The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), is seeking applications for its 2027 Honors Attorney Program. Honors Attorneys at the U.S. Department of Commerce provide legal advice and counsel to help the Department meet its strategic goals in its broad mission to promote U.S. commerce at home and abroad. To be eligible for our next program starting in September/October 2027, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2027 or a recent law school graduate completing a judicial clerkship or fellowship in Summer 2027.

The Department of Commerce’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. Through its 13 bureaus, the Department works to drive U.S. economic competitiveness, strengthen domestic industry, and spur the growth of quality jobs in all communities across the country. The Department serves as the voice of business in the Federal Government, and at the same time, the Department touches and serves every American every day.

OGC provides legal services to the Secretary of Commerce and across the Department’s numerous bureaus and activities. The General Counsel is the chief legal officer for the Department.  The mission of OGC is to have a lasting impact on rules of commerce that revitalize the economy and lay a foundation for sustainable U.S. leadership in a global economy in the 21st century. OGC seeks to be a leader in building a culture of excellence, service, and creative collaboration within its offices and across the Department, providing legal support, strategy, and analysis for a wide range of complex, cutting-edge issues.  Innovation, economic security, and national security are deeply intertwined, and all rely on a resilient domestic industrial base, an effective innovation ecosystem, and strategic global engagement. 

The Honors Attorney Program offers new law graduates and recent law graduates completing judicial clerkships or fellowships a unique opportunity to complete a two-year rotational program before being assigned to a permanent position in one of OGC’s many practice areas. Six-month rotational opportunities will provide each Honors Attorney with substantive and challenging assignments and broad exposure to Commerce’s diverse mission and the work of a Cabinet-level agency. On each rotation, Honors Attorneys will work in one of nearly two dozen programmatic and administrative legal offices, including:

Office of the Deputy General Counsel for Administration: Employment Litigation and Information (ELI) | Ethics Law and Program (ELP) | Legislation and Regulation (L&R) | Transactions and Program Management (TPM) | Office of Accountability (OA): OA is responsible for ensuring that the Department maintains the highest standards of performance and conduct across its 40,000+ person workforce. OA attorneys investigate instances of serious misconduct and poor performance and initiate appropriate corrective action. OA attorneys work on high-profile, sensitive personnel matters that threaten the Department's mission.

Chief Counsel Offices: Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) | Office of the Chief Counsel for Economic Affairs (OCC-EA) | Office of the Chief Counsel of the Economic Development Administration (OCC-EDA) | Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance (OCC-TEC) | Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC-IS) | Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce (OCC-IC) | Office of the Chief Counsel for National Institute of Standards and Technology (OCC-NIST) | Office of the Chief Counsel for National Telecommunications and Information Administration (OCC-NTIA) | Office of the Chief Counsel for Semiconductor Incentives (OCC-SI). 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility is limited to graduating law students and recent law school graduates who entered judicial clerkships, graduate law programs, or qualifying legal fellowships within 9 months of law school graduation. To be eligible for our next program starting in September/October 2027, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2027 or completing a judicial clerkship or fellowship in Summer 2027.

How to Apply

• Provide a cover letter, resume, law school transcript (official or unofficial), and writing sample to [email protected] with the subject line: Honors Attorney Program-[LAST NAME].  
• The application opens on July 27, 2026, and closes on September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• Any questions or requests for an accommodation in order to complete the application should be directed to  [email protected]