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 researchDraft research memoranda and

administrative and court pleadingsInterview consumers and draft affidavitsAttend 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.

Seinfeld

SongLyricsFRCPs

Your brain before a BCP Summer Clerkship

Your brain after a BCP Summer Clerkship

Legal Skills

ConsumerstatutesSocial/WorkskillsFRCPs

BUT WAIT!--

There is STILL more . . .

Our location is IDEAL. . .

The Federal Trade Commission is located at 6th 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

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100

fun percentage

other gov't agencylaw firmBCP

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 fromInternet advertising to Infomercials toFortune 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 discriminationRegulating 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!