Agency-wide Requirements
All applicants must be:
- U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
- At least 18 years of age
- Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
- Able to complete security and medical evaluations
- Registered for the Selective Service
About the Job
PLEASE NOTE: OGC will accept resumes for Summer Law Clerk positions from 12-26 August 2024. OGC will not evaluate resumes submitted for the Summer Law Clerk position outside of the August 12 - August 26 window. In addition to submitting a resume, candidates should concurrently a) include their GPA as a line within their resume, and b) submit a current law school transcript when prompted to submit an "optional supplemental attachment."
OGC within the CIA provides legal advice and policy counsel to the Director of the CIA (DCIA) and other CIA officers on a variety of legal issues, to include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; employment and personnel law; government ethics; fiscal law; general administrative law; privacy and civil liberties, and legislative affairs.
Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives, and encourages applications from qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities.
Summer Law Clerks work at CIA during the summer before their final year of law school. As a Summer Law Clerk, you will be responsible for:
- Assisting CIA attorneys who provide legal advice and policy counsel to CIA leadership on complex areas of law affecting the CIA’s duties and responsibilities under authorities including the National Security Act, the CIA Act, and Executive Orders.
- Working under the close supervision of experienced attorneys.
- Conducting legal research and analysis on sensitive matters.
- Maintaining productive working relationships with other OGC and Agency officers to further CIA’s mission.
CIA OGC will evaluate and interview Summer Law Clerk candidates during August and September 2024 for employment starting May or June 2025. Interested candidates should submit resumes during the August 12 - August 26 2024 resume drop window.
Who You’ll Work With
At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), we recognize our Nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. People from a broad range of backgrounds and viewpoints work at CIA, and our diverse teams are the reason we can keep our country safe.
Read more about diversity and inclusion
What You’ll Get
Our benefits support every aspect of a working professional’s life, including health and wellness, time off, family, finances, and continuing education. Our programs include highly sought-after government health benefits, flexible schedules, sick leave, and childcare. In some cases, we also offer sign-on incentives and cover moving expenses if you relocate.
As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself. Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe. Every day is an opportunity to enhance U.S. national security.
Learn more about working at CIA
Minimum Qualifications
- Enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school with an expected JD by Spring 2026.
- The Office of General Council (OGC) prefers that Summer Law Clerk candidates with no work experience prior to law school have a law school GPA of at least 3.0 for schools on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent on other scales.
- Commitment to serve for a minimum of 10 weeks during Summer 2025.
- Ablity to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation.
Desired Qualifications
All candidates are reviewed for the following competencies:
- Legal analysis, reasoning, and writing, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes.
- Interpersonal and communication skills.
- The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment.
- The ability to exercise sound judgment in challenging situations.
- Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently.
- Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships.