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Date:  March 3, 2025

Job Announcement No.:  2025-27

No. of Vacancies:  One

Position Title:  Student Intern 

Grade Range:  CL 22-01 to CL 22-25

Salary Range:  $36,073 - $45,087

                          ($17.34 - $21.67 hourly)

Closing Date:   March 24, 2025

 

The United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois is now accepting applications for a unique, one-year term as a Student Intern as part of the Model Intern Program offered through the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is interested in learning about the Federal Court system, and who is self-motivated with strong attention to detail. Consideration will only be given to those who apply through the Court’s online applicant tracking system and submit a cover letter, resume, and the name of a college professor willing to provide a character reference. To apply, please see the “Notice to Applicants” section listed below.

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

This unique, one-year student internship is located in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago. The Intern will provide a wide range of services and will gain exposure to the work performed by several court units, including the District Court, Bankruptcy Court, Probation Office, Pretrial Services, and the Federal Defender Program. The one-year internship will start on either June 16 or June 30, 2025,) and end during the spring semester of 2026 (no later than May 30, 2026). During the summer, the internship is full-time; during the academic semesters, the internship is part-time.

 

By providing a compensated position rather than a volunteer position, this internship program is designed to broaden the application process to include those students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to work in the federal court system. The program aims to give all individuals the chance to pursue this opportunity based on their merit, talent, and qualifications.

 

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Intern will function as a student trainee and the duties will include:

 

  • Observing a wide variety of hearings and trials in civil, bankruptcy, and criminal cases to develop familiarity with the judicial process;
  • Job shadowing court-system professionals, such as court staff, judges, Clerk’s Office staff, and Federal Defender Staff Attorneys to understand the Federal Court system;
  • Performing basic social science, historical, statistical, and other research to support judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff;
  • Assisting judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff as needed in handling special events, such as naturalization ceremonies, and in jury matters;
  • Assisting judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff in collecting, maintaining, and processing case information; 
  • Collecting, organizing, and summarizing statistical, accounting, or other data on case processing, budgetary, workload, and other court-related issues for judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff;
  • Organizing legal pleadings, briefs, motions, and correspondence for judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff;
  • Sorting, classifying, copying, distributing, and filing court records to assist judicial, legal, professional, and administrative staff; and
  • Performing other duties as assigned.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified candidates must be willing to commit to a one-year internship and be a rising undergraduate junior or senior currently enrolled full-time, in good standing, at an accredited college. During the summer (June through August), the intern is limited to no more than 40 work hours per week. During the academic year (September through May), the intern is limited to 15-20 work hours per week and may work fewer hours per week to accommodate class and exam schedules. 

 

The candidate must have skills in analysis, research, and writing, with a strong interest in the legal system. Advanced computer skills are required. Successful candidates are detail oriented, customer-service oriented, and demonstrate a professional and positive demeanor, as well as appearance appropriate for a court environment (business/office-wear). The Intern candidate must strictly adhere to court-confidentiality requirements, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees, computer-security policy, social-media policy, and other court policies. The selected candidate will be subject to a FBI background check, via fingerprint analysis, as a condition of employment, and may be subject to periodic updates.

 

COMPENSATION

Compensation and classification level will be set based on the work experience, qualifications, and salary history of the successful candidate. To qualify at CL 22, applicants must have a high-school diploma or equivalent. 

 

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Consideration will be given to those who apply through the court’s online applicant tracking system by March 24, 2025 (incomplete applications will not be considered). 

 

Qualified candidates should submit the following:

 

  • A cover letter, which includes the following:
    • Why you are interested in the internship and what experience do you hope to gain?
  • A resume, which includes dates of education
  • The name of a college professor (in area of your academic concentration) willing to provide a character reference.

 

To view openings and to apply, visit our applicant tracking system at: ILND Jobs

 

Due to the volume of applications received, the Court will only communicate with those applicants who will be interviewed. Applicants selected for interviews will be communicated to only through email and must travel at their own expense and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. Applicants will be screened to determine their experience and qualifications. 

 

All new employees must be fully vaccinated (i.e., at least 2 weeks after last dose) for COVID-19 and, prior to the starting with the Clerk’s Office, present proof of vaccination or submit a request in writing for an exemption to this requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief or medical condition. 

 

The United States District Court requires employees to follow the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Reference checks with current and former employers will be conducted. Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. A preliminary background investigation with law enforcement agencies, including fingerprint and criminal record check will be conducted as a condition of employment. Unsatisfactory results may result in termination of employment. The selected candidate will be subject to an FBI fingerprint check as a condition of employment and may be subject to periodic updates. 

 

Direct deposit is required for payment of compensation for employees. Employees of the District Court, Northern District of Illinois are excepted service appointments. Employees are considered at-will and are not covered by federal civil service classifications or regulations. The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

 

To be eligible for employment, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

  1. U.S. citizen;
  2. Person who owes allegiance to the U.S. (i.e., nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands);
  3. Person admitted as a refugee or granted asylum who has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
  4. Lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) who is seeking citizenship. A lawful permanent resident "seeking citizenship": 
    1. May not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen);
    2. Must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible; and
    3. Must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application).

 

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

 

The Northern District of Illinois is home to the five largest cities in Illinois: Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, and Naperville. Also known as “The Windy City,” Chicago is the third most populous city in the U.S. with nearly 2.7 million inhabitants and approximately 10 million people living in the Chicago metropolitan area. With Lake Michigan as its eastern border, Chicago covers more than 237 square miles. 

 

Chicago is home to numerous museums and cultural institutions including Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium. A center of art and culture, Chicago has over 200 theaters, nearly 200 art galleries, and more than 7,300 restaurants. 

 

Known for its magnificent skyline, Chicago is home to buildings designed by some of the world’s most renowned architects including Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mies van der Rohe, who designed the Dirksen Courthouse. 

 

Major Chicago universities include University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University, University of Illinois Chicago, DePaul University and Illinois Institute of Technology. Professional Chicago sports teams include the Bulls (NBA), Sky (WNBA), Bears (NFL), Cubs (MLB), White Sox (MLB), Fire (MLS), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), and Red Stars (NWSL). Chicago is a major world finance center. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are within blocks of the Courthouse. The Northern District of Illinois is home to three international airports including O’Hare International Airport, among the busiest airports in the world.