:

• Providing authoritative legal advice, staff support, and assistance to Board Members, Division Directors, Branch Chiefs, or others involved in matters for which the assigned Division is responsible, on substantive and procedural issues.
• Reviewing and analyzing complex issues in assigned cases to resolve legal disputes.
• Preparing drafts of decisions, rulings, orders or memoranda containing legal analyses, or work under the guidance of an experienced mediator/facilitator to assist the parties to a dispute in reaching settlement and in preparing draft settlement agreements.
• As directed, serving as the DAB representative in dealings with the parties in an assigned case or with others.
• Scheduling and participating in evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, or mediation conferences that involve issues of limited complexity.
• Completing other assignments and special projects, as assigned.

Requirements:

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Registered or exempt from Selective Service (www.sss.gov)
• Suitable for federal employment
• Proof of student status must be submitted with the application.
• All applicants must be in good academic standing
• Students must provide official transcripts, if selected.
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
• Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required.
• One-year probationary period may be required.

Qualifications:

What We Are Looking For

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify for the Student Trainee (Legal Internship) position at the GS-07, all applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications:

Have successfully completed one full year of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and be seeking a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and one of the bulleted items:

• Possess a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale (however, we recognize that some law schools do not provide a GPA)
• Possess strong legal research and writing skills

(You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.)

NOTE: Graduates of 2025 are not eligible for selection for Summer Internship Program. First year law students are preferred.

Documenting experience:

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable; however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

Education

Pathways Internship Eligibility:

Be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate on a full or half-time basis.

NOTE: You must provide proof that you are currently enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment in the next academic term on a full-time or part-time basis.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed at foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by an accredited private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation, at the time of application, will result in loss of consideration. For more information, visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional Information

Things You Need to Know

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Research position: No

Drug Screening Required: No

Veterans' Preference - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please see Agency Contact Info for whom to contact for more info. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The DAB complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity). The DAB does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by preference status: (1) Preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP); (2) Other preference eligibles (XP); (3) Applicants eligible for 5-point veteran's preference (TP); and those (4) Applicants not eligible for veteran's preference (NV). In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12663225

All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov/.

Required Documents

USAJOBS Job Announcement Link to Apply:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/828504400

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. You must provide a complete online Application Package which includes:

• Your Resume: You are encouraged to use the USAJOBS online resume builder to ensure that all required information is in your resume. Your resume must clearly articulate how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the application questionnaire. For each position you must describe your duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities. Your resume must also include the day, month, and year that you began and ended for each position held. Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise stated on your resume. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Not providing this information may result in the lowering of your assessment score or an ineligible rating. For resume writing guidance, please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/) or view their video tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqYkibnuiJU). For Most Effective Resumes Tips visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Most_Effective_Resumes.
• A complete Application Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12663225
• Other required supporting documents.
• Cover Letter
• Legal Writing Sample (no more than 10 pages)
• Transcripts
• Veterans' Preference documentation:
  • Discharged Veterans: If you are claiming 5 point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from the armed forces that supports dates of service and discharge status; if claiming 10 point preference, an application for 10-Point Veterans Preference (SF-15) and an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
  • Active Duty Members: Under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, if claiming 5 point preference, submit written documentation from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package.
  • Education. Transcripts are required: an unofficial copy of your transcript and/or letter from an education institute stating that you have meet all degree requirements; is sufficient with the application. Transcripts must show the institution name and individual's name. All education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. Foreign education must be evaluated by an approved organization. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education website at ed.gov. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Applicaton materials must be received by 11:59 pm (eastern time) on 02/07/2025. Application materials will not be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.

For Resume Tips visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk

For Application Tips visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqYkibnuiJU

For additional information about USAJOBS visit the Help Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.