Summer Pre-Law Internships for Undergraduates: A Comprehensive Guide

For undergraduates considering a career in law, summer internships offer invaluable exposure to the legal profession. These internships provide a glimpse into the day-to-day realities of working in law and help students develop crucial skills and build professional networks. This article explores a variety of summer pre-law internship opportunities available to undergraduates, encompassing law firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more.

The Value of Pre-Law Internships

A summer internship can provide a clear look at what working in the legal field is really like. You might find yourself helping with research, sitting in on trials, or observing how lawyers prepare for meetings with clients. These experiences help you understand the day-to-day realities of the profession and the wide range of roles within it.

Pre-law internships are practical because they give you skills you can’t always get in the classroom, like writing research memos, analyzing case materials, or seeing how courtroom dynamics play out in real time. They also put you in contact with lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals who can share advice and possibly serve as mentors later on.

For students who plan to apply to law school, these internships can strengthen your application by showing that you’ve explored the field seriously and tested your interest in it. They also give you stories and experiences to draw on in personal statements or interviews.

Internship Opportunities

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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Burr & Forman Pre-Law Program: This paid, in-person program is open to college juniors and seniors with a demonstrated interest in law school. Interns spend a month working at one of the firm’s offices, gaining direct exposure to legal practice through real assignments and mentorship from attorneys. The program includes panel discussions, networking events, and guided advising to help students understand a legal career. Interns work alongside professionals on actual cases, learning how a law firm operates and building relationships.

Chapman and Cutler LLP Summer Internship Program: This program gives students a close-up view of how a major law firm operates. Students can choose between the Finance Law Internship, which focuses on legal work in financial services, and the Law Firm Administrative Internship, which dives into the business side of firm operations. Both tracks start with a detailed orientation to help students understand key finance and legal concepts. Interns work directly with attorneys or administrative leaders on real projects, such as legal research, client service strategies, HR initiatives, and marketing analysis.

Government Agencies

Interning with government agencies provides valuable experience in the public sector and exposure to various legal domains.

Department of Justice, District Attorney’s Offices, and Public Defender’s Offices: These offices offer valuable experience at the local, state, or federal level.

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office College Internship: This internship offers a front-row seat to criminal justice in action. Interns work alongside attorneys and staff in one of the busiest prosecutors’ offices in the country, helping with trial prep, legal research, data analysis, and case management. Depending on their placement, interns might join units focused on homicide, domestic violence, financial crimes, or community partnerships. They also get to observe court proceedings, attend professional development sessions, and learn how the DA’s office fits into the broader justice system.

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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.

Legal Aid Societies and Non-Profit Organizations

Local legal aid organizations provide legal services to individuals who cannot afford representation. Legal nonprofits and public interest organizations offer internships for pre-law students to work on public policy issues.

The Pre-Law Project (University of Southern California): This program, run through the Joint Educational Project (JEP), provides USC students interested in law careers with real legal experiences. By partnering with public interest law firms and civil rights organizations, students secure law-related internships of a variety of commitment levels. During their internship, students create a personal statement, something required as part of a law school application. At the end of their internship, they receive a letter of confirmation and may even get a letter of recommendation.

Undergraduate Internship - Northeast Legal Aid: This internship is a hands-on summer experience for students who want to explore law and public service. Interns work directly with attorneys across legal units like housing, consumer law, employment, family, elder law, and public benefits. Their day-to-day might include conducting client intakes, doing legal research, managing case files, and observing court hearings. The program includes a structured orientation, ongoing mentorship, Learning Lunches with legal professionals, and networking events.

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Undergraduate Internship - Legal Aid DC: This internship gives students a hands-on look at civil legal practice while working with attorneys who serve low-income residents in Washington, D.C. Interns are placed in units like housing, family law, public benefits, consumer law, immigration, or appellate advocacy. Their work might include conducting client intakes, helping with legal research, drafting documents, organizing case files, and observing hearings or trials.

Undergraduate Internship - ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice: This internship gives students a front-row seat to national legal advocacy. Interns help monitor legal and legislative developments, attend congressional hearings and Supreme Court arguments, and write reports or articles for the Section’s publications. They might also support social media, marketing, and events.

Center for Global Programs Internship - American Bar Association: This internship is a solid opportunity for undergraduates interested in law, human rights, or international development. Interns are placed with one of three ABA divisions: Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI), Center for Human Rights (CHR), or the U.N. Representatives program. They help with legal research, track global justice issues, support international development projects, and assist with program implementation.

Undergraduate Internship - Women’s Law Project: This internship gives students the chance to work directly with attorneys and advocates at one of the country’s leading gender justice organizations. Interns contribute to legal work on issues like reproductive rights, pregnancy discrimination, violence against women, LGBTQ+ equality, and equity in athletics. Their responsibilities might include legal research, writing blog posts on gender justice, helping with client intake, and supporting the development of amicus briefs.

Other Programs

Ladder University Internship Program: This selective program connects undergraduate students with high-growth startups. During the internship, students can explore their interests in engineering, develop relevant skills, and gain work experience while working on real projects under the guidance of the startup manager.

Cornell Prelaw Program and Internship in New York City: This program combines classroom learning and real-world legal experience. Students take a four-credit course, "The American Legal System," taught using the Socratic method. In the second half, they work full-time at a law firm, corporate legal department, government agency, or nonprofit.

LSAC Plus, Guided Journey: This free, year-long virtual program supports aspiring law students through every step of the law school application process. Participants get access to LSAT prep, help with writing strong applications, and tailored workshops led by law school faculty and staff.

Summer Pre-Law Achievers Network - Suffolk University Law School: This free, two-week, in-person program gives students a real taste of law school while helping them build a strong application. Students take two condensed first-year law courses and visit Massachusetts courts, attend guest lectures, and network with legal professionals across Boston.

Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) Summer Internship Program - University of Pennsylvania: This internship is a full-time opportunity for undergraduates interested in law, ethics, and national security. Interns work in teams under CERL leadership, contributing to research, policy briefings, conference planning, and publications like The Rule of Law Post blog.

Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School Summer Internship Program: Law student summer interns will work in one of the clinical areas: Veterans Justice Project. LSC’s student interns are supervised and mentored by experienced clinical instructors. Law student interns conduct interviews with potential clients seeking advice or assistance; counsel and advise clients; engage in investigation and formal discovery; develop case strategies; prepare pleadings for courts or petitions to administrative agencies; and research case-specific legal issues. Some law student interns appear before courts on contested motions, preliminary matters or assist in a trial; others represent clients before administrative agencies. 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. Overall, all interns are provided with a singular opportunity to engage in mentored hands-on learning, to develop and practice new legal skills, and to interact with diverse client communities through immersion in the work of a community-based civil legal services office.

Finding and Applying for Internships

Research: Explore various internship opportunities that align with your interests and career goals.
Networking: Connect with legal professionals, attend career fairs, and seek advice from mentors.
Application Materials: Prepare a strong resume, cover letter, and writing sample that highlight your skills and experiences.
Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines and submit your materials in a timely manner.
Volunteer: Search for volunteer opportunities related to your areas of interest via VolunteerMatch.

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