Summer Legal Internships for Undergraduates: A Comprehensive Guide

For undergraduates considering a future in law, summer legal internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain practical experience, explore different areas of law, and build a professional network. These internships provide a glimpse into the day-to-day realities of legal work, helping students make informed decisions about their career paths. This article explores the landscape of summer legal internships for undergraduates, highlighting various opportunities and providing guidance on how to secure a coveted position.

Exploring Legal Internships: Avenues for Undergraduate Students

Several avenues exist for undergraduates seeking legal internships, each offering unique experiences and focusing on different aspects of the legal field.

Government Agencies

The Attorney General’s Office: Both fall and spring semesters, the Attorney General’s Office offers legal internships. Interns are accepted on a case-by-case basis depending on the needs and requests of individual divisions. The internship program is designed for students currently enrolled in law school. Individuals who have completed law school are not eligible for this program. The Legal Intern Coordinator will review your application materials and forward them to appropriate divisions for their review. The divisions will determine if they can accommodate your request and will notify you directly if you are selected for an interview.

Department of Justice (DOJ): The DOJ offers the Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP), a competitive and compensated program specifically designed for law students. While primarily aimed at law students, exposure to the Department of Justice can be invaluable. Law students who participate in the SLIP benefit from an exceptional legal experience and invaluable exposure to the Department of Justice. Interns come from a wide range of law schools throughout the country. Law students who have completed at least one full semester of legal study by the application deadline are eligible to apply. Most successful applicants intern the summer between their second and third year of law school; however, graduating law students who will enter an honors program eligibility-preserving activity may intern following graduation. Part-time law students are also eligible to apply. The online status will also show which component(s) selected the candidate in the "Selected By" column. Due to space constraints, a code is used for each component. Interviews are virtual. Components independently contact SLIP candidates to schedule interviews. If you are selected for an interview, see the list of component contacts and component-specific requirements.

District Attorney's Offices: Interning at a district attorney's office provides a firsthand look at criminal law.

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Public Defender's Offices: Interning at a public defender's office offers exposure to criminal law from a defense perspective.

Other Local, State, or Federal Agencies: These agencies can provide valuable experience in various legal fields.

Legal Aid Societies

The Legal Aid Society: The Legal Aid Society offers exceptional legal internships in the Civil, Criminal and Juvenile Rights Practices. The Legal Aid Society offers students the opportunity to work directly with attorneys, paralegals, investigators and staff on client cases. The Legal Aid Society offers undergraduate internship opportunities based on unit need. All internships are unpaid positions. Interns who meet the eligibility criteria have an opportunity to receive a $1,000 stipend from the Howard Rossbach fund. The Stipend was established in memory of Judge J. Howard Rossbach, Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society (1950-1952, 1953-1955), whose mentorship encouraged young lawyers’ dedication to civic engagement through legal aid. The J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, awarded through a lottery system, aims to support 4-5 interns annually who demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internship at The Legal Aid Society. To be eligible for the Summer 2024 award, please submit your form by April 1st. To be considered for the J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, simultaneously fill out the J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend Form during the submission of your internship application. Only one application per applicant per year is permitted. If more than 4 or 5 applicants are eligible, then recipients will be selected by lottery. Please do not submit multiple forms even if you are applying for multiple internships. Selected interns will be notified prior to the start of their internships. Selected interns are chosen on a rolling basis.

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): NYLAG offers a wide array of internship opportunities across various legal units. These include:

