BCP Summer Law Clerk Program

Interested in Consumer Protection?

Clerkships Available with BCP

The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, D.C. is accepting applications for full-time summer law clerks. Our summer law clerks are highly motivated first-year and second-year law students who are interested in litigation, investigation, and public policy in the areas of consumer protection, fraud, and privacy. Law clerks work directly with attorneys and investigators in conducting investigations, assisting with ongoing litigation, interviewing potential witnesses, performing legal research, and drafting legal memoranda. Law clerks are also afforded the opportunity to observe the judicial, administrative, and legislative process in action. The summer internships require a commitment of approximately 10 weeks, during which law clerks work with attorneys and investigators throughout the Bureau’s seven divisions. Those second-year law students who serve as law clerks will be paid.

Outstanding summer law clerks may receive offers of full-time employment with the Bureau upon graduation from law school. Visit our legal recruitment page to learn more about attorney jobs in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. You can also view video footage of BCP attorneys discussing their careers at the FTC.

One of the best places to work, especially if you like being part of the news. -- Washingtonian Magazine

Have you ever financed a car or shopped online? Have you exercised your right to receive a free credit report, or used the National Do Not Call Registry to block unwanted telemarketing calls? Do you ever refer to product warranties, clothing care labels, or stickers showing the energy costs of home appliances? If so, you have been taking advantage of laws enforced by the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection!

The Bureau of Consumer Protection’s mandate is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices. The Bureau enforces a variety of consumer protection laws enacted by Congress, as well as trade regulation rules issued by the Commission. Its actions include individual company and industry-wide investigations, administrative and federal court litigation, rulemaking proceedings, and consumer and business education. In addition, the Bureau contributes to the Commission’s ongoing efforts to inform Congress and other government entities of the impact that proposed actions could have on consumers.

The Bureau of Consumer Protection has seven divisions, each with its own areas of expertise.

For information about possible summer employment opportunities with the FTC outside of Washington, DC, see our Regional Offices page.

How to Apply

For 2Ls:
2Ls can apply to our program through October 29, 2012 at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/328321800.

For 1Ls:
1Ls can apply online between December 1, 2012 and February 1, 2013 by submitting the following to bcpsummerlawclerk@ftc.gov:

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • Writing Sample (under 15 pages preferred)
  • Transcript (If transcript is unavailable, please state in your cover letter when your first semester grades will be available.)
  • A list of three references

We will accept applications from first year students between December 1, 2012 and February 1, 2013.