Internships & Externships

Current Openings:

Student Trainee (Legal Internship) - Multiple Vacancies

The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking legal interns in its Washington, D.C. office.

Who May Apply: This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens and may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

The DAB complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity). The DAB does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.

Grade: GS-0999-07 Student Trainee (Legal Internship)

Open Period: This announcement will remain open until all positions have been filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Job Summary: The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), a staff division within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking legal interns for its summer internship program. Interns can be placed in either our Medicare Operations Division (MOD), Civil Remedies Division-HHS/SSA Program (CRD-HHS), Civil Remedies Division-FDA Tobacco Program (CRD-T), or Alternative Dispute Resolution Division (ADR).

The DAB provides impartial, independent hearings and appellate reviews, and issues final agency decisions under more than 60 statutory provisions governing HHS programs, and provides alternative dispute resolution and mediation services for DAB cases and the HHS workplace.

The DAB consists of four adjudicatory divisions, an Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, and the Immediate Office of the Chair.

CRD-HHS: CRD-HHS staff support Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who conduct adversarial hearings on a broad range of issues that are critical to HHS healthcare program integrity efforts, as well as quality of care concerns.

CRD-T: CRD-T staff support ALJs in the Tobacco Program who conduct adversarial hearings in actions where the Center for Tobacco Products seeks to impose a Civil Monetary Penalty or No-Tobacco-Sale Order against a tobacco retailer who sells tobacco products in violation of the Tobacco Control Act.

Appellate Division: Appellate staff support five Board Members. The Board serves as the final level of agency review for cases decided by ALJs in CRD-HHS and CRD-T. In addition, the Board has original jurisdiction to decide cases involving HHS mandatory and discretionary grant funding, and challenges to the validity of Medicare National Coverage Determinations. In these cases, Board Members conduct de novo reviews and may hold evidentiary hearings.

MOD: MOD staff support Administrative Appeals Judges (AAJ) on the Medicare Appeals Council (Council). The Council serves as the final level of agency review for individual claims of entitlement to Medicare and for Medicare coverage and payment. The Council conducts de novo review of decisions issued by ALJs in the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.

ADR Division: ADR staff support the Chair in her role as HHS’s Dispute Resolution Specialist. ADR staff provide mediation services for DAB cases and the HHS workplace. ADR staff also provide policy guidance, training, and information on ADR techniques (including negotiated rulemaking – a collaborative process for developing regulations with interested stakeholders).

Duties: Duties may include:

  • Providing authoritative legal advice, staff support, and assistance to Board Members, ALJs, AAJs, Division Directors, Branch Chiefs, or others involved in matters for which the assigned Division is responsible, on substantive and procedural issues.
  • Reviewing and analyzing complex issues in assigned cases to resolve legal disputes.
  • Preparing drafts of decisions, rulings, orders or memoranda containing legal analyses, or work under the guidance of an experienced mediator/facilitator to assist the parties to a dispute in reaching settlement and in preparing draft settlement agreements.
  • As directed, serving as the DAB representative in dealings with the parties in an assigned case or with others.
  • Scheduling and participating in evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, or mediation conferences that involve issues of limited complexity.
  • Completing other assignments and special projects, as assigned.

Travel Required: Not required

Qualifications Required: Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement.

To qualify for the Student Trainee (Legal Internship) position at the GS-07, all applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications:

  • Must possess a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale (however, we recognize that some law schools do not provide a GPA).
  • Must have successfully completed one full year of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and seeking a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) by the beginning of the summer session 2024.
  • Must be continuing in legal studies throughout the summer and/or into the Fall of 2024 to be eligible.
  • Must maintain status as a current student in good standing during the internship.
  • Students graduating in the Spring of 2024 are not eligible.

Candidates must be in good academic standing, should possess an interest in health law and/or administrative law, and possess strong legal research and writing skills.

Education:

This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

All qualification requirements must be met by the time of selection.

Conditions of Employment:

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Must be enrolled at an accredited school of law recognized by the ABA.
  • Must maintain status as a current student in good standing during the internship.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (www.sss.gov).
  • If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 15, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. To demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses may be paid: No
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Recruitment incentives may be authorized: No
  • Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized: No
  • Annual leave for non-federal service may be authorized: No
  • Telework Eligible: Yes (per agency policy). Incumbent will be required to report to Washington, D.C. as primary duty station.
  • Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
  • This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service.

Instructions To Apply: Please submit the following documents by email to dabinternships@hhs.gov:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • One legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
  • Law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

Veterans' Preference documentation:

  • Discharged Veterans: If you are claiming 5 point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from the armed forces that supports dates of service and discharge status; if claiming 10 point preference, an application for 10-Point Veterans Preference (SF-15) and an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
  • Active Duty Members: Under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, if claiming 5 point preference, submit written documentation from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package.
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