Leveraging Internships for a Successful Legal Career

One of the most important reasons to pursue a professional degree or diploma course is to advance one’s career. In the field of legal education, half a decade in a law school is a valuable time for students to explore their interests and hobbies, along with great opportunities to make a successful career. In this reference, internships play a crucial role in helping a student explore different areas of law and offer invaluable practical experience that complements academic learning.

Choosing the right internship

Choosing internships that align with students’ career goals is crucial. In integrated law courses, there are several subjects to consider, and career paths can be aligned based on students’ areas of interest.  It is advisable that students in their initial years intern at different organizations to understand different avenues of the legal industry, and once they identify their interests, they should prioritize their internships in the aligned field to make a good career progression.

Aiming for top law firms

To secure a job in top law firms, students must first intern at boutique organizations, with or without specific areas of specialization, to get themselves acquainted with the basic functioning and to learn corporate mannerisms. They should take care of the following while applying for internship(s) in any law firm:

• What makes a good curriculum vitae (“CV”)? Universities usually have their Recruitment Coordination Committee’s (“RCC”) CV format, and students must follow that. Those who check CVs at workplaces are great at handling well-formatted legal documents every day and will absolutely catch errors. Therefore, a CV must be well documented and checked.
• Cover letter: A cover letter is extremely important while applying for internships, and they help students make the first impression. A cover letter should not be more than 200 words and should be able to express a student’s candidature aptly in not more than 4 paragraphs. The subject line must include the location, month, and area of practice. Always try to add a paragraph specific to the firm’s area of practice, like their recent deals, and why you want to specifically intern at that very organization.
• Application process: The best way of applying for internships at law firms is through the college RCC. However, students can always apply personally to the HRs with a good cover letter and CV. Applications should be sent well in advance, ideally at least 4-5 months before the preferred month. Thereafter, students must have regular follow-ups within a gap of 10 days humbly asking for the status of their application. In case they do not receive a response even after repeated follow-up emails, they can call the firm and seek an update.

How do you get the best out of internships?

Students must first try to understand the corporate mannerisms by observing their colleagues and seniors; even minute things like how you show up for work, write emails, communicate with others, and present your work output make a significant difference. As interns, they must always adhere to the instructions, especially deadlines, and try to pen down the instructions on a notebook. Before approaching any proposition, try to first understand the intent behind the question and what is exactly expected of them in terms of the output. In case of queries or doubts, please ask for clarifications.

Interns who take initiatives by proactively asking for work tend to get better opportunities to prove themselves. It is appreciated if interns seek feedback on work as it not only helps them perform better but also shows their willingness to improve.

Spend time building relationships

Networking and building relationships with colleagues and supervisors can open doors to future opportunities. Seeking mentorship and participating in team activities can make a significant difference. Moreover, students must express their interest in seeking a permanent role with the team and the partner and try to understand the firm’s hiring process.

The interview

After the conclusion of the internship, students should follow up with HR and seek regular updates regarding their candidature. Being well prepared in advance for the interviews by thoroughly studying the concerned subjects would be helpful in securing a pre-placement offer.

About the Author: The article was written by Dr. Ankit Awasthi and Nipun Chandrakar.