Thanks for your interest in an internship with HHS Office of General Counsel (OGC)!
How to Apply: For consideration, please submit your resume, a writing sample and cover letter indicating the office(s) of interest to (resource mailbox). Your application materials will be forwarded to the office(s) indicated in your cover letter.
The office(s) receiving your application will follow-up with you. Please note that each office individually decides if it is accepting interns during the summer or a semester.
Information on the Types of Work at HHS OGC: Please review the below descriptions of the HHS OGC practice areas and work to learn the offices involved in the legal opportunities that most interests you.
Careers at OGC: Interested in learning more about a career? To see current openings and information on the virtual career information sessions, scan this QR code:
Questions: Please send your questions to (resource mailbox)
Practice Areas - Challenging Legal Opportunities
The Office of the General Counsel is the professional team the Department counts on for the highest quality legal representation on social, economic, and healthcare issues. Opportunities are available for experienced attorneys, new graduates, and law students seeking internships in the following OGC offices and practice areas:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division
Provides comprehensive legal services to the agency responsible for administering Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Programs, as well as Affordable Care Act programs including the Marketplaces. Also provides comprehensive legal services to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
Children, Families, and Aging Division
Provides legal support in such areas as Head Start, child support enforcement, child abuse and neglect, foster care, adoption assistance, temporary assistance to needy families, and matters pertaining to senior citizens.
Civil Rights Division
Advises the HHS Office for Civil Rights staff on policy development, for example, medical records and privacy issues, as well as the conduct of civil rights investigations, enforcement proceedings and civil rights litigation.
Ethics Division
Provides advice and training to all HHS employees on Government ethics statutes and regulations, working closely with the White House Counsel and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
Food and Drug Division
Offers a full range of legal services to the Food and Drug Administration, specifically in implementing and defending the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
General Law Division
Provides legal advice and litigation support for matters such as appropriations, copyright law, Federal Tort Claims Act (including medical malpractice), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, Federal contract law, personnel law, equal employment opportunity, and labor relations.
Legislation Division
Drafts and analyzes bills affecting HHS programs while collaborating with other Federal organizations on Department-relevant bills introduced in Congress.
Public Health Division
Advises the Public Health Service, which includes the National Institutes of Health, the Indian Health Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on a myriad of issues including medical and biological research, women's health, and Native American health.
Across the Nation - Ten Regional Offices
The regional offices provide comprehensive litigation services, legal advice and counseling in virtually every area of the Department of Health and Human Services' programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, civil rights, ethics, personnel and contract matters. Located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The National Complex Litigation and Investigations Division (NCLID)
NCLID manages complex litigation spanning multiple OGC divisions, regions, or geographic areas and provides advice on pre-litigation matters across many of the Department of Health and Human Service’s programmatic areas.