What is a Legal Intern?
A legal intern, commonly referred to as a clerk or paralegal, is an individual who provides support to attorneys by performing routine tasks in a law office setting. The position is designed to give volunteer workers the opportunity to receive on-the-job training in a legal capacity and usually spans a short-term period of time, such as during the summer months .
Legal interns can conduct legal research for cases the firm is currently working on, update case files and other paperwork in the office, and communicate directly with clients under supervision to ensure they receive the attention that they need and to ensure they feel secure that they have chosen the right law firm to meet the unique needs they have. Most law firms prefer interns to have at least completed their first year in law school before considering them for an internship opportunity.
Requirements and Work Capabilities
To become a legal intern, a law student or recent graduate must possess a strong academic background from an accredited law school, although ideally some of the required education has been completed on an accelerated timetable. A J.D. degree is generally required for the position, and must come from a school that is recognized by the American Bar Association. A legal intern should also possess a number of vital skills that will allow them to best complete the job functions for which they are responsible. For example, they should have exceptional oral communication skills as well as being a strong written communicator and possessing sharp analytical skills. Legal interns work under the supervision of established attorneys, so an ability to work well with others is essential. An intern also needs to be extremely detail-oriented at all times, requiring a level of care and precision in their work that many other positions simply do not require. It also helps to possess experience with general office equipment such as computers.
Common Responsibilities
A legal intern is often referred to as a student or trainee who is working for a law firm for little or no pay in order to gain relevant career experience. There are a variety of tasks that a legal intern may complete on behalf of the attorneys at a firm, as these tasks encompass general responsibilities for many professionals within the legal scope. Legal interns typically conduct research into laws, statutes, regulations and ordinances that are applicable to specific cases an attorney may be handling. They may draft legal documents that can be used as responses to correspondence, motions, complaints, pleadings, discovery responses, discovery requests, briefs and other types of filings. Sometimes a legal intern will engage with clients of a firm by attending client interviews where applicable, and at times they may attend hearings at which they can observe the proceedings. A legal intern needs to connect information found through research with its practical application to particular cases in the office in which they are working. In addition to these types of duties, a legal intern may be charged with administrative or clerical tasks that include answering phones, data entry, taking messages and filing.
Advantages of Becoming a Legal Intern
A legal internship offers a unique opportunity to learn about the law from a practical, working perspective. For a law student, it is a chance to explore the reality of working in the legal field, all the while providing a valuable learning experience with real-world examples and immediate application of knowledge learned in the classroom. Unlike law school where concepts are taught in the abstract, at a legal internship, you can embrace a problem and obtain first-hand exposure to the process of resolution. The work that you do, although supervised, provides hands-on experience that will help set you apart as a candidate when you are pursuing permanent employment. The rewards of a legal internship are numerous, from simply the value of experience to potential job offers.
Legal internships can also help you build a strong network within the legal community. Your experience provides a basis for working with all departments on an issue, from the marketing department who may need assistance with creating an advertisement to the IT department who may ask about your views on the latest software available to the general counsel who may request your opinion regarding pending litigation. In addition to learning about the law, you can immerse yourself in your chosen industry. Your professional network is built by interacting with other employees who work in your legal area of interest. Be sure to take advantage of your time and develop a rapport with these individuals. They can be a valuable tool for future employment opportunities.
Lastly, many firms hire their interns for full-time employment upon graduation. Some firms expect interns to apply, while others prefer that the students send letters of intent stating their interest in the firm. If a job with the firm is not available, you have a foundation from which to launch your career, all while enjoying the benefits of your degree without the burdens of a million dollars in student loan debt.
Difficulties for a Legal Intern
Like all new interns or junior staff, a legal intern is almost always on a steep learning curve the first few months. While they will have some knowledge of basic legal practices, they will get much of their real and practical legal training with the person or team they are working with. Although they may have had legal concepts and principles explained to them at their law school, it is not until they see them applied and played out before them, that they really begin to understand them. This is why having an efficient, supportive, and friendly team for them to turn to when they have a question is so important . Without this, they are more likely to be confused, lost, or frustrated.
