Common Obligations of Law Interns
The scope of assignments available for law interns varies depending on the needs of the firm and the training emphasis of the law school. The majority are legal research and writing, with emphasis on paragraph or memorandum length writing.
Common assignments include:
Legal Research
Legal Research is the basic building block of writing an effective and efficient memorandum. Whether your research is to draft a practice guide, respond to a client’s letter or simply to formulate a response to a question posed by one of the attorneys, you should always start by researching the specific law, but then go beyond the basic case law research into law reviews, journals, periodicals and even sometimes the broader Internet legal research. Doing your research in that manner will afford you flexibility in developing your own client’s strategy and you will appear more knowledgeable and competent with an understanding of the broader view. But be forewarned. Be prepared and remember federal and state cases and statutes are only available in the law libraries in hard copy format. In addition, even those states that have made their cases and statutes available online may not have the capability to allow you to update them. In other words, check to see if the law library can provide you with all of the necessary tools for your casework. Make sure you know what materials are available to you and where you can access them — Importance cannot be overemphasized. You are expected to ask lots of questions at your work/study assignment. Your research should include the following resources:
Legal Briefs
The legal briefs you write will generally be in the range of three to six pages. Longer assignments may include an executive summary. Briefs include the essential elements of the issue being addressed, the pertinent law, the holding(s) and the reason(s) for the holding(s). The citation format varies depending on the complex of the subject matter. It is critical to cite correctly to avoid the possibility of the Court thinking you have purposely mislead them or intentionally omitted in your brief any critical elements of the judgment or statute. Incorrect citations will also cause you to have to go back and edit, which can make your original rationale inconsistent with the general conclusions , thereby making your document more difficult to follow. Briefs are generally due in one-day to 72-hour format.
Motions
Motions require an introduction, a statement of facts that clearly sets out the issues and the supporting arguments and a short conclusion. Motions can range in length from one to four pages, although the length may stretch, especially if included in a larger brief on the same case. Motions should focus on one or two very specific issues. If there is more than one issue, discuss them separately in the motion. Be sure to include the cover, index and all other paperwork required by the Rule of Court in the jurisdiction in which you’re filing the motion. Motions are generally due in one-day to 72-hour format.
Petitions
Petitions generally are a difficult writing assignment due to the need to review a plethora of cases and decisions in order to not only establish the background necessary to explain the situation the petitioner is involved in, but also to look into whether any similar circumstances have been addressed by the courts. Unlike motions, which tend to be straight forward, petitions generally contain a wide variety of issues. But they are similar to motions in that you are required to set the issues out in a very clear and concise manner. Although the cover paperwork required for a petition is extensive, it is very important that you carefully follow all of the rules to avoid any potential reasons for the Court to reject the filing or delay action on the petition. Petitions are generally due in one-day to 72-hour format.
Trial Preparation
Your trial preparation will depend on the needs of the attorney(s) you are working for, but will most likely involve some level of organization of exhibits and/or evidence, including any relevant photographs to be submitted. The order in which they need to be assembled will depend on the type of proceeding. In most cases, you will simply need to label each item and make copies for everyone who will be attending. But if you are trying to get a Court to consider something as evidence, make sure you understand the process and the response from opposing counsel who generally are not allowed to interfere with the process unless asked to address the issue. It is critical that you make sure the items are properly marked and organized so when the time comes for them to be introduced there is no question about what they are and why/how they fit into the proceeding.
Abilities Acquired from Law Internships
The diversity of the work done by law interns varies from department to department within a law firm. One law intern may find themselves immersed in depositions while another works in-house and has little to do with depositions at all. No two law internships are exactly alike, but although they have different experiences, there are some core skills that a law intern will learn as they participate in legal proceedings.
Legal Research
A law intern is exposed to legal research from the moment they begin working at a law firm. Legal research is something law interns do almost constantly since it is a part of almost every proceeding they may encounter. Whether researching the geographic boundaries of a jury pool or reviewing the latest case studies for changes in the field of law, legal interns constantly expand their knowledge of the law while honing their research skills through understanding how to analyze and present this information in a way that is useful to the case.
Time Management
Deadlines are a critical element of the legal field, from submitting evidence with a judge to filing court documents. Every assignment comes with a deadline, whether its writing and filing an "of counsel" brief or drafting a motion to dismiss. A law internship teaches participants to manage their time efficiently to meet deadlines. Whether by creating lists to prioritize and manage their tasks, they develop these important organizational skills to prepare them for their careers after law school.
Communication
A law intern has to practice their communication skills constantly, whether they are writing a brief for the court or communicating with a witness or defendant. Communication skills can be positive or negative, and law interns learn when to provide constructive criticism and how to remain neutral, such as with a juror. Law interns also may be asked to perform administrative tasks, such as sorting through mail and filed documents or filling out forms. These tasks help to ensure the law firm runs smoothly and provides invaluable communication skills as interns learn to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds.
Interviewing
The law is concerned with facts, and law interns are routinely tasked with collecting evidence to support their firm’s cases. Law interns learn how to conduct interviews with either witnesses or people involved in the case. Law interns learn the value of discretion when conducting these interviews, as well as how to develop questions to create a clear picture of the situation being discussed.
