DOJ Refines Online Apps for Honors and Intern Programs
Published Date: 5/15/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Justice wants to improve how law students apply online for the Attorney General's Honors and Summer Law Intern Programs. They’re asking for public feedback on their electronic application process to make it easier and faster, with comments open until July 14, 2026. This update affects law students applying for these programs but won’t cost anyone extra money.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
DOJ Moves Application In‑House
The Department of Justice replaced a vendor-run online application with a DOJ-developed in-house electronic application for the Attorney General's Honors Program and the Summer Law Intern Program. DOJ says this change is intended to make applying easier and faster and that there is no impact on public burden; public comments are accepted through July 14, 2026.
Application Removes Several Questions
The electronic application will delete specific questions: geographic preference; a checklist of practice area interests; two undergraduate awards checkboxes; a SLIP-Pathways-only yes/no question asking whether the law school transcript listed failing grades; and voluntary demographic questions. All other applicant questions remain unchanged.
Applicants Spend ~1.75 Hours; Total 3425 Hours
DOJ estimates about 1,900 candidates apply each year and that the electronic application takes about 1 hour to complete plus 45 minutes to gather and review information (1.75 hours total). About 600 Honors Program applicants will also complete a Virtual Interview Scheduling form that takes about 10 minutes, resulting in a total annual burden of 3,425 hours.
Applying Is Voluntary for Individuals
The affected public is individuals (law student candidates) and the obligation to respond is voluntary. Candidates are not required to apply.
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