Community Access Programs Intern: Interns may assist across all the Community Access Programs but primarily serve the Mobile Legal Help Center project. The Mobile Legal Help Center helps New Yorkers in need of legal help to overcome obstacles such as geographic isolation, health and mobility issues, and childcare concerns. Interns with Community Access Programs will help staff the van weekly (dependent on COVID protocols in place at any given time) and conduct intakes in all areas of law that NYLAG practices.
Consumer Protection Unit Intern: Interns will have the opportunity to represent clients in court, negotiate with opposing counsel, and argue before a judge. The legal intern will appear in court in defense of debt collection actions (under attorney supervision), perform legal research, draft motion papers, create legal self-help and reference materials, work directly with clients, conduct client intakes, and more. Some light administrative work is expected, such as entering client data into our client database.
Foreclosure Prevention Project Intern: Intern responsibilities include: virtual and in-person client intakes and interviews at foreclosure clinics on Long Island and the five boroughs, attending settlement conferences and court appearances, conducting legal research, submitting mortgage modification applications, and other homeowner program applications needed to avoid foreclosure. Strong preference for fluent Spanish speakers.
Taxi Advocacy Project Intern: Based on experience, interns may be tasked with conducting intakes, working with clients, and/or general administrative work to support the Consumer Protection Unit. Depending on interest, these interns will also have the opportunity to support the Foreclosure Project and to attend court. This is not a remote position. Students need to be available to travel throughout the five boroughs for various offsite matters.
Volunteer Lawyer for a Day (VLFD) Intern: This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a client and appear before a judge in a supervised single-day program. Cases are in Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. This project is open to both law students and lawyers.
Domestic Violence Law Unit, Law School Intern: Legal interns will assist petitioners with orders of protection through the Family Offense Project (FOP) in Family Court, and will work on a variety of matters on their supervising attorney(s)’ docket including contested and uncontested divorces, custody and visitation, spousal and child support, and immigration matters under the Violence Against Women Act.
Employment Law Intern: Intern responsibilities will include: client interviewing, legal research and writing, and drafting demand letters and complaints.
Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program Intern: The intern will do intake, counseling, case investigation, and legal research, draft legal memoranda, medical affidavits and testimony, and represent client at a Fair Hearing or in other administrative advocacy. The intern may also participate in coalitions engaged in policy and legislative advocacy, prepare materials for and conduct legal education presentations for consumers, and develop materials for nyhealthaccess.org.
Immigration Legal Intern: Interns also have the opportunity to be involved in community outreach and other project-based initiatives.
Special Litigation Unit Intern: SLU interns will conduct legal research and factual investigation, interview and advocate on behalf of class members, draft legal memoranda and court documents, and assist with motion practice and discovery in pending lawsuits. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend court proceedings and/or case-related strategy meetings and conferences.
LGBTQ Law Project Intern: Intern responsibilities will include working directly with clients; intake; client interviews; maintaining and updating client files; legal research; and drafting and filing court and client documents.
LegalHealth Unit Intern: Operating a community-based model, LegalHealth staff meet their clients on site at the hospitals and community-based medical centers where those clients are are comfortable and have existing support.
Advance Planning Practice Intern: Interns will work with an attorney to intake new clients; screen for legal capacity; prepare documents such as powers of attorney, health care proxies and wills; and compose guardianship petitions in appropriate cases. We regularly conduct home visits for clients who are physically unable to travel to our offices.
Elder Law Intern: Interns will gain a familiarity with public health insurance options and appeals; long term care in the home; the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts for disabled individuals; and many planning documents, including powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, and last wills and testaments.
Health Law Intern: An intern in the Health Law Practice will conduct phone intakes, advocate with government agencies to assist clients secure health insurance related benefits/services, conduct legal research, and support attorneys/paralegals in the Health Law practice.
Veterans Practice Intern: Interns will become familiar with the eligibility, procedural, and evidentiary requirements for VA disability benefit claims and DOD discharge upgrades. Interns will have the opportunity to work on applications and appeals by gathering and reviewing evidence, drafting legal briefs and memoranda, and communicating directly with veteran clients.
Special Education Intern: Special Education interns will address such matters as the adequacy of child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), the appropriateness of child’s school placement, and a child’s need for related services, such as speech and language therapy.
Tenants’ Rights Intern: Interns will accompany attorneys to Housing Court appearances on a regular basis and participate in negotiations with opposing counsel to settle cases. Interns will also engage in affirmative litigation to assert tenants’ rights under rent stabilization laws and to ensure tenants’ apartments are safe and habitable. Finally, interns will work on administrative law matters to help clients resolve issues with public housing, help seniors and/or disabled tenants freeze their rent, and resolve problems with housing subsidies.
NYCHA Defense Team Intern: NYCHA Defense Team interns will get hands-on experience conducting every aspect of eviction defense litigation, including client intake interviews, engaging in deadline-sensitive research, second-chairing termination hearings, and drafting closing memorandums of law and Housing Court motions (and, if the intern is ready, arguing motions in court). Interns will accompany attorneys to Housing Court and OIH appearances on a regular basis and participate in negotiations with opposing counsel to settle cases.
Volunteer Program Intern: This intern will be assigned a variety of administrative tasks and assignments that may include special events assistance, data entry, data management projects, organizing files, creative projects, and research. This intern will have the opportunity to support NYLAG as we relaunch our Language Access Volunteer program.