Attending Hearings and Trials
Attending court hearings and trials is one of the most memorable aspects of a law firm internship. Hearings and trials are not just an opportunity to observe, but law interns can be actively involved in the process. Whether testifying in federal court or sitting with a witness, law interns can have a unique experience within the court system.
Law internships are an opportunity to gain a unique insight into the legal field for law students. From working on high-profile cases to developing essential skills, law internships help legal interns to gain valuable firsthand experience throughout the course of their legal education.
Implications of Law Internships on Career Growth
Law internships offer the opportunity to gain invaluable experience, depending on the organization where the student decides to take the internship. Many law firms spend a fair amount of time in the internship program to introduce interns to the law office, the duties of legal assistants, paralegals, legal secretaries, and attorneys, so that they may further understand the hierarchy. That gives them the influence to tell their story to prospective clients and sell the firm, especially beyond the internship where they get to see how the actual workload is. Interns undertake various tasks characteristic of the daily operation of a law office. Filing, copying, tracking the latest filing deadlines, and learning the e-filing protocols take up most of the intern’s day along with attending court appearances and occasionally visiting law libraries. For those unable to conduct fieldwork, law research can be time consuming because in-house and public libraries also require the interns to memorize the location of essential texts and resources. It is a tough job because it requires interns to get exposed to all aspects of the law office including marketing, administration, and the overwhelming culture of lawyers, paralegals, and legal secretaries. After they obtain a clear understanding of how the office operates, and become more comfortable with specific tasks, the intern remains more receptive to the training necessary to execute more difficult assignments. They usually begin filing documents online to familiarize themselves with the experts’ hands-on ability. Within a brief period, those who perform well are introduced to witness statements, motions, affidavits as they learn how to create a complete legal document. As the level of responsibilities increases, and so does the complexity of the matters interns deal with gradually, they discover what they enjoy doing most in the course of assisting an attorney in filing a lawsuit or preparing for trial. If an intern spares some time, probably on weekends, he or she should read legal publications and attend relevant workshops or conferences. Those who are proactive are also introduced to leaving the office and out-of-the-ordinary experiences. This is where they have the chance to connect with people somber about the law and through networking events that can shape their future. What they secure through networking activities, and the knowledge they acquired during law school and in the course of the internship significantly improves their skill set altogether. The nature of the internship tends to improve an intern’s chances of getting hired upon successful completion of the assignment.
Issues Encountered by Law Interns
Despite having the essentials of training in hand, law interns face several challenges during their tenure. Even after entering the workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to get started, it’s vital that they know they have the capacity to learn new things and succeed in their new environment. Lawyers, especially those with little experience in training interns, may expect them to be an excellent law professional from the start.
However, it’s not always that easy. To really be good at what they do, law interns must put in hours upon hours of practice and experience in their chosen law field. Their duties require a learning process, which can sometimes take months. In addition, law interns are usually required to perform complex tasks, using legal terminology, legal writing and legal research while also demonstrating exceptional communication skills and high standards of professional ethics.
It’s possible that law interns will face high expectations from themselves as well as their colleagues, especially if they happen to work with well-respected professionals . Their mentors can only do so much, so they shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves under pressure. Law interns who don’t meet their expectations may become insecure. However, such is the nature of the profession. There is always room for improvement when it comes to the law. The skills learned in classrooms, textbooks and law lectures will only take them so far, so the only way for them to advance is to just enter the field and see what happens.
Aside from the possible stress and anxiety law interns may face, adjusting to office politics and the social environment of the workplace can be another challenge to face. Every workplace usually has its own culture, meaning that law interns can’t just bring about their own attitudes, behaviors and ways of thinking. They have to fit in and come to terms with the kind of people they would be working with. This might require young lawyers to leave their comfort zone.
Advice for Law Intern Success
Succeeding as a law intern requires more than just fulfilling assigned tasks. It also means contributing to the larger goals of the legal department, supporting your supervisor and colleagues, and developing your own legal knowledge and experience. Here are a few tips for success as a law intern:
Demonstrate professional integrity. When you take on an internship with a legal department, you become part of a profession and the ethical responsibilities associated with it. Follow basic standards of professional behavior, including: respect for confidentiality, honesty in communication with your supervisors and colleagues, and adherence to the department’s ethical culture and prevailing legal standards.
Stay organized. Effective time management and clear organization are critical to success in a law department. Keep track of your assignments, calendar, emails, and deadlines through a system that works for you. You can also help the department stay organized by following processes and procedures that can make the department’s work more productive.
Be a team player. Legal departments run most efficiently when their members can rely on each other’s contributions . Take steps to build a collaborative relationship with your supervisor and reach out to others in the department to find ways that you can assist them or otherwise support their work.
Practice good communication skills. Whether you are talking with your supervisor or others in the department, exhibit professionalism in how you speak and write. Practice professional tone and clarity in your email communications, and think through your message prior to sending, to ensure that it reflects well on you as much as on your teammates. In conversations, listen actively to others’ points of view and respond appropriately. Failure to do so, communicates low maturity levels or lack of initiative, and can undermine your reputation.
Never stop learning. Stay up-to-date on developments in your areas of interest under your supervisors’ guidance. In addition to supervising you, they know the landscape of legal issues in your field far better than you do, so take advantage of their experience and perspective. Some common methods for gaining knowledge include asking them to share what they’ve learned on the job, attending relevant training opportunities, and subscribing to industry publications.