Office of Legal, Legislative, and External Affairs

The Office of Legal, Legislative, and External Affairs contains two components: the Office of Legal Counsel and the Office of Legislative and External Affairs. The Office of Legal Counsel, headed by the Chief Counsel, serves as an advisor to OIG management on a wide variety of issues. Among other responsibilities, the Office of Legal Counsel:

• Advises OIG auditors and investigators on legal questions;
• Works with the U.S. Department of Justice on litigation;
• Manages OIG’s ethics and FOIA programs; and
• Represents OIG in administrative legal proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The Office of Legislative and External Affairs is OIG’s primary point of contact for Congressional members and staff, the media, and the public about OIG programs and services. OIG staff members analyze bills and Acts of Congress, brief Congressional members and staff on OIG work and operations, and respond to media requests for information. 

Undergraduate Internship

Our undergraduate internship provides college juniors and seniors insight into the Federal government. Interns have a unique opportunity to gain understanding of the legislative process. Interns track transportation policy in Congress, attend committee hearings, learn how Congress works, and observe the operations of the Federal government. Interns acquire first-hand experience in the relationship between the Federal government and the media. In the Office of Legal Counsel, interns will work alongside OIG attorneys, providing research and other support.     

Examples of past responsibilities include:

• Working with government managers, including the Assistant Inspector General for Legal, Legislative, and External Affairs, the Chief Counsel, and the Director of Congressional and Public Affairs;
• Tracking, analyzing, and briefing OIG officials on high-profile and landmark transportation-related legislation in Congress, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (commonly called the Stimulus or Recovery Act), C.A.R.S. (commonly called “Cash for Clunkers”), and DOT Appropriations bills;
• Attending Congressional hearings and Supreme Court arguments;
• Crafting legislative memoranda and briefs of committee hearings;
• Supporting attorneys with litigation projects involving research, testimony preparation, and transcription;
• Conducting research using LexisNexis, Westlaw, Thomas, and various Congress-specific news sources;
• Assisting in the creation of presentations for meetings, training, and conferences;
• Working with attorneys to assemble comments from the government-wide OIG community on specific projects; and
• Processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Students in the program gain enhanced skills and knowledge, explore career options in the Federal government, acquire hands-on legal skills and experience, expand their networks in the Federal sector and transportation industry, and gain insight into the role of Federal agencies and Congress. In addition, we encourage students to expand their professional network and experiential basis by participating in any number of extracurricular programs designed for interns working in the Federal government. Both summer and academic-year internships are available under this program on an on-going basis. The program includes an 8-week summer term and 12- to 15-week fall and spring terms and will accommodate varying academic schedules. 

Applying for an Undergraduate Internship

We select interns from a pool of highly qualified undergraduates. Successful applicants must have well-developed problem-solving skills, excellent writing ability, a professional demeanor, and the ability to work in a team environment. We evaluate candidates based on a number of factors including:

• Grade point average (minimum 3.0 GPA);
• Writing ability; and
• Demonstrated achievement, character, and aptitude.  

Your application must include:

• Cover Letter (noting desired start and end date, including the number of hours per week you could work);
• Resume;
• References (3) including contact information; and 
• Transcript.

This is an unpaid internship, but we do offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in an accredited undergraduate institution to apply. 

• We offer fall, spring, and summer clerkships.
• We will make accommodations for trimester schedules and varying academic calendars, and we will consider part-time schedule requests.
• The application process is structured around the following time frame:

Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent to Legal.Intern@oig.dot.gov. If you have any questions about the application process, please call 202-366-8751 and ask to speak with the Legal Intern Coordinator.

Law-Student Clerkship

The law-student clerkship focuses on the legal side of the Office of Legal, Legislative, and External Affairs, with some opportunity to also work with the legislative and external affairs. Because OIG is a law-enforcement agency with broad oversight authority, our office offers an experience that is unique within Federal government. From the investigative side, law students will have an opportunity to gain experience in criminal law from the investigative stage through prosecution. Law clerks play a key role in researching high-profile and challenging questions of law regarding DOT programs. The OIG Office of Legal Counsel has been involved in key issues such as the Recovery Act, cross-border trucking under the North American Free Trade Agreement, and other major transportation legislation. Given the mission of the OIG, law clerks may also gain experience with government-wide laws, regulations, and policies regarding government contracts, ethics, grants, information technology security, and privacy issues.

