What does a law internship do?
A law internship is a program that is designed for law students to give them valuable insight into the professional lives of attorneys and judges. Law interns need to understand and observe what being a lawyer involves. They are required to conduct research and present it to their superiors for case preparations. They must assist their senior lawyers in organizing all of their legal paperwork that includes case files, evidence records, and legal documents. Law interns are also required to be present in the courtroom to assist lawyers and experience actual courtroom proceedings.
Law internship responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real law internship resumes:
- Prepare probate documents, including petition for probate, inventory, and statement of account.
- Observe investigations and write different court documents including subpoenas, court orders and affidavits
- File commercial cases, develop affidavits and correspondence, and coordinate subpoenas delivery.
- Draft summary judgment motions and answer interrogatories and production requests in medical malpractice cases.
- Research proposed legislative bill allowing survivor access to a decedent s online accounts in probate proceedings.
- Research and prepare for arbitration of labor contract disputes; participate in collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
- Draft answers, answer discovery requests and draft motions covering both procedural and substantive issues of insurance defense litigation.
- Prepare necessary documents which include emails, interrogatories and previous depositions in order to assist attorneys prepare for depositions.
- Research and compose letter to engineer regarding contractual arbitration clause and client driller's liability for contaminate water well.
- Work with supervising attorneys handling all aspects of litigation in relation to an ongoing lawsuit regarding potential constitutional law violations.
- Analyze petitions for allowance of appeal, appellate briefs, and intermediate appellate opinions in preparing for disposition of discretionary appeals.
- Perform general notary work for individuals, corporate and municipal entities.
Law internship skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Law Interns are proficient in Litigation, Legal Issues, and Trial Preparation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Problem-solving skills, and Research skills.
We break down the percentage of Law Interns that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 13%
Assisted with the litigation of approximately 40 insurance defense litigation files regarding personal injury, general liability, and medical malpractice.
- Legal Issues, 9%
Conducted interviews and assisted clients with legal issues pertaining to health related immigration, permanency planning and social security matters.
- Trial Preparation, 6%
Worked closely with supervising attorney on trial preparation and related filings and strategies.
- Legal Memos, 5%
Drafted decisions in minor civil cases and explained legal memos regarding disagreements over statistical methods
- Real Estate, 3%
Conducted research on various legal topics from environmental and real estate issues to civil procedure and business organization.
- Legal Intern, 3%
Worked as a legal intern in the City of Albany's Corporation Counsel and the Mayor's Office.
Most law interns use their skills in "litigation," "legal issues," and "trial preparation" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential law internship responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a law internship to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Additionally, a law internship resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "established database and designed supplemental review procedure for closed litigation files, including evidence produced in discovery. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling law internship duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." According to a law internship resume, here's how law interns can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "attended liberty mutual strategy meetings, discussing various litigation disputes and solutions. "
Research skills. law interns are also known for research skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to law internship responsibilities, because "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." A law internship resume example shows how research skills is used in the workplace: "assisted managing attorney with various court matters summarized deposition testimonies filed pleadings and drafted research summaries for use in litigation matters. "
Interpersonal skills. A commonly-found skill in law internship job descriptions, "interpersonal skills" is essential to what law interns do. Law internship responsibilities rely on this skill because "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community." You can also see how law internship duties rely on interpersonal skills in this resume example: "assist counsel and paralegals legal research attend court hearings and out of court legal proceedings file maintenance interpersonal communication skills with clients"
The three companies that hire the most law internships are:
- Vermont Law School3 law interns jobs
- StoneX Group2 law interns jobs
- Deschutes County2 law interns jobs
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Compare different law interns
Law internship vs. Paralegal
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a law internship are more likely to require skills like "legal memos," "real estate," "legal intern," and "intellectual property." On the other hand, a job as a paralegal requires skills like "discovery responses," "affidavits," "real estate closings," and "legal support." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Paralegals tend to reach similar levels of education than law interns. In fact, paralegals are 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 12.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Law internship vs. Contractor-paralegal
A Contractor-Paralegal works for a law firm or corporate legal department for a specified amount of time, or for a specified task. They can be specialized in the entertainment industry or in providing services to healthcare companies and insurance providers.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, law internship responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "legal memos," "legal intern," "law enforcement," and "court proceedings." Meanwhile, a contractor-paralegal has duties that require skills in areas such as "discovery responses," "in-house counsel," "contract database," and "due diligence." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, contractor-paralegals achieve similar levels of education than law interns. They're 1.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 12.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Law internship vs. Attorney at law
An Attorney at Law is responsible for preparing and examining contracts involving leases, licenses, purchases, sales, etc. They advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, or legal rights and obligations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from law internship resumes include skills like "legal memos," "real estate," "legal intern," and "law enforcement," whereas an attorney at law is more likely to list skills in "real estate transactions," "labor law," "family law cases," and "due diligence. "
When it comes to education, attorneys at law tend to earn similar degree levels compared to law interns. In fact, they're 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 35.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Law internship vs. Litigation paralegal
A litigation paralegal is a specialist who is responsible for assisting attorneys throughout the trial process. On the plaintiff side, litigation paralegals conduct initial client interviews and legal research for case preparations. They assist with the preliminary examinations of witnesses and jury selection in the courtroom. Litigation paralegals often assist attorneys with case settlements and help identify issues for appeals. They must also possess excellent skills in verbal and written communication and should have great attention in detail.
Types of law internship
Updated January 8, 2025
