Navigating National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Internship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Internships with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Solicitor's Office (SOL) within the Department of Labor (DOL) offer invaluable opportunities for students and recent graduates seeking hands-on experience in labor law, legal processes, and public service. These internships provide unique insights into the workings of federal agencies and the broader field of labor relations. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the internship requirements, application processes, and potential experiences within these organizations.

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Internship Overview

The NLRB is a federal agency responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which protects employees’ rights to organize, form labor unions, and engage in collective bargaining. Internships at the NLRB provide opportunities for students to gain practical experience in this field.

Key Responsibilities and Opportunities

NLRB internships offer exposure to a wide range of legal issues related to labor and employment. Interns may:

Assist Administrative Law Judges by performing legal research and writing.
Read transcripts of hearings and draft legal memoranda analyzing the facts of cases and applicable law.
Assist attorneys in researching case law, preparing legal documents, and analyzing complex labor disputes.
Participate in settlement discussions in cases pending before other administrative law judges.

Eligibility and Requirements

Judicial internships require excellent skills in legal writing and analysis.
A background in or knowledge of labor law is not always necessary.
Interns must commit to a minimum number of hours per week: typically 12 to 15 hours during semester periods and 35 hours during summer periods.
These internships are generally unpaid.

Application Process

Interested students should submit the required materials, such as a resume, cover letter, transcript, and writing sample, to the designated contact person, such as Judge Michael A.
Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your relevant skills and experiences.
Writing samples are often required for legal internships.

Solicitor's Office (SOL) Internship Programs

The Solicitor's Office (SOL) within the Department of Labor (DOL) offers various internship and externship opportunities for law students. SOL provides legal advice and representation to the Department of Labor and its various agencies.

SOL's Mission and Divisions

As the legal arm of the DOL, SOL ensures the nation's labor laws are forcefully and fairly applied and enforced to protect the Nation's workers. The SOL National Office in Washington, D.C., includes nine divisions that provide program advice and litigation services to Department agencies. Additionally, Regional and Branch Offices across the country engage in litigation in federal district courts and before administrative law judges.

Internship Opportunities within SOL

SOL offers internship/externship opportunities for those participating in designated hiring authorities, such as the Pathways Program, as well as those receiving stipends or academic credit. These opportunities are available in both the National Office divisions and Regional Offices. Interested applicants should reach out to the individual SOL Division or Regional Offices to find out more information about currently available opportunities. Opportunities under the Pathways Program or other hiring authorities are posted on USAJOBS.

General Responsibilities of Legal Interns

As a legal intern at SOL, you will perform a variety of legal assistance responsibilities, including:

Significant legal research and writing related to advice, litigation, and/or rule-making projects for client agencies.
Analyzing the legal impact of legislative developments, administrative and court decisions, rulings, and opinions on Departmental programs.
Attending meetings with DOL client agencies, other SOL divisions, and other executive agencies, as appropriate.

SOL National Divisions Offering Internships

SOL's National Divisions offer diverse internship opportunities, each focusing on specific areas of labor law:

1. Division of Black Lung and Longshore Legal Services

Overview: This division supports the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) in administering the Black Lung Benefits Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and its extensions.
Responsibilities: Interns assist attorneys with projects related to litigation before administrative law judges and the Courts of Appeals, advise OWCP on legal issues, prepare regulations, and enforce the payment of benefits.
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate has experience or a sincere interest in public service, with strong research and writing skills, academic achievement, and a positive and collaborative work ethic.
Application Deadline: Applications for Summer 2025 are due Friday, January 31, 2025.

2. Civil Rights and Labor Management Division (CRLM)

Overview: CRLM's client agencies administer and enforce a variety of civil rights, EEO, and labor laws.
Responsibilities: Interns conduct legal research and writing in connection with advice, litigation, and/or rulemaking projects, such as drafting memoranda, analyses, and briefs.
Ideal Candidate: Excellent research and writing skills; a demonstrated interest in civil rights, labor, and employment issues; and a strong academic record.
Preferred Commitment: Students who can commit to a full-time schedule (35-40 hours/week) are preferred.
Number of Positions: Potentially up to three.

3. Division of Employment and Training Legal Services (ETLS)

Overview: ETLS provides advice to a range of clients, including the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) and the Department's Veteran's Employment and Training Service (VETS).
Responsibilities: Law clerks assist attorneys in analyzing foreign countries' laws for compliance with international child labor standards, researching legal issues arising under USERRA, and working on projects related to VETS employment programs.
Ideal Candidate: Candidates must demonstrate strong research and writing abilities, and academic achievement.

4. Management and Administrative Legal Services

Overview: This division focuses on legal issues related to federal procurement and appropriations law.
Responsibilities: Interns prepare memos, draft sections of briefs, and assist with presentations.
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate has expressed interest in working for the public sector as well as experience or interest with federal procurement and/or appropriations law matters.
Application Deadlines: Applications for summer internships are accepted from December 1 - January 31, with offers extended by mid-March. Applications for fall-semester internships are due by June 30, and spring-semester applications are due by September 30.

5. Mine Safety and Health Division (MSH)

Overview: The MSH Division supports the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the agency that enforces the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended (Mine Act).
Responsibilities: Interns work with attorneys on projects related to rulemaking, legal advice, and trial and appellate litigation.
Projects include: Analyzing legal questions and writing litigation memos, reviewing rulemaking and guidance documents, attending meetings and strategy sessions with MSHA, Seeking injunctions or temporary restraining orders in federal district courts, Trying cases before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission's Administrative Law Judges or Department of Labor's Administrative Law Judges, or in federal district court, Writing appellate briefs and preparing attorneys for oral arguments before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission or the federal courts of appeals.

6. Office of Legal Counsel (OLC)

Overview: The Office has three major areas of responsibility: legislative activities, ethics program management, and legal advice on government organization and operations.
Responsibilities: The law student intern will assist OLC in providing the legal services listed above. Duties may include reviewing testimony and draft legislation, drafting legal advice about ethics-related matters, researching administrative law issues, and writing memos as appropriate.
Ideal Candidate: Candidates must demonstrate strong research and writing abilities, academic achievement, and an interest in a career in public service.
Application Review: We will review applications on a rolling basis through November 1, 2024.

7. Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSH)

Overview: The Division of the Office of the Solicitor (SOL) provides legal services to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Responsibilities: Interns assist OSH Division attorneys in the research and writing of legal briefs, provide research and analysis for rulemaking teams, research and prepare legal memoranda, provide legal advice to SOL Regional Offices and OSHA, and shadow OSH Division attorneys at meetings.
Ideal Candidate: Applicants must be 2Ls at the time of their application and must expect to have completed their 2L year by the summer of their internship. Applicants must be students in good academic standing with strong writing, research, and analytic.

SOL Regional Offices

SOL's Regional Offices, located in cities such as Arlington, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, also offer internship opportunities. Interested students should contact these offices directly for more information.

Maximizing Your Internship Experience

To make the most of your internship at the NLRB or SOL, consider the following:

Read also: Eligibility for National Awards

Familiarize yourself with the organization: Research the agency’s mission, structure, and recent cases.
Network: Interact with attorneys, administrative staff, and other professionals in the field.
Seek feedback: Supervising attorneys routinely provide constructive feedback to interns on their written work product to further this goal.
Keep a diary: Students are advised to keep a daily diary of their experiences.

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