In addition to the investigation- and audit-specific support role, our office serves as “in-house” counsel for the OIG, a government agency with over 420 employees. The legal support role and environment is unique to government administration but has wide-reaching transferability across the public and private sectors. Among other responsibilities, the Office of Legal Counsel:

• Advises OIG auditors and investigators on legal questions;
• Works with the U.S. Department of Justice on litigation;
• Manages OIG’s ethics and FOIA programs; and
• Represents OIG in administrative legal proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Examples of past responsibilities include:

• Conducting research and drafting memoranda on legal issues that arise in OIG’s audits and investigations including:
  
  • Whistleblower protections available to transportation industry workers,
  • DOT’s oversight over programs administered by state agencies,
  • The impact of an agency’s failure to follow Federal acquisition rules, and
  • The use of copyrighted material in government reports;
• Participate in and prepare for decision-making meetings on OIG audits;
• Working with the attorneys in the development of legal training;
• Drafting summaries of pending legislation with a focus on provisions that impact the OIG and its areas of interest; 
• Assisting attorneys with FOIA requests and drafting FOIA appeal decisions;
• Assisting with preparing senior officials for Congressional testimony;
• Drafting motions in Federal court and administrative bodies such as the EEOC and MSPB; 
• Drafting referrals of criminal matters to the Department of Justice for prosecution; and
• Assisting staff with administrative and clerical assignments including copy, scanning, assembling briefing binders and filing.

Applying for a Law-Student Clerkship

Our office seeks current law students with excellent verbal and written ability, strong analytical and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated achievement. We take a number of factors into account including academic performance, life experience, writing ability, and personality. 

Your application must include:

• Cover Letter (noting desired start and end date, including the number of hours per week you could work);
• Resume; 
• Writing Sample (no longer than 15 pages);
• References (3) including contact information; and 
• Transcript. 

This is an unpaid internship, but we do offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and enrolled in an accredited law school to apply. 

• We offer fall, spring, and summer clerkships.
• We will make accommodations for trimester schedules and varying academic calendars, and we will consider part-time schedule requests.
• The application process is structured around the following time frame:

Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent to Legal.Intern@oig.dot.gov. If you have any questions about the application process, please call 202-366-8751 and ask to speak with the Legal Intern Coordinator.

The Office of Auditing and Evaluation within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) seeks students interested in gaining a competitive edge and marketable experience through an opportunity with the Federal Government. DOT spends billions of dollars on programs, contracts, and grants every year. Ensuring effective and efficient program performance and minimizing waste and abuse through sound management practices is an ongoing challenge. Among its many activities, the Office of Auditing and Evaluation reviews contracts produced by the Department and its grant recipients. As a member of this group, you will learn about DOT’s mission and lines of business, Federal programmatic and acquisition policies and regulations, and the Federal audit process.

As a student volunteer, you will participate in various phases of the audit cycle such as planning, research, field work, and report writing. You will collaborate with the various other groups that support OIG audit teams, such as legal and legislative staff, investigators, and statisticians. You also will have opportunities to interact with the various administrations that comprise DOT.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Participating in audit meetings and interviews;
• Researching applicable procurement laws and regulations;
• Contributing to management briefings and presentations.
• Analyzing data from Federal procurement databases;
• Developing documentation to verify audit results and ensure accurate reporting of findings and facts; and
• Supporting congressional testimony and requests.

You will acquire hands-on experience and gain enhanced skills, knowledge, and insight into the role of Federal agencies and Congress. This OIG experience offers résumé and skill-building opportunities at a top Federal agency whose mission is to serve the transportation needs of the United States.

Qualifications

We select interns from a pool of highly qualified undergraduates. Successful applicants must have demonstrated achievement and aptitude, a professional demeanor, well-developed problem-solving skills, excellent writing ability, and the ability to work in a team environment. Accomplishments and leadership experience are a plus.

To qualify, an applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen;
• be enrolled as a full-time or part-time junior or senior at an accredited college or university; and
• have a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA).

All applications must include:

• résumé;
• unofficial or official transcript(s);
• cover letter (noting desired start and end dates, number of hours per week you can work); and
• three (3) references, including contact information.

Successful applicants will be:

• subject to a security check; and
• asked to sign a student volunteer agreement.

Benefits

• This is an unpaid internship; therefore no employee benefits are allotted for this position.
• OIG does offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office.

Schedule

• We offer fall, spring, and summer internships.
• You must be willing to maintain a regular duty schedule.
• We will make accommodations for trimester schedules and varying academic calendars, and we will consider part-time schedule requests.
• The application process is structured around the following timeframe:

Credits

If your college offers credit for internship opportunities, we will work with your institution to fulfill credit requirements.

Via email (preferred):

• Charles A. Ward, Chuck.Ward@oig.dot.gov, 202-366-1249.

Via U.S. Postal Service:

The Office of Investigations within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking students interested in gaining a competitive edge and marketable experience through an opportunity with the Federal Government. DOT spends billions of dollars on programs, contracts, and grants every year. Ensuring effective and efficient program performance and minimizing waste and abuse through sound management practices is an ongoing challenge. The Office of Investigations conducts criminal and administrative reviews of contracts produced by DOT and its grant recipients as well as criminal investigations into safety compliance. You will learn about DOT’s mission and lines of business, Federal programmatic and acquisition policies and regulations, and the Federal criminal investigative process.