There is always a pressure on a legal intern to help the legal team they are a part of, especially when they are working on a key cases to meet a deadline, or one where an early result may greatly benefit the firm. A new legal intern will often feel concern about facing disappointment or anger from their supervisor if they mess up or fall behind their required workload. Even a minor mistake on a case can have enormous repercussions, so an inexperience legal intern must constantly be on guard for those, and to not let them add up.
Securing a Legal Internship
Done correctly, a legal internship will usually lead to a permanent position as a practicing attorney, although there are no guarantees for any searcher. Typically, law school career services departments pride themselves on a high post-graduate employment rate. Interns may be offered positions with the attorney who supervises them or through an outside referral. Sometimes, that intern will get lucky and hit the right opportunity at the right time.
Law students can find employment opportunities through networking, online sources and postings from their law school or library career offices. They should also check with the U.S. Department of Labor site on legal internships in the Federal government.
Students can visit the office where they want to work and ask for an interview. Many law students have paralegal experience in a specific practice area such as criminal law, family practice, business law or estate planning. Students should also register with temporary staffing agencies like Kelly Law Registry. Through Kathleen Marie Kelly’s leadership, that group has expanded from a regional to international presence.
Sometimes a student’s law school or library research center will participate in a nationwide database that allows each member school to enter its students and regional employers, and each participating employer to request candidates for internship positions. This site is sometimes called a career placement firm. Students should check with their own school’s career services department to see if the law school is a member. ASU and over 130 other law schools participate. The service is called Symplicity which is the most popular among 180 preeminent law schools.
Legal Internships in Various Practice Areas
Legal internships are not exclusive to corporate law or law firms in general. Organizations in a variety of sectors offer them, including human rights organizations that are non-profit. In some cities, such as Cincinnati, Ohio and Albany, New York, there may not be many corporate law firms to provide legal internships.
Law clerkships and volunteer positions may be available at state prisons through the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. Internships might also be available through organizations such as the Ohio Innocence Project and the Juvenile Justice Coalition, both of which are nonprofit organizations based in Cincinnati. The Arch City Defenders organization is accessible to students through summer internships focused on public interests through organizations that work with people in poverty.
Other cities have more corporate law firms but they also offer opportunities through chambers of commerce, attorneys who work with family law, and non-profit groups that help people get citizenship or that work with refugees. Even individuals who attend law school in Canada can intern in the U.S. through these organizations.
Through the Innocence Network, students can apply for fellowships that last for two to three years and that can possibly allow them to gain experience working in an office of defense counsel.
Internships are offered at different points throughout the year. Some may be available to students who have completed their first year, but other opportunities such as summer internships may be open to students who have completed their second year. Non-profit interning opportunities may be offered for the full year or may be offered only during the summer.
I recently chatted with a representative from the National Bar Association about the need for legal interns in underserved areas. He mentioned that there is now a greater demand for attorneys to work in extending areas of corporate law and less need for criminal law attorneys.
Getting Ready for Your Legal Internship
If you have a passion for the law and legal work is something you want to delve into, then a legal internship may be right for you during your college years. It’s a great way to gain an insight into real life law work, as well as an opportunity to build professional relationships. However, getting an internship can be a competitive process, and it’s essential that you get yourself ready to apply for one — or a few.
For starters, what you do is just as important as how you do it. When you’re preparing your application, you need to do all the necessary things to make sure it stands out. Think of it as pretty packaging on a prize gift. Your resume is the wrapping, and you need to make sure it’s in top condition. Top legal intern resumes are ones that demonstrate that the student is truly interested in the job. So, be sure to present all experience concisely and to keep your resume clear and well organized. Law firms are busy places, and your resume must reflect that you have the skills to jump in and move things along without needing much supervision or help .
You also want to make sure you start looking for legal internships early if you are looking to get a legal internship in the summer. Typically, students will apply around December. You will want to begin applying at least a month ahead of your deadline. Research what law firms are in your area and get started on your applications. Go through all of their requirements and create a list of any additional items you need to prepare. Then make sure you set aside time to complete those items.
Finally, you also should think about what your interview will be like, so you know what to expect when the time comes. Some firms may have you interview with a committee, which may include a couple of attorneys and someone from human resources. Others may have you go through an interview with just one person, either an attorney or a human resources individual. Either way a legal internship interview is likely going to be a bit more sophisticated than your every day job interview. Legal folks like to focus on details, so be sure that you are ready to talk through the finer details of your resume and experiences.