Very often, a lot of first-year law students are troubled by questions like , “How can they make the most of their first internship?” or “How can the first legal internship help them get closer to their dream job?”
Here, it may be observed that the 1st year summer internship is the first time law students step outside a classroom and dive deep into the practical workings of the legal world. It is the time to use whatever you have learned in the classroom in real life. Thus, your first internship turns out to be a stepping stone towards shaping your legal career, which is why it is extremely important to get it right.
In fact, it does not matter where you do your first legal internship at – it could be at your dad’s law firm, a prestigious one with a track record of winning cases, or a public interest organization. Rather, the point is to make the most of your time there and embrace the goal of this opportunity – viz., “To understand how a law firm and lawyers work.”
To help you make the most of your internship time, here are seven suggestions you can use to really make the best of this opportunity:
1. Begin thinking about specialties and discarding the ones you don’t like
Your first legal internship is a good place to begin thinking about specialties you like and want to pursue, even though it may seem too early to pick a specialty just yet. It is also a good starting point to discard specialties you are sure you don’t want to pursue. In order to do this, you should observe the people that work in the firm in various specialties and subspecialties.
What is more, have an open mind and do all types of assignments in various specialties in order to find one that you are interested in pursuing. Remember here that many legal interns who started off being reluctant to a particular kind of law ended up actually liking them at the end of their internships.
2. Take pains to build a legal network
In many ways, your first legal internship is a wonderful way to build your own legal network by meeting other attorneys at social events. Therefore, you must resist the temptation to only hang out with other interns. Instead, ask for an introduction to lawyers at the event or go introduce yourself directly to them. In addition, resist the temptation to get drunk or become really high. It is okay to enjoy a drink or two, but always keep your goal in mind.
3. Get to learn about politics and office culture
While undertaking your first internship, remember you are stepping into the real world the first time. Presently, you will have a unique opportunity to learn about a typical law firm’s office culture, every day politics in court and what makes good lawyers good at their job. It is advised that you should use this time to understand how to navigate politics at the firm and in the court.
4. Observe closely how established lawyers deal with a legal problem
How do attorneys fulfill their client’s needs? How do they solve legal problems? What does the best lawyers in the firm do that makes them stand out from their colleagues? It would help you immensely if you carefully observe and absorb as much information as possible in your first legal internship.
5. Diligently learn how to conduct legal research
Honestly, most of your fellowship will be related to conducting legal research, drafting motions, orders and memos under the supervision of a lawyer. Therein, some tasks may seem simple and straightforward enough, others may be more complicated. It is advised that you should utilize this time to understand how to conduct legal research, how to write a motion or memo and ask pertinent questions to your supervisor. Also, know that every task is an opportunity to learn something new or brush up your skills.
6. Develop the habit of asking intelligent questions
The first legal internship is all about learning, growing and observing. Hence, you must always remember that you are here to learn! So, when you receive an assignment, make sure to ask about what is expected of you. Also, don’t forget to ask about the deadline or timing expectation of every assignment. That way you will never be late in completing a task. If you are unsure of exactly what needs to be done or don’t know the deadline, please ask for clarification.
Besides, if you finish your assignment early and find yourself with ample time on your hands, ask your supervisor for assignments to work on or use the free time to network with the junior associates, other interns and attorneys at the firm. It is a better usage of your free time than texting and using social media.
7. See yourself living their life and being happy
Possibly, the most important question to ask yourself is: “Five years from now, do you see yourself living like the associates in the law firm do and being happy?” Is this what you see yourself doing for the rest of your life? Does your personality gel well with the personality of the associates? Do you want their lifestyle?
If you cannot see yourself doing what the associates do, don’t worry! In your second legal internship, you can always choose to work in another specialty.
To conclude, it can be said that by focusing on learning, growing and the practical aspects of the legal world, your first internship in a law firm can be a great opportunity to shape your legal career. Therefore, make the most of your time and start preparing yourself for a life as a successful lawyer.
