Office of Legal Advisers- State Department Summer Internship Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

Still waiting to hear from State Dept Office of Legal Advisers. Had an interview with them at the beginning of the semester (they came to my campus, a top school) to recruit and interviewed a bunch of us.

I know this is an insanely competitive position. Anyone hear anything?

[Anonymous User]

I interned there last summer. They will call you to let you know that they are checking your references. I don't know if that has happened yet or not, but that is what they did last year.

[LawIdiot86]

Has anyone heard from the non-OLA summer internship program? I don't know how many lawyers they pick for it, but they said they like split summers. USAjobs says I was referred for consideration. Is this good or just pro forma for meeting the minimum requirements?

[LawIdiot86]

Email today from State Dept-OIG for an interview for a paid summer spot. Anyone else? Any idea what the odds are of getting to work with the OIG's GC?

[Anonymous User]

I interned there last summer. They will call you to let you know that they are checking your references. I don't know if that has happened yet or not, but that is what they did last year.

Was that the last step before the offer? Do you know if they made offers to everyone whose references were checked?

[Anonymous User]

My references were called the first week of October and I received the offer about 3 weeks later. I don't know if things are delayed this year - I am waiting for full time decision and haven't heard anything yet, though they had estimated November.

[Anonymous User]

My references were called the first week of October and I received the offer about 3 weeks later. I don't know if things are delayed this year - I am waiting for full time decision and haven't heard anything yet, though they had estimated November.

Did you do one of the 2L honor's program paid positions? Did you get a sense of how easy/difficult it is for the 2L interns to get full time offers? Do they ever give offers right after the summer program, or does everyone have to go through the 3L application process

Thanks and good luck!

[Anonymous User]

I did do the paid internship. It is a complete mystery to me how many offers come from the program to 3Ls! Many of their entry level attorneys were summer interns, but it is unclear how many wanted to return but did not get the offer or how many just had other opportunities - clerkships, top firms, etc. The re-application process is a lot less formal coming from the summer internship - no interview, just submission of updated materials.

[Anonymous User]

I did do the paid internship. It is a complete mystery to me how many offers come from the program to 3Ls! Many of their entry level attorneys were summer interns, but it is unclear how many wanted to return but did not get the offer or how many just had other opportunities - clerkships, top firms, etc. The re-application process is a lot less formal coming from the summer internship - no interview, just submission of updated materials.

From a fellow paid summer government honors 2L intern, I can sympathize with you. My agency's hiring has been a complete black box as well. It was hard to turn down such a great opportunity at the time, but I sometimes wonder if I would've decided differently had I known what an uphill battle getting a 3L job with the agency would be. Do you ever regret doing the internship?

(I realize this is a total derail, but it's something I've been curious about, since I have a lot of friends who did 2L honors government programs and turned down firm opportunities but have yet to get offers from their agencies. Makes you wonder whether the 2L honors programs are worth it at the end of the day)

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer from the non-OLA program. It took me a while to figure out what I'd applied for since it was way back in October, but I did OIG and Consular - no idea which position it's for at this point (apparently getting a letter in the mail by the end of the month) or if it's a paid spot or not.

Is anyone else considering doing this? I see someone here had a phone interview with OIG - anyone else get a phone call from them? Or did anyone apply for just OIG and get an offer without an interview?

[LawIdiot86]

Got an offer from the non-OLA program. It took me a while to figure out what I'd applied for since it was way back in October, but I did OIG and Consular - no idea which position it's for at this point (apparently getting a letter in the mail by the end of the month) or if it's a paid spot or not.

Is anyone else considering doing this? I see someone here had a phone interview with OIG - anyone else get a phone call from them? Or did anyone apply for just OIG and get an offer without an interview?

OIG offer after interview that I turned down in mid-December.

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer from the non-OLA program. It took me a while to figure out what I'd applied for since it was way back in October, but I did OIG and Consular - no idea which position it's for at this point (apparently getting a letter in the mail by the end of the month) or if it's a paid spot or not.

Is anyone else considering doing this? I see someone here had a phone interview with OIG - anyone else get a phone call from them? Or did anyone apply for just OIG and get an offer without an interview?

