1. Executive Offices of the President
The Executive Office of the President (EOP) overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, is comprised of offices and agencies that support the policy goals and priorities of the President. Examples of EOP offices are the White House Communications Office and Press Secretary’s Office, the Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council, National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council, Council on Environmental Quality, and Office of Science and Technology.
2. Federal Government
Department of Justice
Among the most well-known federal agencies is the Department of Justice (DOJ), self-proclaimed to be the “nation’s litigator,” which represents the federal government and all its agencies. The Department of Justice, headed by the United States Attorney General, is comprised of numerous divisions, including Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal, Environment and Natural Resources, and Tax. These divisions develop and enforce federal legislation and pursue litigation on issues of national importance. For information about the Department of Justice, including descriptions of all components and of the hiring process, consult the DOJ website. Below are several helpful resources for students interested in applying to summer/permanent positions at the DOJ, including a list of alumni working at the DOJ who have agreed to answer students’ questions about their past or current government positions.
- YLS Alumni Contact List for the U.S. Department of Justice (As of September 2025)
- DOJ Practice Area Chart
United States Attorneys serve as field officers for the DOJ and represent the government in each of the federal judicial districts. In some instances, U.S. Attorneys defend the government and government officials in civil suits or work in conjunction with government agencies to file lawsuits against private individuals or organizations. In other cases, they serve as federal prosecutors, proceeding against individuals for violations of federal law. For more information about the work of a U.S. Attorney, consult CDO’s Criminal Prosecution guide.
Other Executive Branch Agencies
Another avenue for practicing in the federal government is through one of the other executive branch agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, or the Department of Transportation. These agencies employ in-house counsel to handle the legal aspects of their work and often employ attorneys in other capacities as well. In-house attorneys for these agencies assist in developing agency regulations, drafting legislation, monitoring compliance with laws and regulations, representing the agency in administrative hearings, and working with U.S. Attorneys to represent the agency in litigation.
Legislative Branch Positions
Lawyers and law students may also work for the legislative branch. Attorneys work on the staffs of individual senators and representatives, as staff attorneys for both Senate and House committees, and for the House or Senate itself in administrative offices, such as the Office of the Legislative Counsel or the Congressional Research Service. See the CDO guide Working on Capitol Hill for guidance and resources in this area.
Honors Programs and Internships
Many federal government entities have special programs to bring on summer interns and new law graduates. Post-graduate programs are often called “Honors Programs.” You can refer to the Government Honors & Internship Handbook for information on many of these programs (reach out to cdo.law@yale.edu for the password). In addition, NALP publishes the Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide, available on the PSJD website.
3. State Government
State Attorney General
The state’s legal department is headed by the state Attorney General, the chief legal officer of the state. The structure and function of a state Attorney General’s office is determined by the state constitution and law, but there are certain commonalities. Attorneys General act as legal counselors to state government agencies and legislatures and also act as representatives of the people of the state, or the public interest. StateAG.org is a legal research and education website that discusses the role and impact of state attorneys general and provides resources on the basic operations and functions of the office of state attorney general. Information and website links to attorney general offices across the country are available on the National Association of Attorneys General, (NAAG) website. For more information on summer and post graduate positions at these Offices, the American Constitution Society has a robust list of offerings for summer and post graduate positions.
Although state Attorneys General offices vary enormously, the New York State Attorney General’s Office (NYAG) is illustrative of the work of a relatively large office. The NYAG employs over 700 Assistant Attorneys General who work in offices in many locations across New York State. For more information see the NYAG website.
District Attorney Offices
In a typical state, criminal prosecution, other than the exceptional cases that are handled through the state attorney general’s office, are prosecuted by a District Attorney’s office. District Attorneys’ offices may be organized by county or judicial districts and are typically led by an elected or appointed District Attorney. Attorneys who start in these offices are often given a caseload of their own right away to investigate and have the opportunity to try cases early on in their career. See CDO’s Criminal Prosecution guide for more information on this area of practice.
State Agencies
Numerous state agencies also have in-house counsel departments. These departments may work in conjunction with specialist attorneys in the attorney general’s office to bring litigation for the enforcement of state laws and regulations but also provide a close consultative role in the agency. Depending on the agency involved, the agency attorneys may be involved in legislative or rulemaking efforts, administrative hearings, and enforcement actions.
State Legislature
The state legislature employs attorneys in many capacities, similar to the U.S. Congressional structure. Information on the structure of a state’s government and its leaders can be found online through Leadership Connect.
4. Local Government
Cities often have municipal legal departments with city attorneys who provide legal advice to the city leaders, boards, and agencies, and represent the city in litigation and in other transactions. These departments vary enormously in size and structure, depending on the size of the city and their use of outside counsel. The New York City Law Department is a good example of a very large and fully structured city law department. It employs approximately 760 lawyers, divided into 18 legal divisions in all five boroughs. The divisions in such an office are diverse, including real estate litigation, environmental law, family law, affirmative litigation and workers compensation. Visit the NYC Law Department website for more information.
Many large cities also have city agencies with in-house legal departments. This is similar to the in-house counsel in state agencies. Information on a city’s structure and departments can be found online at Leadership Connect.