Embrace Your Summer: Noteworthy Pre Law Internships for Undergraduates
Pre Law Internships Explained
Pre law internships are quite different than the type of internships one would complete before starting law school. Pre law internships take place while a student is still an undergraduate. They do not have to be after one’s junior year like law school internships. Many pre law internships require students to be in their sophomore or even freshman year of college. Pre law internships are important because they offer students a "sneak peek" into the world of the law. These internships allow students to see first-hand what practicing law is like. They can then decide if they enjoyed their internship and if they want to be an attorney. Many times if will solidify their desire to attend law school. For some , it will be the deciding factor that convinces them to "go law". These types of internships differ from other types of internships in two ways. First, these internships take place while a student is still in college. They will not observe a full fledged legal career. Their job duties will be those of a clerk or a summer associate. Second, law school internships take place when a student is already attending law school. They have taken some law courses and are able to learn about the field of law alongside other law students.
Pre Law Internship Opportunities
One of the most popular summer pre law internships is with a law firm. It will not only give you great experience to add to your resume, but it will also give you many opportunities to network with other lawyers and discover whether you could see yourself working at a large firm for a number of years. Internships with law firms can be found in most major cities.
Another great type of internship is with a government agency or group. You might look into working with your state’s attorney general office, district attorney, or public defender. These positions will pay less than regular law firm internships, but can prove to be even more valuable in the long run, as they will give you substantial exposure to the criminal justice legal system.
Non-profit groups also occasionally seek summer interns. There are thousands of non-profits in cities all across the country. Many larger cities have dedicated bar associations that are non-profit organizations. Also look into doing an internship with organizations that protect the environment, help the poor, or target other issues important to you.
Summer Pre Law Internships and Their Perks
So why is an Internship during the Summer so important? What can you get out of this experience that you can’t get working in the Campus Library or waiting tables? The answer is a tremendous amount. More and more top law schools want to see that their prospective students made the most out of their undergraduate career. Working at the campus coffee shop just isn’t going to cut it. They want to see evidence that you can really "cut the mustard" and that you are truly committed to going to Law School and becoming an attorney. The worst thing you could probably do is spend the entire summer waiting for a response from a law school or studying for the LSAT. It has been my experience that many, if not most schools, will want to see 1 full year of full time work once you’ve graduated and then a few months | year work experience after the bar exam. Your Pre Law Internship can go a long way towards proving you are up for the challenge of law school and what follows it. An Internship over Summer can be a great way to see what areas of law you might enjoy working with and which areas you most likely will not pursue. It can be a way to learn about issues such as Billing | Timekeeping or dealing with Clients. Some of the more notable new practices for new attorneys include 1st Year Associates Billing and Timekeeping. This is not something that is usually taught in Law School and if you have an opportunity to learn this while in school or just after, it will save you years of work that you will have to learn on the job and via trial and error. Of course there is also the networking part that comes along with the territory and any time that you can be in a legal environment, working with lawyers, trembles, secretaries, paralegals and investigators, you’re establishing a network that most are envious of.
How to Secure a Summer Pre Law Internship
Summer is just around the corner. With it brings barbecues, vacations, and for many college students, internship season. Summer is an ideal time for undergraduate students to gain valuable experience as a pre-law student intern, which can give you invaluable skills and awareness in preparing to attend law school.
You do not have to wait until law school to work as a legal intern. In fact, gaining this experience during your undergraduate years is even more valuable because it puts you ahead of the competition when applying and shows schools that you have what it takes to survive the rigors of law school. Securing a summer pre-law internship is relatively simple for undergraduate students if you know where to look and how to apply.
Writing your Resume for Law School Internship Programs If you are an undergraduate law student, then you must craft a resume that sells your skills. This is not easy, as you may have limited experience in the workforce or direct legal job history. Formatting your resume for the needs of law school professors, as potential employers, is different than how you would compose a typical resume.
For law school purposes, you should always include the following sections: Education – Focus on your skills, accomplishments and background in the field of law. Provide information about any paralegal or pre-law programs you have completed or are currently enrolled in, and share relevant elective courses in the legal field. Employment History – Add all past employment and apply dates, even for summer jobs. Include the names of businesses and employers and your personal titles or roles at each. Key Skills & Achievements – If you have written papers, articles, papers or essays , share their contents. These will show that you have a strong command of the English and are prepared for the structure of law school coursework. Include any honors, such as scholarships or awards you may have received. Volunteering – Discuss ways in which you have volunteered in the community. Share active legal roles, such as volunteer positions in legal organizations or opinions that you have written for other groups.
Interviewing for Internships When it comes down to the interview, there is a chance that many students may have similar experience levels. However, the interview is designed to sift through those extra details and determine whether or not you will be a good fit as a pre-law intern candidate.
To prepare for this interview, make sure that you know your resume. Prepare for common law job interview questions such as: What type of law are you most interested in? What excites you about the legal profession? Do you have any legal experience? Do any of your friends or family belong to the legal industry? What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for an internship? What are your long-term goals for working in legal careers?
In addition to preparing for these questions, you have to also research questions to ask the interviewer about the position. This shows that you care, you are committed, and that you are organized. It also shows that you have researched the company enough to know more about its mission and values.
Your chances of attaining a short lived internship while you are an undergraduate pre-law student are likely to be fairly low. However, you may still have some excellent options for a legal internship that can give you a boost in your education. Contact a professional law school advisor for help.
