Legal Extern, ODC

District of Columbia Bar • Washington, DC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) investigates allegations of unethical conduct against attorneys licensed in the District of Columbia. This position will support and be supervised by an attorney in ODC’s litigation division. The student must be enrolled in a for-credit externship program. The position is expected to begin July 2026 and run through September 2026. This is an hourly position working up to 20 hours per week. The ODC will review and sign contracts necessary for course credit. This is an unpaid position.

Requirements

• Successfully completed at least one year of undergraduate coursework.
• Successfully completed a university-level textual analysis and writing course.
• Record of academic accomplishment.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Pro.
• Effectively communicates verbally and in writing.
• Works well in a team environment and interacts professionally with staff, hearing committees, witnesses, opposing counsel, the Board on Professional Responsibility, the courts, and the public.
• Successfully works in a fast-paced environment with the ability to manage competing priorities to meet deadlines consistently.
• Must work well under pressure, possess excellent time-management and organization abilities, and successfully manage daily tasks.
• Must be adaptable, creative, detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and self-motivated.
• Able to handle and maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Conducts in-depth research on various legal issues, case law, statutes, and regulations. Externs often summarize their findings in memoranda.
• Assists in preparing legal documents, such as motions, pleadings, charging documents, and briefs. Externs may also draft correspondence and other legal writings.
• Participates in witness and respondent interviews, gathers facts, and helps prepare witnesses for hearing appearances.
• Observes hearings and oral arguments. Externs often take notes and are expected to discuss the cases with their supervising attorney.
• Assists with organizing and managing electronic and paper case files, including hearing exhibits.
• Participates in meetings with experts, witnesses, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.
• Performs administrative duties related to case management, such as filing, photocopying, and organizing documents.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed