BCP's virtual tour

The Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Summer Law Clerk Program

A VIRTUAL TOUR

What is the BCP Summer Law Clerk Program?
The opportunity to:
Work in public service
Gain practical legal research and writing experience
Acquire practical lawyering and litigation skills
Learn about your consumer rights
Experience administrative law first-hand
Enjoy all that the Nation’s Capital has to offer

What does the Bureau of Consumer Protection do, anyway?
We work to protect YOU and millions of other consumers from:
Internet, direct mail, and telemarketing fraud
Invasions of your informational privacy
Deceptive advertising
Predatory and discriminatory lending
Unfair business practices
and SO MUCH MORE!

What is so special about the Bureau of Consumer Protection?
Bright, dedicated attorneys, economists, and investigators who are passionate about helping consumers
Diverse law enforcement and regulatory mandates
A dynamic role in making public policy
Enforcing statutes that impact every consumer in the U.S. every day of the year
A TRULY collegial work environment

What do BCP Summer Law Clerks Do?
Work directly with attorneys and investigators on:
Litigation (district court and administrative)
Investigation
Public Policy Matters

BCP Summer Law Clerks:
Perform legal research
Draft research memoranda and administrative and court pleadings
Interview consumers and draft affidavits
Attend Commission meetings, workshops, hearings, depositions, negotiations, and strategy sessions

BUT WAIT!-- There is more . . .

Special Training Programs
Our Summer Law
Clerk Training
Programs provide
the opportunity
to acquire practical
lawyering skills

Special Training Programs
BCP Law Clerks
participate in:
Deposition training and exercise
BCP “hot topics” series

Deposition Training
Mini-workshop led by experienced BCP litigators on conducting and defending a deposition
Opportunity to conduct a mock deposition with BCP attorneys acting as moderators
Group feedback session with BCP attorney defending your deposition

BCP “Hot-Topics” Series
A series of mini-workshops designed to familiarize law clerks with the work of each of BCP’s six divisions
Opportunities to discuss the issues with lead attorneys and staff in an informal environment

ALL of the SMART people do it.
Your brain after a BCP Summer Clerkship
Your brain before a BCP Summer Clerkship

BUT WAIT!-- There is STILL more . . .

Our location is IDEAL. . .
The Federal Trade Commission is located at 6 th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and at 601 New Jersey Avenue. Just steps from:
The Capitol , White House , Washington Monument , Supreme Court , and Library of Congress
The Museums of the Smithsonian Institution
Theaters , Restaurants , Union Station , and the MCI Center (home to the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics)
METRO (D.C.’s excellent subway system)

Spending your summer at BCP is just more fun

Bureau of Consumer Protection
BCP Summer Law Clerks are assigned to one
of BCP’s six divisions for the entire summer
Division of Advertising Practices
Division of Enforcement
Division of Financial Practices
Division of Marketing Practices
Division of Planning and Information
Division of International Consumer Protection

Division of Advertising Practices
Protects consumers from deceptive and unsubstantiated advertising , ranging from
Internet advertising to
Infomercials to
Fortune 500 companies' advertising
stays on top of privacy issues, especially children's privacy online
confronts novel First Amendment issues

Division of Enforcement
Monitors compliance with Commission cease and desist orders and federal court injunctive orders
Investigates violations of consumer protection laws and litigates before ALJs or U.S. District Courts
Enforces trade laws, rules and guides through administrative or federal court proceedings
Recent Accomplishments:
Obtained TROs against companies that misrepresented the availability of Postal and Wildlife Job Opportunities
Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement from Triad Discount Buying Service, Inc. for allegedly deceptive buying club memberships.
Settled care labeling violations with Jones Apparel Group.
Settled charges with several companies for unsubstantiated engine treatment product claims.

Division of Financial Practices
Protecting online and financial privacy
Investigating subprime and predatory lending practices
Challenging lending discrimination
Regulating credit bureaus , debt collectors , and non-bank lenders

Division of Marketing Practices
Leads the Commission’s
response to fraud, including:
Internet and telecommunications scams
Telemarketing & direct mail fraud
Deceptive spam e-mail
Fraudulent business and work-at-home opportunities
Fraudulent investment opportunities
Through a state-of-the-
art Internet lab, attorneys
and investigators unravel
sophisticated “technology
fraud”and find wrong-doers
who are deceiving
unsuspecting consumers

The Division of Planning and Information
Collects and analyzes consumer complaint information to further all aspects of the Bureau’s mission.
Coordinates the toll-free ID Theft Hotline and the nation’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse.
Provides information and assistance to victims of identity theft.
Partners with law enforcement nationwide to help combat ID theft.
Conducts outreach to industry and law enforcement on ID theft matters and promotes consumer and business education initiatives.
Assists and advices the other BCP divisions on cases involving the bankruptcy of a target company and other issues.

The Division of International Consumer Protection
Coordinates the FTC's international consumer protection work by :
Combating cross-border fraud
We facilitate international information sharing among consumer protection law enforcement;
We assist staff in litigation with an international component
Developing international e-commerce and consumer protection policies, primarily in the areas of jurisdiction, privacy and security

What have previous Law Clerks said about the program?
“ I get to do what I want to do later in life - dealing with new technologies. . . . This is a fun place to work; [it provides] the ability to learn a great deal about the future of the Internet.” Robert Stein, 2L, law clerk (Summer 2000)
“ Every one here loves their job. The attorneys are incredibly passionate about helping consumers and they are excited to share that passion with the law clerks.” Heather Garms, 1L clerk (Summer 2001)

What have previous Law Clerks said about the program?
“ I know that what I am doing really makes a difference for consumers. It is exciting to have the ability to make that kind of impact.” Aaron Tax, 2L law clerk (Summer 2002)
“ If you are looking for an unique opportunity for a fun and challenging learning experience, then the [BCP Summer Law Clerk] program is a great place to apply.” Michael Lohnes, 1L law clerk (Summer 2002)

Interested in Joining Us for Summer 2005? READ ON!

Selection Procedures and Criteria
Admission to the
Program is competitive.
We select approximately
12 first and second year
law students from top
law schools across the
country.

Selection Procedures and Criteria
Selections are based upon:
Interview
Enthusiasm for regulatory/consumer protection issues
Previous work experience
Grades
Writing sample

Apply Now!—Don’t Wait!
Second year law students may apply as soon as possible after August 15. Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis.
Selections for 2L law clerk positions will take place on a rolling basis through November.
First year law students may apply as soon as possible after December 1. Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis.
Selections for 1L law clerk positions will take place on a rolling basis through March.

Apply Now!—Don’t Wait!
Send:
Cover letter
Resume
Writing Sample
Transcript
To:
BCP Summer Law Clerk Committee
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
H-286
Washington, DC 20580
202-326-3392 (fax)

The Federal Trade Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

Thank you for visiting us!

BCP's virtual tour

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