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2023 Summer Federal Student Intern Litigation Program (US Attorney, Eastern District of TN)

by · December 13, 2022

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee invites your first and second year law students to apply for a position in our 2023 Summer Federal Student Intern Litigation Program. The Intern Litigation Program is designed to involve the student in every phase of the federal litigation experience in both civil and criminal cases. Students participating in the summer program should expect to work full-time throughout the summer. Due to the costs involved with background checks, no requests for half-summers will be approved. A full summer typically runs from the end of May to early August. We anticipate a need for up to three interns in the Knoxville office (two assigned to the Criminal Division and one assigned to the Civil Division), two interns in the Chattanooga office, and two interns in the Greeneville office.

OFFICE DESCRIPTION

As part of the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction and responsibility to represent the legal interests of the federal government before the
U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The office participates in the investigation and prosecution of violations of federal criminal statutes, usually in connection with a grand jury. The office also represents the United States in civil suits filed against federal agencies and employees, as well as in affirmative civil actions to enforce compliance with federal law or protect the interests of the United States. In addition, Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the office handle all appeals in their cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Criminal Division are assigned to either the general crimes unit, drug unit, violent crimes unit, or counter-terrorism unit. In addition, asset forfeiture is pursued where appropriate in a variety of criminal cases.

The Civil Division defends lawsuits brought against the federal government including medical malpractice and other tort actions, the defense of federal programs and agency
decisions, employment discrimination cases, and Social Security litigation. The Civil Division attorneys maintain a close working relationship with counsel for the various client agencies, which provide litigation support and assistance in areas of agency expertise. The Civil Division also is responsible for all civil cases in which the United States is seeking some type of monetary recovery including judgment enforcement, bankruptcy, civil asset forfeiture, and civil fraud suits.

The Assistant U.S. Attorney originally assigned to a case generally remains responsible for that case during its entire life in the office. In criminal cases, this means from the onset of an investigation through the grand jury investigation, indictment, trial, appeal, and postconviction claims. In the civil division, it means from the beginning of the lawsuit through judgment enforcement and appeal. Generally, all appellate briefs are prepared by the trial attorney and reviewed by the Appellate Coordinator both for soundness of legal analysis and for correctness and effectiveness of form.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in this district has a strong tradition of the highest standards of excellence in representing the United States both in the enforcement of federal criminal law and in fostering the interests of the public and federal government in civil actions.

Applicants should forward a cover letter, resume and transcript, if available, via email to the specific office for which they are interested in obtaining a position, as follows:
Knoxville, Tennessee:
Julie Patterson, Paralegal
Attn: Summer Intern Litigation Program
Julie.patterson@usdoj.gov
Chattanooga, Tennessee:
James Brooks, AUSA
Attn: Summer Intern Litigation Program
james.brooks@usdoj.gov
Greeneville, Tennessee:
Meghan Gomez, AUSA
Attn: Summer Intern Litigation Program
Meghan.gomez@usdoj.gov
*If applying to multiple offices, please indicate which office(s) in cover letter.  Applications should be postmarked no later than Friday, January 27, 2023.
While the United States Attorney’s Office does not have funding for summer interns, in the past we have had several students work with us who have received funding from public interest organizations or who receive credit through their institutions. This is approved for Pro Bono credit at Memphis law, academic credit would need to be arranged through the externship program.
The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status – or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities.

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