Extern Program US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Office of Federal Sector

The Office of Federal Sector (OFS) ensures equality of opportunity within the federal government through its oversight function and by vigorously enforcing, through our regulatory and adjudicatory authority, federal legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment by government agencies. The office is composed of three units, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

• Attorneys in the Appellate Review Program (ARP) review the administrative record in employment discrimination appeals from federal employees, conduct extensive legal research and write appellate decisions on behalf of the Commission.
• Attorneys and EEO Specialists in the Federal Sector Program (FSP) have oversight responsibility for federal agencies' equal employment opportunity programs nationwide. They provide technical assistance and program, policy and legal guidance and expertise to EEOC stakeholders. They also conduct special EEO investigations, and perform legal research and writing for the quarterly EEO Digest.
• Attorneys and Staff in the Compliance and Control Division have the responsibility for receiving, docketing, acknowledging, and scanning appeals, petitions, and requests for reconsideration.  In addition, CCD is responsible for scanning and processing all incoming and outgoing correspondence, for updating the OFS data base, for maintaining and storing all appeal files, and for monitoring agency compliance with decisions and orders issued by OFS.  CCD also collects and compiles OFS performance statistical data on the performance of the office and publishes quarterly and annual production reports.

Legal Externships: OFS externs assist in researching and drafting appellate decisions, preparing legal memoranda on various EEO issues, providing technical assistance and guidance to federal agencies and EEOC stakeholders, monitoring compliance with OFS decisions, drafting EEO Digest summaries, and researching special topics in EEO law. Externs also complete a comprehensive research project on a topic of current interest. Externs attend numerous training programs, including agency wide and internal brown bag presentations.

Positions Available & Work Requirements: The office has multiple vacancies for unpaid externships available during the summer or spring semester. Summer positions require at least a 10 week full-time commitment, although OFS may accept shorter-term arrangements at its discretion.  Academic year externships require a commitment of at least 15 hours per week. Applicants must have strong analytical, research and writing skills, and should have a demonstrated interest in discrimination, civil rights and/or public interest law.

Application Requirements & Deadlines: Interested students should e-mail a cover letter, resume and short (5-7 page) writing sample to OFS Externships@eeoc.gov. Summer externship applications are due on or before October 31. Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered at OFS’s discretion and all resumes will be considered on a rolling basis until filled. Academic year externships are considered on a rolling basis until filled.

College/Graduate School Externships: College Sophomores-Graduate Students.  Students with knowledge or interest in diversity, equal employment, statistics, website and database design & support, social science research and who are willing to learn how their skills may be relevant in advanced topics in federal anti-discrimination laws. 

Overview:  The externships are designed to give students at the secondary and post-secondary levels the opportunity to gain hands on experience in working on challenging projects principally involving issues linked to federal employment discrimination.  Externs work closely with experienced attorneys and specialists on a variety of diverse projects.

Externs may assist in preparing case files and maintaining databases for federal sector appeals, creating and preparing other documents and records, and aggregating information regarding federal agency EEO programs. Externs also attend numerous training programs, including agency-wide and internal brown bag presentations. Some of this research may include statistical and economic based analyses so students with majors in these areas are encouraged to apply.

Application: Please submit a resume together with cover letter, and writing sample or other work product which demonstrates aptitude for the position applied for, and dates available to OFSExternships@eeoc.gov. Extern positions during the academic year are open until filled.  Applications for summer positions are due on or before April 30.