OIG offer after interview that I turned down in mid-December.

What did OIG say you could expect to do over the summer? Got an offer from them but no interview and no information past the security clearance forms. Want to know what I'd be doing.

[LawIdiot86]

Got an offer from the non-OLA program. It took me a while to figure out what I'd applied for since it was way back in October, but I did OIG and Consular - no idea which position it's for at this point (apparently getting a letter in the mail by the end of the month) or if it's a paid spot or not.

Is anyone else considering doing this? I see someone here had a phone interview with OIG - anyone else get a phone call from them? Or did anyone apply for just OIG and get an offer without an interview?

OIG offer after interview that I turned down in mid-December.

What did OIG say you could expect to do over the summer? Got an offer from them but no interview and no information past the security clearance forms. Want to know what I'd be doing.

It depends which unit. Mine was investigations, which looks at stuff like reports of waste and/or corruption. The other big unit is audits, which looks at stuff like program and operational efficiency. They also might have a third examination unit, but I was unclear on that. Or it might be in the OIG-OGC's office, which is required under the 2007 amendments.

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer from the non-OLA program. It took me a while to figure out what I'd applied for since it was way back in October, but I did OIG and Consular - no idea which position it's for at this point (apparently getting a letter in the mail by the end of the month) or if it's a paid spot or not.

Is anyone else considering doing this? I see someone here had a phone interview with OIG - anyone else get a phone call from them? Or did anyone apply for just OIG and get an offer without an interview?

OIG offer after interview that I turned down in mid-December.

What did OIG say you could expect to do over the summer? Got an offer from them but no interview and no information past the security clearance forms. Want to know what I'd be doing.

It depends which unit. Mine was investigations, which looks at stuff like reports of waste and/or corruption. The other big unit is audits, which looks at stuff like program and operational efficiency. They also might have a third examination unit, but I was unclear on that. Or it might be in the OIG-OGC's office, which is required under the 2007 amendments.

Mine is investigations too. Why did you turn it down? I've spent some time on the phone with them and they sound really chill, especially because I'm a contract law person, but still not sure I'm taking it.

[LawIdiot86]

OIG offer after interview that I turned down in mid-December.

What did OIG say you could expect to do over the summer? Got an offer from them but no interview and no information past the security clearance forms. Want to know what I'd be doing.

It depends which unit. Mine was investigations, which looks at stuff like reports of waste and/or corruption. The other big unit is audits, which looks at stuff like program and operational efficiency. They also might have a third examination unit, but I was unclear on that. Or it might be in the OIG-OGC's office, which is required under the 2007 amendments.

Mine is investigations too. Why did you turn it down? I've spent some time on the phone with them and they sound really chill, especially because I'm a contract law person, but still not sure I'm taking it.

I got a SA and wasn't about to risk splitting the summer.

[Anonymous User]

Bump for 2013 cycle. I interviewed on campus in late summer but haven't heard anything since. Has anyone received updates of any kind?

[Anonymous User]

Bump for 2013 cycle. I interviewed on campus in late summer but haven't heard anything since. Has anyone received updates of any kind?

I got an update a few days ago that my "application was referred for further consideration."

Best of luck to everyone.

[Anonymous User]

Bump for 2013 cycle. I interviewed on campus in late summer but haven't heard anything since. Has anyone received updates of any kind?

I got an update a few days ago that my "application was referred for further consideration."

Best of luck to everyone.

Thanks for sharing. That's good news. Good luck to you and please keep the updates coming if you don't mind. Crickets on my end.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone received an offer (or heard of a classmate receiving an offer) for an internship with the office of the legal advisor next summer? Just wondering if I should give up hope right now or continue waiting.

I apologize for reviving this ancient thread, but I thought it was easier than starting a new one.

[Anonymous User]

I heard they won't say anything until late November.

[Anonymous User]

I heard they won't say anything until late November.

Oh that's interesting. I heard from someone who interned there last summer that they heard in mid October. But I guess that means you haven't heard of anybody getting it so far, so that's good.

[Anonymous User]

For posterity sake... some offers went out yesterday, obviously don't know if it's all the offers, and I imagine they'll make more if people decline.