Challenges Associated with Summer Pre Law Internships and How to Solve Them
Several issues routinely arise during pre law internships that can make the experience less than chosen. I invariably encounter the following issues when working with a summer intern:
1. Lack of Knowledge: This is the most obvious problem. Without some knowledge of the law, an intern must have someone explain everything to him or her. People who do not practice law often don’t believe how many "simple things" there are within what might seem familiar. Better yet, individuals who have film or television legal work experience may believe the legal world is as it is portrayed on television- which it is not. Lecturing or educating an intern on the law or process directly takes time away from working on projects, but that doesn’t remove the need.
The Solution
Pre-law students should be told to prepare a presentation packet covering the area(s) of law they will be exposed to during their internship. Book stores sometimes carry guidebooks for interns. If not, Westlaw and Campus bookseller may offer options. Alternatively, schools may provide publications on common legal terms and definitions. The Associate Dean is probably your best source for help. Finally, your state bar association may have Internet training programs on common legal terms and phrases.
2. Ineffective Communication: Often, in order to get an intern to take a more active role in the work process, it is necessary to communicate with the individual’s family members. Sometimes the problem reflects simply being too busy to find the time to decide what assignments the intern can complete. Rather than let him or her "hang" waiting for you to make a decision, delegate some of the decision making to him or her.
The Solution
Supervisors should approach this problem in one of two ways. First, the supervisor should talk to the intern, especially if it seems that he or she has misunderstood work assignments. Finding the root of the confusion often helps resolve the mystery. Second, the supervisor should talk to the family members, explaining that the person who interned doesn’t know how to "fall-out" files, type memos, etc. It’s a learning process like any other job and family members must simply be patient.
3. Unrealistic Expectations: Interns often come in expecting to be given the most glamorous assignments so that they will have a great entry on their resume. Instead, they get assignments they consider busy work that they could have done at any other job. I have heard this multiple times in the last few weeks, particularly from law students who did not have to take their summers off from school. One recent law student said that he had become accustomed to working on high profile, cutting edge cases; his summer assignment was "a joke." There is however, an important learning lesson in "busy work." If you are going to be a baker, you will surely have to wash the dishes even if that is not what you will be doing for the next 20 years. The law is the same way. Students have to learn to "pay their dues" in order to get to the real work. Unless they have their own office, working with a partner or associate lawyer is the only way that they will get the mentorship needed to be successful practitioners. Finally, while there may be no public benefit from "busy work," there is a benefit to the individual. Working on "busy work" helps pre-law undergraduates to understand the role that an attorney assistant’s work is to quality control their own work and the work of others. The individual who does the job correctly and removes the "goof-us" before it reaches the public is the unsung hero.
The Solution
Interns need to know that it is not a requirement that they enjoy every minute of their job. If an intern must love everything he or she is doing, then the person should take a year off before starting law school. There are some people who simply weren’t made to practice law, and both the individual and the profession will be better off if this fact is identified early. Supervisors should give interns the big picture view of tasks including the importance for job fulfillment and the role played in the process.
4. Romantic Interests: Sometimes, despite the fact that I firm advises and warns summer interns to avoid pursuing romantic interests with the firm’s lawyers, this situation develops anyway. Even if you consider the young man to be "a nice boy, " sometimes the "nice boy" doesn’t return the affection. In my experience, a major problem involving romantic interests occurred with an intern and young family member. The real issue was the family member who was not emotionally mature.
The Solution
The only real way to handle this situation is to find another summer position and hope that you can salvage some portion of the relationship.
Effective Strategies for Making the Most of Your Internship
The internship stage affords undergraduate students the chance to gain entry-level experience and, as a reward. Much more, it provides an opportunity for students to distinguish themselves for interviews at higher-ranked law schools. But your internship requires effort and proactivity if you want to receive the maximum benefit.
Make Time for Meetings with Mentors
If you are interning at a legal office or law firm, you should schedule meetings on the firm’s calendar with the attorneys or other legal professionals you are most interested in working with. Though they may be busy, they should accommodate your request for a meeting. Times which are often less busy are Monday mornings, Tuesday through Thursday afternoons, and Friday afternoons. Sit down with your mentor and find out how they got into the profession, and the steps you should take to increase your chances of getting hired at a top-ranked law firm. Some suggestions may include: volunteering or working at the prosecutor’s or public defender’s office; taking a summer class to learn about trial advocacy; or volunteering for a court clinic.
Be Proactive
Neither your mentors nor the firm owe you anything. You may have to perform menial tasks which are not in line with your goals. Try to remain upbeat about these assignments. In return , ask to receive preferred assignments – drafting memoranda, for example. Ask for feedback regularly, particularly after completing a task and after a meeting. Are you doing what is expected of you? Make sure to solicit constructive criticism. Be forthright about your career plans and those who can assist you with networking and career advancement. You may be pleasantly surprised by how many people offer you their assistance.
Reflect on What You’ve Learned
In addition to assessing your career interests, an internship provides the opportunity to explore your aptitude for the field of law. Do you find solace and satisfaction in the day-to-day duties? If so, keep in mind that the best and most successful law firms are those who pay their interns. Successful law offices are likely to offer you a paid position after you pass the bar exam.
This is just a brief overview of a few of the ways to maximize your time during a summer pre law internship.