Student Trainee (Legal), CG-0999-7/9 (NTE 1 year)

This job is open to

• The public
  
  
  

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Students
  
  
  

Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a Juris Doctorate or LL.M program at a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis; an expected graduation date of April 2025 or later; have at least a cumulative 2.5 out of 4.0 grade point average; and are in good academic standing.

Duties

• Assists attorneys in all aspects of the investigation and litigation of claims, including in connection with preparing and taking discovery, researching and drafting pleadings, motions and briefs, preparing for settlement, and preparing and participating in trials.
• Supports attorneys in drafting, reviewing, analyzing, or responding to legislative proposals or implementing rules and regulations.
• Prepares legal memoranda and other written documents in accordance with legal standards of practice involving interpretation of certain provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, FDIC Bylaws and Resolutions, and FDIC Rules and Regulations, and other laws or regulations relative to the FDIC’s operations.
• Contributes in the preparation of legal opinions as well as briefs and other documents for judicial and administrative proceedings.
  
  
  

The practice of law at the FDIC reflects the broad nature of the FDIC's work as well as its unique statutory powers. Areas of legal practice include:

Corporate and Executive Operations:

• Providing legal opinions on a wide range of topics including statutory powers of the FDIC, the role of the FDIC as a federal agency, and corporate governance.
• Handling labor and employment issues including administrative hearings on employee-related matters and negotiations with the bargaining unit representative.
• Handling FDIC contracting, including contracting for the services of outside counsel.
• Managing Legal Division information technology.
• Corporate secretary duties for the Board of Directors.
• Managing the FDIC ethics and alternative dispute resolution programs.
• Supporting FDIC corporate governance structure and maintaining official corporate records.
• Strategic planning to support the division’s leadership development, knowledge management and strategic goals.
  
  
  

Litigation:

• Litigating professional liability actions; including claims against directors and officers, attorneys and accountants when arising out of failed banks.
• Handling complex commercial litigation matters.
• Defending the FDIC against challenges to its statutory authority and appeals from its administrative determinations.
• Managing some of the largest civil commercial litigation cases brought by the federal government.
• Providing legal advice relating to the investigation and pursuit of criminal matters involving financial institutions.
  
  
  

Supervision, Legislation and Enforcement:

• Developing, drafting and providing legal opinions on legislation, regulations and policy statements relating to insured depository institutions.
• Providing advice on deposit insurance coverage, assessments of insured depository institutions, Federal securities laws, and consumer laws.
• Working closely with bank and review examiners to ensure bank compliance with banking and consumer protection laws and regulations and the continued safety and soundness of insured depository institutions.
• Preparing and litigating enforcement cases before administrative law judges and in federal courts.
  
  
  

Requirements Conditions of Employment

The applicants selected will be offered an excepted appointment not-to-exceed 1 year (September 30, 2025). The starting date of employment is expected to be approximately Fall 2024.

Applicants must be able to work at least a part-time during the 2023-2024 academic year in the selected duty location (as applicable).

Registration with the Selective Service.

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Employment Conditions .

Completion of Financial Disclosure may be required.

Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) Required

All Interns must sign a Pathways Agreement if selected.

All Interns must provide official transcript if selected.

Qualifications

To be eligible for this program, applicants must: (1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a Juris Doctorate or LL.M at a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis; (2) have a minimum cumulative (overall) GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0; and (3) be in good academic standing.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious/spiritual; community; student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Additional qualifications information can be found here .

CG-07 level –Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate level education, or eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) with completion of a bachelor's degree OR must have completed at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the CG-5 grade level. Specialized experience is experience performing legal research and preparing legal documents. If utilizing SAA, you must submit your transcripts or proof of your national honor society membership. Click here for Superior Academic Achievement qualification requirements.

CG-09 level –Complete 2 full academic years of graduate level education, or master’s degree or equivalent; LL.B or J.D degree OR must have completed one year of specialized experience equivalent to the CG-07 level. Specialized experience is experience performing legal research; analyzing facts, evidence, and precedents; and preparing legal document or a combination of both education and experience.

Education

Additional Information

See requirements stated under QUALIFICATIONS.

Applicants must be enrolled in the first or second year of an American Bar Association accredited law school. Applicants who have, at least a cumulative (overall) 2.5 grade point average or equivalent. Applicants who are enrolled in post-law school graduate programs may also be considered.

All selectees must sign an FDIC Pathways Internship Participant Agreement.

To read about your rights and responsibilities as an applicant for Federal employment, click here .

If selected, you may be required to serve a trial period.

The range of pay shown includes base pay plus supplemental locality adjustments. The locality rates for these duty locations range from a low of 26.91% to a high of 33.41%. Pay will vary by grade level and the locality rate for the geographic location where the position is located. For more on FDIC locality rates, click here. Interns will be offered a salary at the base pay for the grade in which they are qualified and selected:

CG-7-$61,586.00 Arlington, VA | $61,586.00 Washington, DC | $58,585.00 Dallas, TX

CG-9-$75,329.00 Arlington, VA | $75,329.00 Washington, DC | $71,659.00 Dallas, TX

This appointment may be extended if interns continues to meet all educational and pathways requirements.

The FDIC offers position-specific telework options here . TELEWORK OPTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. For more information on telework at the FDIC, please reference the available telework options for this position here .

Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement to fill identical vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement.

• Benefits
  
  
  

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

Interns may be eligible for certain Federal employee benefits. To find out more, https://www.fdic.gov/about/careers/student-opportunities/index.html .

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.