Student Trainee Legal

Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)

Recruitment began on January 16, 2026

and the job listing Expires on February 16, 2026

This is NOT a remote work opportunity. Positions are located Indianapolis, Indiana.

This position is part of DFAS’s Pathways Program, for current students/individuals accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational program in an accredited institution, full or half-time basis. This is a PAID summer internship, running May – August. Applicants who indicate they meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email from assessments.gov to complete online assessments. Check your “Spam”/”Junk” folders. See below for more information!

This job is open to:

Students Enrolled or Accepted for Enrollment During the Current or Next Upcoming Semester in a Degree-seeking Program (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an Accredited/Qualifying Educational Institution, on a Full or Half-time Basis.

Duties

• As a Legal Student Trainee, you will do some or all of the following;
• Receive training in the principles, practices, concepts, work processes, regulations and statutes of one or more General Counsel functional areas designed to provide a career oriented introduction to DFAS and the General Counsel.
• Assignments include developmental experiences to prepare the incumbent for increasingly more complex work in the General Counsel arena. Assignments may be supplemented by on-the-job and/or formal training in the occupation.
• Independently plan, organize, and conduct studies of legal issues and cases generally encountered in the assigned area.
• Performs research on assignments from the Directorates Deputy General Counsel (DGC) and Assistant DGC by examining legal documents, historical files, and other legal resources on inquiries relating to a myriad of legal subjects.
• Examination is to evaluate the procedural and technical sufficiency of the action or legal matter; and, to evaluate factual and other information presented.
• Utilize manual and automated legal research methods to locate, extract, and compile relevant materials to assist the legal staff.
• Identifies pertinent facts and issues for research, suggests legal interpretations of reference materials, and prepares initial summary recommendations for attorneys.
• Drafts and edits legal and non-legal memoranda, research reports, and correspondence.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen or National
• This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
• Registered for Selective Service (males born after 12-31-1959)
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time student.
• Must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Must maintain student eligibility for the duration of internship.
• New employees to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov.
• This is a temporary appointment not to exceed one (1) year.

Requirements:

• Law Student Status: An eligible student is an individual who is enrolled in law school pursuing a Juris Doctor Degree or a LL.B Legum Baccalaureus Degree and is taking at least half-time academic course load in an American Bar Association accredited university. Successful candidates must have outstanding academic records, superior writing skills, and be in good academic standing at his/her university.
• Enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time (Half-time basis is defined by the academic institution that the student is enrolled or accepted into) student into an accredited college or university in a qualifying degree-seeking program, or enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in a qualifying certificate program;
• Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA…