Law School Recruiting

The Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) offers opportunities for qualified candidates in summer and term-time externships. Ideal candidates will have strong academic credentials, an interest in public service, and demonstrated research and writing ability. Maturity, professionalism, and a positive attitude are essential components for success in the program.

For the summer program, approximately 25 positions traditionally are available for students who have completed their first and/or second years of law school. The majority of openings are with OGC agency legal offices in Harrisburg with very limited positions available in Pittsburgh (up to 4), the Philadelphia area (3), and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1). Positions are based on a full-time 37.5 hour work week. More limited opportunities are available during the academic term, mostly in Harrisburg.

The 2023 Summer Legal Extern Program will be a hybrid program, with both in-person and virtual work days. However, the ultimate format of the program will be dependent on circumstances and agency policy at the time the program begins. The 2023 Summer Legal Externships will be paid positions without benefits. Students also should consult their institutions to determine the amount of school credit, if desired, they may receive for completing an OGC externship opportunity. Successful candidates will be working in the Offices of Chief Counsel for the various agencies served by OGC and will be performing work that is typical of entry-level OGC lawyers, with an emphasis on legal research and writing, under the supervision and guidance of experienced OGC attorneys. You will find more detailed information about the agencies OGC serves under our webpage's Services To Agencies tab and by clicking on the Agencies Served by OGC link.

The 2023 Summer Legal Extern Program will be conducted over nine (9) weeks, beginning May 30 and concluding July 28. Virtual interviews for students will be scheduled in February 2023.

Applications are accepted through your law school’s career services office or its Symplicity or 12Twenty website. Application materials should include a cover letter, resume, transcript and writing sample (10 pages or less) If you attend a law school where OGC has not been scheduled for interviews through the career services office, please submit your application materials to ogcic@pa.gov for consideration of an interview. The deadline to apply for the 2023 Summer Legal Extern Program is January 31, 2023.

Past Summer Legal Extern Program Student Comments

"This is a great program to challenge yourself, be exposed to various types of law, and meet excellent attorneys in the field you may want to enter." – K. Boswell, Penn State 2023

"The program provides a great opportunity to experience different practice areas and network within the OGC. If you are interested in working for the government upon passing the bar, there is unlikely to be a better program for you." – M. Merten, Dickinson 2023

"This externship is invaluable for real-world experience working in the public sector. It is often told that the legal field can be extremely competitive and even hostile but working at OGC exposes you to an incredibly friendly and collaborative work environment." – R. Rodi, Widener Commonwealth 2024

"The OGC externship program gave me the opportunity to do meaningful and interesting work with attorneys who are passionate about their service with the Commonwealth. Throughout my time with OGC, I experienced firsthand the wide variety of legal areas in which Commonwealth attorneys specialize. I attended depositions, watched the attorneys counsel their clients, worked on a variety of interesting legal memos, drafted court documents, and even went on a few field trips with agency clients. I really feel that it's the attorneys that make this externship unique. Commonwealth attorneys love their jobs, and this translates to a positive and upbeat work environment. Everyone I interacted with was kind and willing to talk to me, even though they themselves were very busy. I'm happy I chose the OGC externship, and I feel that I'll become a better lawyer because of it." – L. Kanavy, Duquesne 2023

"Throughout the summer, my work substantively contributed to the resolution of real cases and disputes. I also had incredible opportunities to attend hearings, Commonwealth Court cases, settlement agreements, and depositions. This experience would make anyone more prepared to enter the legal profession." – M. Gentile, Catholic University 2024