Law Clerk
This program is available to current law school students who expect to complete their degree by June 2025, full-time graduate students in their final year of study in a program that began immediately upon completion of law school and who have not yet been admitted to the bar, and December 2024 law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar. Successful completion of the J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school will be required to begin the program.
FHFA is seeking candidates as participants in the agency's Legal Honors program. Under the supervision of senior legal staff, the Law Clerk will conduct legal research; draft legal opinions, regulations, regulatory guidance, and other documents; interpret federal statutes and regulations; provide legal advice; and represent FHFA related to all aspects of FHFA's operations.
Office of General Counsel Overview
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) interprets federal statutes and provides legal advice and representation to every office in FHFA regarding all aspects of FHFA's activities and operations.
The law clerk will work on assignments from each of the three branches within OGC:
- Mission Branch supports FHFA's activities as supervisor and regulator of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Office of Finance, including with respect to safety and soundness, charter compliance, executive compensation, and their housing and community investment missions; as conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; and as a member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council. Also supports the agency's legislative activities.
- Administrative Law and ADEO Branch provides overall direction, coordination, leadership, and representation on ethics, procurement and contracts, employment, trademark, mortgage fraud, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, data, research, and statistics and other administrative law matters.
- Enforcement & Compliance Branch supports FHFA's administrative actions to enforce compliance by its regulated entities with applicable laws, regulations, Agency decisions, and safe and sound practices.
- Litigation Branch provides oversight of litigation related to FHFA.
Major Duties & Responsibilities
General Duties
- Analyzes issues, conducts research, and prepares memoranda for senior attorneys on a wide variety of legal issues.
- Develops, drafts, and/or reviews documents such as legal opinions, regulations, policies, guidance, and related documents, legislation, contracts and other agreements, correspondence, pleadings, legal briefs, and other documents of importance to the agency.
- Reviews and interprets legislation, regulations, and policy.
- Works as part of a collaborative team with fellow legal staff, support staff, and subject matter experts on issues related to assigned areas of law or policy, including attending meetings with colleagues across FHFA.
- Researches, analyzes, and evaluates legal issues pertaining to FHFA in order to prepare legal documents, reports and memoranda for review, approval, and use by the General Counsel or other senior legal staff.
- Consults various electronic and hardcopy sources, including statutes, regulations, and case law.
- Researches, assembles, and summarizes legislative histories on issues of interest to FHFA staff.
- Performs legal research by utilizing a wide variety of electronic and hardcopy resources including electronic search engines and resources on the Internet. Contacts other regulatory and federal agencies to obtain information relevant to FHFA issues.
- Cite-checks, proofreads, and edits legal opinions and other OGC documents.
- Assists senior attorneys in litigation matters, including conducting research, drafting, and/or reviewing pleadings, and implementing strategies to address emerging challenges.
- Attends meetings with regulated entities and external parties on matters related to assignments, as appropriate.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-11 level includes:
Applicants should possess at least two of the following criteria:
- A record of high academic achievement during law school (e.g., graduated with academic honors, ranked within the top 25% of class, Dean's list, Order of the Coif, or similar academic achievement);
- Legal research and writing experience separate from academic requirements (e.g., serving on a law journal, serving as a research assistant, participation in a writing competition, or similar experience);
- Moot court or mock trial experience;
- Experience with public interest law (e.g., legal internship or externship with a non-profit organization, legal clinic work, or similar experience);
- Legal internship, externship, or clerkship in local, state, or federal government.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
*This posting is intended for candidates that haven't been admitted to the BAR*