CPT Government Jobs
Government CPT positions span federal agencies, state offices, municipal departments, and public policy organizations, giving students in public administration, political science, economics, law, and related fields hands-on experience that directly satisfies curriculum internship requirements. Because government employers provide offer letters without USCIS paperwork or sponsorship costs, CPT authorization moves quickly once your DSO approves the placement.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Jenner & Block is a law firm with global reach, with more than 500 lawyers and offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm is known for its prominent and successful litigation practice and experience handling sophisticated and high-profile corporate transactions. Firm clients include Fortune 100 companies, large privately held corporations, financial services institutions, emerging companies and venture capital and private equity investors. The American Lawyer magazine has ranked Jenner & Block as the #1 pro bono firm in the United States 13 times, most recently in 2025. The firm has been ranked in the top 10 in this category every year since 1990.
Overview
Jenner & Block knows and appreciates the valuable experience and outstanding skills that former judicial clerks bring to our practice. We regularly attract judicial clerks from the United States Supreme Court, Federal Appellate and District Courts and many state courts. We invite you to explore the possibility of a post-clerkship associate position with our firm. Approximately 40 percent of the lawyers in Jenner & Block’s Litigation Department are former judicial clerks. We are interested in candidates who are looking for:
- Sophisticated Work
- Top-notch training and professional development
- A broad, deep and award-winning commitment to pro bono and public service
- A collegial work environment
- Teamwork, collaboration and strategic thinking
QUALIFICATIONS
Jenner & Block LLP is seeking a post-clerk to join our Washington, DC office in 2026. Qualified applicants must possess a strong analytical ability, excellent oral and written communication skills and superior academic credentials. The ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment is essential. Candidates must be licensed, or currently eligible to become licensed, to practice in the state to which they are applying. Applications must include a resume, law school transcript and writing sample.
- Candidate should be a detail-oriented, independent self-starter with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong academic credentials are required.
- Candidate possesses a strong commitment to pro bono representation.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment is essential.
COMPENSATION
The starting base salary for this position is expected to be $225,000 - $365,000 annually. Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other job-related factors, consistent with applicable law.
INTRODUCTION
Jenner & Block is a law firm with global reach, with more than 500 lawyers and offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The firm is known for its prominent and successful litigation practice and experience handling sophisticated and high-profile corporate transactions. Firm clients include Fortune 100 companies, large privately held corporations, financial services institutions, emerging companies and venture capital and private equity investors. The American Lawyer magazine has ranked Jenner & Block as the #1 pro bono firm in the United States 13 times, most recently in 2025. The firm has been ranked in the top 10 in this category every year since 1990.
Overview
Jenner & Block knows and appreciates the valuable experience and outstanding skills that former judicial clerks bring to our practice. We regularly attract judicial clerks from the United States Supreme Court, Federal Appellate and District Courts and many state courts. We invite you to explore the possibility of a post-clerkship associate position with our firm. Approximately 40 percent of the lawyers in Jenner & Block’s Litigation Department are former judicial clerks. We are interested in candidates who are looking for:
- Sophisticated Work
- Top-notch training and professional development
- A broad, deep and award-winning commitment to pro bono and public service
- A collegial work environment
- Teamwork, collaboration and strategic thinking
QUALIFICATIONS
Jenner & Block LLP is seeking a post-clerk to join our Washington, DC office in 2026. Qualified applicants must possess a strong analytical ability, excellent oral and written communication skills and superior academic credentials. The ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment is essential. Candidates must be licensed, or currently eligible to become licensed, to practice in the state to which they are applying. Applications must include a resume, law school transcript and writing sample.
- Candidate should be a detail-oriented, independent self-starter with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong academic credentials are required.
- Candidate possesses a strong commitment to pro bono representation.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment is essential.
COMPENSATION
The starting base salary for this position is expected to be $225,000 - $365,000 annually. Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other job-related factors, consistent with applicable law.
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Get Access To All JobsGovernment CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
How does government work qualify for CPT authorization?
CPT requires a direct connection between the work and your academic program. Government roles qualify when they align with your major, whether that is policy analysis for a public affairs student, data work for an economics student, or legal research for a pre-law or political science student. Your DSO will review the offer letter and confirm the role ties to a required or elective course in your curriculum before authorizing CPT.
Can I do a government CPT internship part-time while classes are in session?
Yes, and part-time CPT (under 20 hours per week) is the most common arrangement during active semesters. Federal and state agencies frequently structure student internship programs around academic schedules precisely because they recruit from university pipelines. Full-time government CPT is an option during official school breaks. Keep in mind that accumulating 12 or more months of full-time CPT across your program makes you ineligible for OPT, so most students stay part-time during the academic year.
What academic programs most commonly place students in government CPT roles?
Public policy, public administration, political science, economics, international relations, environmental science, computer science, and urban planning are the programs most frequently connected to government CPT placements. Agencies such as the EPA, Department of Transportation, and municipal planning offices regularly work with universities to host students whose coursework maps to agency functions. Your academic advisor or career center can confirm which government roles have been approved for CPT in your program previously.
How do I get CPT authorized for a government position once I have an offer?
The process starts with your employer providing an offer letter that includes your start date, end date, hours per week, job title, and a brief description of duties. You submit this to your DSO along with any required academic forms, such as a department approval or enrollment in a co-op course. Most schools process CPT authorization within a few days to two weeks. There are no USCIS filings and no cost to the government employer, which makes the authorization timeline faster than employer-sponsored visa processes.
Where is the best place to find government CPT internships?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point for F-1 students searching for CPT-eligible government positions, as the platform surfaces roles specifically open to students on F-1 work authorization. Beyond that, university career centers often maintain direct relationships with federal and state agencies through formal internship pipelines. Applying early matters in the government sector because many agencies run structured cohort programs with application windows that close months before the internship start date.
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