Pursuing an internship as an undergraduate law student can be an incredible opportunity to explore different areas of the law to discover what you want to pursue, build connections in the legal field, or get your foot in the door at a specific firm. It’s a mutually beneficial experience that can help the internee develop their skills while providing the firm with valuable extra help. If you’re looking to pursue an internship, here are some tips for finding and securing your position.
Do Your Research
The most important initial aspect is to find out where you would like to pursue an internship. If there is a specific area of the law in which you are interested, look into firms that specialize in that area and see if they have any openings. Also, be sure to consult with your professors or any law professionals in your network to see if they may know of any opportunities that are available. Also consider sending inquiries to smaller law firms, as many of them desperately need help, and may even be able to offer you a more personalized or flexible experience than a large firm would.
Be Prepared
Once you have completed the preliminary survey of your options, you should prepare your CV and reach out to your references. Send it out to any firms that are open to taking on an intern, or that you think could be interested. If you get an interview, be sure to review common interview questions and memorize or write down any questions you have for them, such as what a typical day would be like and if you’ll be working with a specific person. When the interview concludes it is considered polite to send a thank-you note to your interviewer within 24 hours.
If your interview doesn’t go as planned or the firm you wanted decides to go a different direction, don’t be discouraged. There are many different firms looking for candidates and it may take work to find the one that is the best fit for you. Consider looking into firms that specialize in different areas of the law. An internship can be an incredible opportunity that can greatly advance your career in the long run, so keep trying if it’s something you’re looking to pursue.