As a student volunteer, you will participate in various phases of the investigative process, including planning, research, analysis, and some field work. You will also experience and collaborate with other groups that support OIG’s investigative efforts, such as legal and legislative staff, auditors, and statisticians. You will have opportunities to interact with the various administrations that comprise DOT. As a student volunteer, you will gain enhanced skills and knowledge, and acquire hands-on experience and insight into the role of Federal agencies and the criminal justice process. This experience offers résumé- and skill-building opportunities at a top Federal agency whose mission is to serve the transportation needs of the United States and keep the traveling public safe.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Participate in investigative planning meetings, witness interviews, research applicable laws and regulations;
• Contribute to management briefings and presentations;
• Analyze data from Federal databases; and
• Develop investigative documentation to verify results and ensure accurate reporting of findings and facts.

Qualifications

We select interns from a pool of highly qualified undergraduates. Successful applicants must have demonstrated achievement and aptitude, a professional demeanor, and the ability to work in a team environment. Accomplishments and leadership experience are a plus.

To qualify, an applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen;
• be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time junior or senior at an accredited college or university;
• have a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA); and
• be able to pass a fingerprint security check.

To be considered for the internship, all applicants must submit the following:

• résumé
• unofficial or official transcript(s)
• cover letter (optional)

Successful applicants will be:

• subject to a security check; and
• asked to sign a student volunteer agreement.

Benefits

• This is an unpaid internship; therefore, no employee benefits are allotted for this position.
• OIG does offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office.

Schedule

• We offer fall, spring, and summer internships.
• You must be willing to maintain a regular duty schedule.
• If your college offers credit for intern opportunities, we will work with your institution to fulfill credit requirements.
• The application process is structured around the following timeframe:

Via email (preferred)

• Floyd Sherman, Floyd.Sherman@oig.dot.gov, 202-366-4189, or
• Susan DeYoung, Susan.DeYoung@oig.dot.gov

Via U.S. Postal Service

The Office of Investigations, Data Analytics and Computer Crimes Unit (DACC) within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking students interested in gaining a competitive edge and marketable experience through an opportunity with the Federal Government. DOT spends billions of dollars on programs, contracts, and grants every year. Ensuring effective and efficient program performance and minimizing waste and abuse through sound management practices is an ongoing challenge. DACC is comprised of two distinct components. The Computer Crimes Unit provides forensic support to the Office of Investigations’ case work by identifying, collecting, and analyzing digital evidence. The Data Analytics Unit provides support and capabilities to the entire OIG to develop industry leading predictive analytics and risk-analysis programs; its work includes data mining, modeling, fraud identification, and data visualization. As a member of this group, you will learn about DOT’s mission and lines of business, Federal programmatic and acquisition policies and regulations, and the Federal criminal investigative process.

As a student volunteer, you will participate in various phases of the investigative process, such as planning, research, analysis, and some field work. The main goal is to analyze and organize complex DOT structured and unstructured data; look for patterns, correlations, and insights; and use visualization techniques to translate results into an easily consumable form. You will gain enhanced skills and knowledge, and acquire hands-on experience and insight into the role of Federal agencies and the criminal justice process. This experience offers résumé- and skill-building opportunities at a top Federal agency whose mission is to serve the transportation needs of the United States and keep the traveling public safe.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Evaluate methods for capturing and converting DOT data into forms and formats that can be analyzed and reported.
• Use a variety of methods, including parsing/cleaning data and connecting unstructured and structured data sets, to build data tables.
• Plan, organize, and conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of structured and unstructured data.
• Develop queries and logical statements to formulate data structures and retrieval within relational databases.
• Collaborate with other groups that support OIG’s investigative efforts, such as legal and legislative staff, auditors, and statisticians.
• Interact with and learn about the various administrations that comprise DOT.

Qualifications

We select interns from a pool of highly qualified undergraduates. Successful applicants must have demonstrated achievement and aptitude, a professional demeanor, the ability to work in a team environment, and knowledge of information technology concepts, principles, and techniques.

To qualify, an applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen;
• be a currently enrolled full-time or part-time junior or senior at an accredited college or university;
• have a 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA); and
• be able to pass a fingerprint security check.

To be considered for the internship. all applicants must submit the following:

• résumé
• unofficial or official transcript(s)
• cover letter (optional)

Successful applicants will be:

• subject to a security check; and
• asked to sign a student volunteer agreement.

Benefits

• This is an unpaid internship; therefore, no employee benefits are allotted for this position.
• OIG does offer transit benefits to pay for your commute to and from the office.

Schedule

• We offer fall, spring, and summer internships.
• You must be willing to maintain a regular duty schedule.
• If your college offers credit for intern opportunities, we will work with your institution to fulfill credit requirements.
• The application process is structured around the following timeframe:

Via email (preferred)

• Steven Burke, Steven.Burke@oig.dot.gov, 202-366-7030.

Via U.S. Postal Service