Current Opportunities

Semester requirement: 1
Credits: 3

SITE DESCRIPTION

The Solicitor's Office is the legal office of the United States Department of Labor representing its various enforcement agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards Administration, and Veterans Employment & Training Services. The Department of Labor has the second largest litigation department in the federal government and has individual litigation authority. The extern program provides students with a unique and exceptional litigation experience in the Atlanta regional office, which covers eight southeastern states. Attorneys in the Atlanta regional office further the Department's mission of protecting American workers' rights by prosecuting employers for violations of numerous federal labor and employment laws, including laws governing employee pension and benefit plans (ERISA), occupational and mine safety and health (OSHA & MSHA), wage issues (FLSA), protections for migrant farm workers (MSPA), rights of military service members (USERRA) Title VII type non-discrimination cases under Executive Order 11246, and numerous whistle blower statutes. In addition, attorneys provide advice and written opinions to our numerous client agencies.

Student externs perform a variety of legal tasks, depending on the office's particular workload at the time of the externship, but are typically exposed to numerous statutes and aspects of litigation. To the extent possible, we will accommodate students with a particular interest in a certain client agency or aspect of litigation. In addition to conducting research and writing memoranda, students are able to evaluate cases, participate in all aspects of discovery, negotiate settlements, prepare for and attend depositions, witness interviews or meetings with client agencies, and attend court hearings or trials. In addition, if their schedule permits, students are encouraged to participate in the office's weekly staff meetings and interact with a wide range of attorneys in the office.

More information about the Solicitor's Office can be found at www.dol.gov/sol. Specific information about the Atlanta office can be found by clicking on the link for "Regional Offices."

STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS

Prerequisites: None

Preferences: Administrative Law and Employment Law (can be taken concurrently with placement)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position and a short writing sample must accompany your resume at the time of application.
• For summer placements, this site requires students to commit to 40 hours per week for 8 weeks. This hour commitment is in excess of the course requirements. Students applying must agree to this additional hour requirement.