Application Deadline: 11:59 pm on October 31, 2018
This date reflects the 2-week extension granted by the FCC to accommodate all qualified candidates directly or indirectly affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael
The Federal Communications Commission's Attorney Honors Program is a two-year employment and training program designed to introduce selected candidates to the field of communications law and policy. Honors Attorneys quickly gain valuable experience and benefit from a wide variety of learning experiences. Attorneys at the FCC draft decisions in adjudicatory and rulemaking matters, work with internal and external constituencies to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participate in international negotiations, represent the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress and the private sector, and defend FCC decisions in the federal courts. Additionally, Honors Attorneys benefit from a specialized training and career-development curriculum designed specifically for the program.
All positions for the Attorney Honors Program are located at the FCC's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Specific placements within the agency will be based on the participant's interests and experience and the needs of the FCC. Honors Attorneys may have the opportunity to rotate to a new placement within the agency after their first year. At the end of the two-year program, Honors Program attorneys will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.
Selection Criteria
Selection for the Honors Program is highly competitive, and the FCC reviews many facets of a candidate's background, including academic achievement, writing skills, law review and/or moot court experience, clinic or extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest in government service and/or the communications sector.
Eligibility for Fall 2019
You are eligible to apply during the fall application window for the 2019 Attorney Honors Program if you are a:
- Current law student who will graduate in the spring or summer of 2019;
- Graduate law student who will complete your course of study by the summer of 2019;
- Federal, state, or municipal judicial clerk serving during the 2018-19 judicial term.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials in a single email to Honors.Program@fcc.gov: a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the Honors Program, resume, writing sample (preferably not more than 15 pages), current official or unofficial law school transcript, and a list of three professional references (with both phone and email contact information).
- To expedite processing of your application, please save each of the required documents as a separate PDF file, with your last name as part of the file name.
- The subject line of the transmittal email submitting your application should include: "AHP 2019 Application".
- All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Selected applicants may be invited for interviews. While we prefer interviews to be held at the FCC's Headquarters in Washington, D.C., remote interviews are available if travel to Washington, D.C. is a hardship. We typically begin selecting candidates for interviews in October/November, and begin making offers before the end of the year. This tentative timeline is subject to change. Participants who enter the fall 2019 class will be expected to begin their employment with the agency by mid-September 2019.
More Information
- Questions? Consult the Honors Program FAQ sheet or Public Notice.
- Candidates may also direct questions about the Honors Program to Shannon Hyatt at Honors.Program@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1887.
- General information about employment opportunities at the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/jobs-internships
