Thanks for your interest in an internship with HHS Office of General Counsel (OGC)!
A legal internship at OGC is an opportunity to be a fully integrated member of our team and engage in the substantive work of our offices. Our hands-on approach provides our interns with meaningful practical experience in both the litigation efforts and client advice we deliver every day. OGC interns have opportunity to further develop their legal research and writing skills as we examine the cross-cutting issues facing the Department. Visit the #IAmHHSOGC YouTube playlist to hear directly from some of our colleagues about why OGC is such a wonderful place to work!
If you want to be immersed in a dynamic legal office, gain valuable experience, see the work of the Federal Government, and be part of protecting the health and provision of essential human services to all Americans, then we encourage you to apply for our internship!
How to Apply: For consideration, please submit your resume, a writing sample, transcript, proof of enrollment/letter of good standing from university, and a cover letter indicating the office(s) of interest to HHS_OGC_Internships@hhs.gov. Your application materials will be forwarded to the office(s) indicated in your cover letter. We accept applications on a rolling basis.
The office(s) receiving your application will follow-up with you. Please note that each office individually decides if it is accepting interns during the summer or a semester.
Information on the Types of Work at HHS OGC: Please review the below descriptions of the HHS OGC practice areas and work to learn the offices involved in the legal opportunities that most interests you.
Careers at OGC: Interested in learning more about a career? To see current openings and information on the virtual career information sessions, scan this QR code:
Questions: Please send your questions to (resource mailbox)
Practice Areas - Challenging Legal Opportunities
The Office of the General Counsel is the professional team the Department counts on for the highest quality legal representation on social, economic, and healthcare issues. Opportunities are available for experienced attorneys, new graduates, and law students seeking internships in the following OGC offices and practice areas:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division
Provides comprehensive legal services to the agency responsible for administering Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Programs, as well as Affordable Care Act programs including the marketplaces.
Children, Families, and Aging Division
Provides legal advice and litigation support to the Administration for Children and Families (www.acf.hhs.gov) and the Administration for Community Living (www.acl.gov), which administer social service programs that promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, and seniors. For example, these programs include welfare, human trafficking, refugee assistance, unaccompanied children, foster care and adoption assistance, Head Start, child support enforcement, programs for Native Americans and support services for the elderly.
Civil Rights Division
Advises the HHS Office for Civil Rights staff on policy development, for example, medical records and privacy issues, as well as the conduct of civil rights investigations, enforcement proceedings and civil rights litigation.
Ethics Division
Provides advice and training to all HHS employees on Government ethics statutes and regulations, working closely with the White House Counsel and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
Food and Drug Division
Represents the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in court proceedings, administrative hearings and provides legal advice to the major programs of the FDA: drugs, foods, biologics, devices, veterinary products, tobacco products, and enforcement.
*** Please note that the Food and Drug Division is currently only accepting applications for summer internships ***
General Law Division
Covers five discrete practices: 1. Torts/Claims 2. Employment Law 3. Government Contracts 4. Information Law 5. Fiscal Law. These practices encompass a wide range of legal issues, including analyzing claims and assisting the Department of Justice with defending medical malpractice suits filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, representing the Agency in employment disputes at the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, defending the Agency’s procurement decisions before the Government Accountability Office, advising on appropriations law, and assisting with Freedom of Information Act litigation.
Legislation Division
Drafts and analyzes bills affecting HHS programs while collaborating with other Federal organizations on Department-relevant bills introduced in Congress.
The National Complex Litigation and Investigations Division (NCLID)
Manages complex litigation spanning multiple OGC divisions, regions, or geographic areas and provides advice on pre-litigation matters across many of the Department of Health and Human Service’s programmatic areas.
Public Health Division
Advises the Public Health Service, which includes the National Institutes of Health, the Indian Health Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on a myriad of issues including medical and biological research, women's health, and Native American health.
Across the Nation - Ten Regional Offices
The regional offices provide comprehensive litigation services, legal advice and counseling in virtually every area of the Department of Health and Human Services' programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, civil rights, ethics, personnel and contract matters. Located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.