Summary The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is distinct among U. S. Attorney's Offices due to the breadth and scale of its work. It acts as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. Locally, it handles cases ranging from misdemeanor drug possession to murders, while federally, it handles cases ranging from child pornography to gangs, financial fraud, and terrorism. The Office also represents the district in civil suits. Responsibilities The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital. On the local side, AUSAs assigned to the Superior Court Division prosecute cases in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia ranging from misdemeanors to homicides, and appeals of those convictions are argued in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (DCCA). On the federal side, AUSAs assigned to the Criminal Division prosecutes federal crimes in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ranging from fraud and public corruption to R.I.C.O. prosecutions and national security matters, and appeals of those convictions are argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. AUSA's assigned to the Appellate Division argue the direct appeals of all criminal convictions in both the local and federal Courts of Appeal. AUSAs in the Special Proceedings Division handle post-trial litigation involving habeas claims, record sealing, and other request for extraordinary relief in the trial courts. The Civil Division further defend the United States in civil suits brought in the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is seeking first and second year Master of Social Work (MSW) students for our unpaid Fall Internship Program, which runs from September 2026 to December 2026. MSW Interns will be assigned to the Victim Witness Division (VWD). Working within the VWD, will afford them the opportunity to have a "Micro" and "Macro", experience. MSW Interns will learn about the criminal justice system from several perspectives; court and prosecutorial proceedings, federal and local prosecutions, and how crime victims are impacted and supported. MSW Interns will be exposed to the inner workings of victim advocacy and about the clinical element to working with crime victims. They will work alongside the prosecution team and will accompany Victim Advocates and Prosecutors to court. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. This internship experience provides unique exposure to the inner workings of the criminal justice system and participants receive invaluable mentorship from one of the nation's best victim witness divisions. For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Acceptance of applications for this announcement will be limited to first and second year Master of Social Work (MSW) Students. An eligible student is an individual enrolled in school pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work. Successful candidates must have outstanding academic records, superior writing skills, and be in good academic standing at his/her university. Candidates must have at least a 3.0 GPA, or a GPA that ranks you in the top half of your class. Student Interns must be United States citizens or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (Currently, natives of American Samoa, Swains Island and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are the only groups that owe permanent allegiance to the United States.) Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov. Foreign Education Note: You may use foreign education to meet qualification requirements if you send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency in with your transcript. 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 http://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. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. Salary: These are uncompensated positions. Students may earn academic credit for working at our Office. Information on academic credit programs can be obtained and may require approval from student's school placement office. Benefits: A Benefits package is not authorized for this position. Veterans' Preference: If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you must indicate the @type of preference you are claiming by checking the appropriate box in the assessment questionnaire to indicate your preference and submit the documentation as specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy announcement. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. 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 this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
