THE CHIEF COUNSEL VOLUNTEER LEGAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Office of Chief Counsel offers student volunteer externship positions in Washington, D.C. and field offices located throughout the country each academic semester, including the summer, for law students. These positions are volunteer (without compensation). The work experience in this extern program includes developmental assignments that will help prepare law students for a career as a tax lawyer. Externs will assist our tax attorneys in a variety of assignments, including conducting legal and factual research, preparing documents and exhibits, interviewing witnesses, summarizing depositions, analyzing records, and other case-related work. Volunteer legal externs may qualify either for course credit or as part of a law school’s work-study program. In addition, some schools sponsor public interest fellowships or other programs where legal externs receive a stipend for public interest work. Interested students should contact their law school for specific information and requirements. The Office of Chief Counsel is an equal opportunity/reasonable accommodation employer committed to recruiting a talented, diverse, and highly qualified workforce, and we welcome applications from all accredited law schools for our law school intern program. In the National Office, law students typically take part in a variety of educational and social events.
Eligibility and Qualifications for Volunteer Legal Externship Positions
The Office of Chief Counsel seeks eligible applicants with excellent interpersonal skills; strong written and verbal communication skills; strong research and analytical skills; and demonstrated interest or experience in the tax. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be students attending an accredited law school. The following students are eligible: first-year (second semester), second- and third-year law students; and law school graduates who are enrolled in graduate law programs (e.g., L.L.M. programs) at least half-time. All students must be in good academic standing and will be required to provide official documentation from their school.
How to Apply
Applicant’s seeking a volunteer legal externship position should apply by sending their application directly to the field office they are interested in or by e-mailing their application to attyapplications@irscounsel.treas.gov.
Complete application packages include:
- a resume
- a transcript from your law school (an unofficial copy is fine)
- unedited writing sample (5-10 pages in length)
- Form OF-306, “Declaration for Federal Employment.”
Form OF-306 is available at http://jobs.irs.gov/student/occ-apply.html. Applicants should not complete the social security number or date-of-birth sections of the Form OF-306.
Applicants who have questions or need additional information may contact us by e-mail at attyapplications@irscounsel.treas.gov.