Law Firms

Many law firms offer internships to assist with legal research and administrative tasks as well as gain exposure to different practice areas.

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Corporate Legal Departments

Large corporations with in-house legal teams sometimes offer internships for pre-law students to gain insight into corporate law and compliance.

Courts and Judicial Chambers

Interning with a court or a judge’s chambers can provide hands-on experience in the legal system.

Nonprofit Legal Organizations

Legal nonprofits and public interest organizations offer internships for pre-law students to work on public policy issues.

Legal Services Center (LSC) of Harvard Law School: LSC accepts applications from law student and undergraduate candidates to serve as interns during the summer. Undergraduate interns experience a range of opportunities supporting Clinical Instructors and law student interns with client cases, and engaging in independent work on behalf of clients. Our summer program is also structured to include multiple learning and training opportunities, including weekly speaker events, ethics training, community partner site visits and guest presenters. Undergraduate Summer Internship Positions LSC also welcomes college students and recent college graduates to apply for summer internship positions. These positions entail assisting clinical professors and instructors, legal fellows, and law student interns in representing and advising low-income clients in one or several substantive areas of public interest law practice. Tasks typically include assisting with or conducting: client intakes, legal research, court records searches and filings, client correspondence, case memoranda, and record keeping. Undergraduate interns are invited to attend all of the LSC summer internship programming and events. Clinics accepting applications for undergraduate/recent graduate internships are: Housing Law Clinic (Medical-Legal Partnership). LSC has a strong track record of successfully sponsoring applicants for public interest fellowships. We encourage potential applicants to contact us as early as possible in the fellowship cycle process. Decisions about sponsorships are made on a rolling basis.

Volunteer Opportunities

Search for volunteer opportunities related to your areas of interest via VolunteerMatch.

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Securing a Summer Legal Internship: A Strategic Approach

Landing a summer legal internship requires a proactive and strategic approach. Here's a breakdown of key steps:

Early Planning and Research: Begin your search well in advance, ideally several months before the summer. Research different organizations and identify those that align with your interests and career goals. Pay attention to application deadlines and specific requirements.
Crafting a Compelling Application: Your application is your first impression. Ensure your resume and cover letter are tailored to each specific internship. Highlight relevant coursework, skills (such as research, writing, and communication), and any previous experiences that demonstrate your interest in law.
Networking: Networking can significantly increase your chances of landing an internship. Attend law school fairs, career events, and connect with legal professionals on LinkedIn. Informational interviews can provide valuable insights and potential leads.
The Interview: If you are selected for an interview, prepare thoroughly. Research the organization and the interviewer. Be ready to discuss your interests, skills, and career goals. Practice answering common interview questions and prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

The Value of Summer Legal Internships: Benefits for Undergraduates

Summer legal internships offer a multitude of benefits for undergraduates considering a career in law:

Practical Experience: Internships provide hands-on experience in legal research, writing, case preparation, and client interaction.
Career Exploration: Internships allow students to explore different areas of law and determine their areas of interest.
Skill Development: Interns develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
Networking Opportunities: Internships provide opportunities to build relationships with legal professionals and expand your network.
Resume Enhancement: A legal internship significantly enhances your resume and makes you a more competitive applicant for law school and future legal positions.

Additional Resources

The Pre-Law Project (USC): The Pre-Law Project is a program under JEP that is committed to providing all USC students interested in law careers with real legal experiences. The goal is to provide these opportunities so that students can explore the field of law before ever making the decision to apply to law school. By partnering with public interest law firms and civil rights organizations, students are able to secure law-related internships of a variety of commitment levels.
Pathway Programs to Law School: Pathway programs to law school are designed to help undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds prepare for and gain admission to law school.

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