Law Student Volunteer

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa prosecutes federal criminal offenses and defends the federal government’s interests in civil cases in 52 of the state’s 99 counties. The headquarters office is in Cedar Rapids with a branch office in Sioux City.

The Office routinely ranks among the busiest of the 25 U.S. Attorney’s Offices of comparable size, and its attorneys have a reputation for trying and winning complex, difficult cases. The work environment emphasizes professionalism, teamwork, collaboration, and mentorship.

For more information on the Office, see https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has opportunities for Law Student Volunteers in our Cedar Rapids and Sioux City offices for the Spring 2026. These in-person positions are for students who are interested in the federal legal system and in developing practical skills.

Law Student Volunteers become familiar with the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, the local rules of practice for the United States District Court, and the local and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. In addition, they may attend depositions and meetings with investigative agents and often accompany Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to observe court proceedings in cases on which they have worked or in cases of general interest in the office.

Law Student Volunteer duties include, for example, legal research; drafting memoranda and pleadings; trial preparation; and drafting motions and responses, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs. Law students who qualify to practice under the court’s student-practice rules may have the opportunity to present or argue at hearings.

The duration of the volunteer service and hours of duty are determined by the student in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Law students only: You must be a second- or third-year law student (or the equivalent, if a part-time student) enrolled in an accredited law school pursuing a J.D. degree and taking at least a half-time academic courseload. Preferred candidates will have outstanding academic records and superior writing skills and be in good academic standing at their university.

Citizenship: You must be a United States citizen or owe permanent allegiance to the United States. (The latter group includes natives of American Samoa, natives of the Swains Island, and certain inhabitants of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.)

Background investigation: You must successfully complete a background investigation.

Agreement: You must agree to the Participant Agreement after your background investigation is completed.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, official or unofficial law-school transcript, and writing sample of no more than 10 pages. Your cover letter should include your daytime phone number and the dates and hours you are available. If applying by email, send the materials (preferably combined into a single PDF) to [email protected]. If applying by mail, send them to:

Administrative Officer
United States Attorney’s Office 111 7th Ave SE, Box 1 Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Applications must be received by December 23, 2025. The Office is not responsible for delays in receiving your application, whatever the cause. Consistent with Executive Order 14170 and the Merit Hiring Plan, the Office will not accept resumes more than two pages long. The Office will frown on formatting tricks designed to get around either page limit.

These positions are uncompensated. Course credit may be available.