NOAA GC is a fantastic place to intern to gain experience in agency counseling, litigation, and federal environmental and natural resource law. NOAA is the federal government’s premier ocean, space, and coastal conservation and management agency, and NOAA GC attorneys work to advance that mission. As an intern, you will work closely with NOAA attorneys and staff to address complex and challenging legal issues on important matters concerning our Nation’s oceans and coasts, marine resources, and space and observation systems.
We welcome candidates who are enthusiastic about working for NOAA and are keenly interested in gaining practical experience advising client agencies on the legal aspects of NOAA’s mission. Having a background in government or environmental law is not a prerequisite for an internship.
For more information about NOAA GC, please visit our Career Opportunities page. NOAA GC attorneys work in thirteen legal sections located in Silver Spring, MD, Washington, D.C., and six regional offices around the country. For more information about each section and our headquarters office, please visit our General Counsel Organization page, which has links to each Section.
The sections that currently offer regular internship programs include:
- International Section - Washington, D.C.
- Oceans and Coasts Section - Silver Spring, Maryland
- Alaska Section - Juneau, Alaska
- Natural Resources Section - Various Locations
- Fisheries and Protected Resources Section and Environmental Review and Coordination Section - Silver Spring, Maryland
- Weather, Satellites and Research Section - Silver Spring, Maryland
Overview of internships
As an intern with NOAA GC, you will have opportunities to develop legal skills under the supervision of experienced attorneys. This will include conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and developing written and oral communication skills in settings with attorneys and staff within the agency.
Eligibility and how to apply
Internships are open to current law students pursuing a J.D. or LLM. NOAA GC currently offers only unpaid volunteer internships. We will support interns who receive work-study or other stipends. You may receive credit for an internship with NOAA GC, and we will work with you to complete the necessary paperwork for credit for the successful completion of an internship.
Each section currently conducts its legal internship program independently and has its own internal deadlines and requirements. Students must apply directly to each section in which they have an interest. Although application requirements vary, sections typically request a resume, cover letter, and law school transcript, as well as potentially a writing sample and references. More information on section-specific internships can be found on this page under the heading “Available Internships.”
Most sections have early application deadlines, so interested law students should plan to apply at least four to five months in advance for semester internships and the preceding fall for summer internships.
Available internships
International Section
The International Section, located in Washington, D.C., offers virtual and hybrid summer, fall, and spring internships. In addition to offering internships to current law students pursuing a J.D. or LLM, the International Section also offers unpaid, voluntary internships to law graduates. If interested, please submit inquiries to GCInternationalSection@noaa.gov.
Oceans and Coasts Section
The Oceans and Coasts Section, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers virtual and in-person, full-time summer and part-time fall and spring internships. If interested, please submit inquiries to: Adam Dilts, Section Chief, gcoceansandcoastssection@noaa.gov.
Alaska Section
The Alaska Section, located in Juneau, Alaska, offers virtual and in-person, full-time summer internships. If interested, please submit inquiries to the following email: gcak.intern@noaa.gov, or contact: Molly Watson, Deputy Section Chief, molly.watson@noaa.gov.
Natural Resources Section
The Natural Resources Section, with locations in Seattle, WA, Long Beach, CA, Silver Spring, MD, St. Petersburg, FL, and Gloucester, MA, offers virtual or in-person, full-time internships. If interested, please submit inquiries to: Rachel Ramos, Deputy Section Chief, rachel.ramos@noaa.gov.
Fisheries and Protected Resources Section and Environmental Review and Coordination Section
The Fisheries and Protected Resources Section and the Environmental Review and Coordination Section, both located in Silver Spring, MD, jointly offer full-time summer internship positions (virtual or in-person). Selected interns perform work for both sections. The application period for summer 2025 is closed. If interested in a future internship, please submit inquiries to: Emma Htun, emma.htun@noaa.gov and Grace Bauer, grace.bauer@noaa.gov."
Weather, Satellites, and Research Section
The Weather, Satellites, and Research Section, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers virtual and in-person, full-time summer and part-time semester internships. If interested, please submit inquiries to Kate Bucacink, Attorney-Advisor, kate.bucacink@noaa.gov.
Other Sections
Other sections within NOAA GC periodically offer internships. If you are interested in a particular section or office, contact information for NOAA GC sections can be found under the General Counsel Organization page.