Position Overview
The U.S. Coast Guard Judge Advocate General legal community offers internships and externships for law students throughout the academic year. For students seeking a spring externship, the Coast Guard lists an application deadline of October 1.
Participants work alongside active-duty Coast Guard Judge Advocates and civilian attorneys. The experience is designed to provide substantive legal exposure rather than only administrative observation, with past participants describing legal research, drafting, investigations, command advice, legal assistance and support for proceedings.
Positions are unpaid, but students may be able to receive academic credit if their law school supports the arrangement. Opportunities may be available at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and at legal field offices around the country, although field-office openings are not guaranteed.
Minimum Requirements
- Be currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited JD program
- Be a 1L, 2L or 3L law student under the applicable program rules
- Be familiar with Westlaw and Lexis-Nexis
- Be able to complete a Coast Guard security background check
- Receive permission from the JD program where required for semester participation
- Be prepared to provide a legal writing sample and academic documentation
Tip: Rank preferred office locations in the cover letter exactly as the Coast Guard requests, especially if you are open to several cities.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct legal research on issues assigned by Coast Guard attorneys
- Draft memoranda, legal documents and supporting material
- Assist with investigations and legal proceedings
- Observe and support command advice
- Assist with legal-assistance matters when assigned
- Learn how military and federal legal issues are handled in practice
- Work collaboratively with judge advocates and civilian counsel
Coast Guard legal offices can handle a wide range of matters, giving law students an opportunity to understand how legal advice supports an operational military and law-enforcement organization.
What You Will Gain
- Hands-on federal and military legal experience
- Mentorship from Coast Guard attorneys
- Legal research and drafting practice
- Exposure to investigations, command advice and legal assistance
- Insight into the Direct Commission Lawyer career path
- Potential academic credit when approved by the student’s law school
Application Process
How to Apply
Email the Coast Guard legal internship application package to CoastGuardDCL@uscg.mil.
- Cover letter identifying preferred office location or ranked locations
- Resume
- Unofficial law-school transcript
- Letter of recommendation from a law-school professor
- Legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages
- Submit the spring externship application by October 1
Apply through the official application page
Applications can be submitted to: CoastGuardDCL@uscg.mil
Official source: View vacancy notice
FAQ
Is the Coast Guard legal externship paid?
No. The Coast Guard states that internships and externships are unpaid, although academic credit may be possible.
Who can apply?
The program is open to eligible 1L, 2L and 3L students enrolled in ABA-accredited JD programs.
Where can students be placed?
Placements can include Washington, D.C. and selected Coast Guard legal field offices nationwide, subject to availability.
When is the spring externship deadline?
The Coast Guard lists October 1 as the spring externship application deadline.