Legal Internships
SUMMER AND SEMESTER POSITIONS
The Bureau of Competition offers summer and semester legal internships for highly motivated law students with an interest in antitrust law. Interns are placed with one of the following divisions: Mergers I, Mergers II, Mergers III, Mergers IV, Anticompetitive Practices, or Health Care.
We offer substantive legal work that gives interns an opportunity to demonstrate their writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. The small size of the program enables interns to be fully integrated onto investigational teams and take on meaningful assignments with significant responsibility. Assignments may include: drafting pleadings, discovery requests and responses; appearing in court or at hearings and depositions with Bureau of Competition attorneys; attending meetings with parties and their outside counsel; leading interview calls and summarizing findings through written reports; reviewing documents; and researching a wide range of legal issues. In addition to receiving meaningful assignments, all interns are assigned an attorney mentor and invited to training sessions and brown bags on key antitrust issues.
Summer Internships
The Bureau coordinates a comprehensive 8 to 10 week Summer Program for second and first year law student interns. Most interns start the last week in May and the Bureau organizes a summer calendar throughout June and July that provides interns with opportunities to learn about the fundamentals of antitrust law, and attend case studies, brown bags, and a variety of social events. Our goal is for all interns to leave the summer with great experiences and skills, as well as strong professional relationships with staff.
- 2L Summer Internships
The Bureau typically welcomes 8 2L students during the summer and accepts applications from August 1 through September 15. Interns are paid at a GS 9, Step 1 salary. Positions are highly competitive: we typically receive over 700 applications from second year law students for the Summer Program. - 1L Summer Internships
The Bureau also welcomes between 6 and 8 1L student interns and accepts applications from December 1 through February 1. Internships are typically unpaid, volunteer positions. Positions are highly competitive: we typically receive over 300 applications from first year law students for the Summer Program.
Semester Internships
The Bureau provides semester internships every spring and fall to second and third year law students with a background in antitrust, economics, or finance. We request that students be available to work at least 10 to 15 hours per week. Students applying for semester positions are encouraged to indicate their preferred divisions in the cover letter. All semester internships are unpaid, volunteer positions.
Citizenship Requirements
You must meet one of the following categories to be considered: (1) a U.S. citizen; (2) a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B); (3) a person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or (4) is a person who owes allegiance to the United States.
How to apply
Students may email the following materials to bcrecruit@ftc.gov to apply for a Summer or Semester Internship. Students applying for summer positions may also apply through the on-campus interview process.
- Cover letter indicating your interest in antitrust and the Bureau
- Résumé
- Transcript (an official copy is not necessary)
- Short writing sample (no more than five pages)
- List of three references
Applications for both programs are reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Due to the highly competitive nature of the Summer Program, applications received after the deadline may not be considered.
