Working for DHS
Calling all government lawyer aspirants! Anyone considering heading to DC next summer probably already knows that application deadlines are fast approaching (security clearances!) but I thought I’d highlight yet another option you may not have considered with the newest federal cabinet agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a recent info session, DHS Associate General Counsel Mark A. Patton ‘03 talked broadly about DHS, the summer internship process and the DHS Honors Program. In addition to ensuring that DHS activities comply with all legal requirements, Patton indicated that the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) attorneys play major roles, through policy coordination and various litigation measures, in crafting, developing, and defending policies relating to many of the most important issues facing the nation today including counterterrorism, immigration and border security and emergency response and recovery.
The eight-week summer internship program allows 10-15 students to rotate through various divisions of the General Counsel’s office according to interest including: division of regulatory affairs; immigration; operations and enforcement; intelligence and analysis; and technology programs.
More developed is the two year-long DHS Honors Program open to law students in their 3L year. Like summer interns, honors associates are encouraged to rotate departments. “The office is hungry for legal talent, so we’re pretty flexible on accommodating your interests.”
When pressed on what qualifications the DHS was looking for in applicants, Patton stressed good writing ability over grades. “We’re looking for young lawyers with a commitment to the rule of law.” He indicated that the application process was a sellers’ market and that “arbitrary metrics” were less important that relevant coursework, previous work experience, and a demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment.
What about job mobility? “Because the office is so young, there is a fast trajectory up if you’re talented… external mobility should also be good depending on what you’ve done and what you’d like to do,” he said. Because of the emphasis on rotation, both the summer internship and honors fellowships enable student and young attorneys to make lots of connections fairly quickly with other parts of the government.
