Summer Legal Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position is located in Federal Student Aid, Borrower Defense Branch in Washington, DC & other locations. The Borrower Defense Branch is responsible for investigations and projects that have a substantial impact on students, institutions of higher education, and public interest.

This is an open continuous announcement with cutoff dates. Applications will be referred based on receipt of application and established cutoff dates as follows:

1st cutoff date: 03/13/2026

2nd cutoff date: 04/13/2026

3rd cutoff date: 05/13/2026

Last cutoff date: 05/28/2026

Minimum qualifications requirements for the GS-11:

Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

One year of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

OR 

Second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study; OR

The applicant’s record shows superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following: 

1. Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class; or
2. Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school’s official law review; or
3. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; or
4. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school or in competition with other law schools; or
5. Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation); or
6. Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school; or
7. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-11
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1. Experience applying specific facts to individual cases or applications pursuant to relevant legal standards. 
2. Experience adjudicating claims or applications seeking legal remedies with daily or weekly deadlines.
3. Experience in legal research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).
1.    Skill in legal analysis and legal writing.
2.    Skill in legal research.
3.    Skill in analysis of evidence.
4.    Skill in applying the law to specific facts, cases, or claims

Minimum qualifications requirements for the GS-12:

A. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

B. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school.

AND

Two years of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
1. Experience applying specific facts to complex individual cases or applications pursuant to relevant legal standards. 
2. Experience adjudicating complex claims or applications seeking legal remedies with daily or weekly deadlines.  
3. Experience reviewing and analyzing evidence and conducting legal research. 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Skill in legal analysis and legal writing.
2.    Skill in legal research.
3.    Skill in analysis of evidence.
4.    Skill in applying the law to specific facts, cases, or claims.

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.