What is a Legal Internship?
Legal internships are a vital component of the career path for many aspiring lawyers, providing invaluable hands-on experience in the context of real-world legal work. Beyond the classroom, legal internships allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge they have accumulated through their studies , and gain experience in the day-to-day operations of law practice. They also help to build a professional network of resources and contacts that can serve students throughout their careers — many attorneys who hire law clerks for their legal practice met their clerks through internships during their academic career. As the profession becomes increasingly competitive, this type of experience is invaluable. Finding a legal internship can be one of the most important steps a law student or recent graduate can take towards securing their ideal job position in law.
Why Consider a Legal Internship in San Diego?
The primary reason to choose San Diego for legal internships is the diversity and depth of opportunities available. The city has a robust legal industry and is home to law firms, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and multinational corporations. Additionally, San Diego offers a unique blend of legal experiences, from civil rights to international law, catering to various interests within the legal field.
San Diego’s legal landscape is shaped by its status as the second-largest city in California and its position as a rapidly growing technology hub. The concentration of intellectual property firms has drawn startups and established corporations to the area. These firms frequently offer internships to aspiring IP lawyers, providing them with invaluable hands-on experience.
Key players in the city’s legal landscape include large firms like Latham & Watkins, Carlsmith, and Higgs Fletcher & Mack. Students can intern with these firms and others at all levels, working on significant and challenging projects. Mid-size and small firms, such as Solomon, Saltsman & Six, and Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, also present interdisciplinary opportunities, where interns can gain exposure to different branches of law.
San Diego also has a strong public sector, with government agencies ranging from public interest groups and non-profit organizations to local, state, and federal offices. This diversity allows students to examine the interplay between politics and law within their chosen fields.
Apart from law firms and government jobs, voluntary organizations like the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and the National Conflict Resolution Center are essential for students interested in civil rights and alternative dispute resolution. Students can provide research and administrative support, gaining familiarity with vital functions.
International law and foreign affairs are of particular concern to San Diego, given its location along the Mexican border. Internship opportunities abound at non-governmental agencies and transnational corporations in the area.
For those looking for a more unconventional law experience, there are numerous small firms that focus on environmental law, animal rights, and local advocacy. Gaining hands-on legal experience is an absolute requirement to succeed in those fields.
Law Firm Legal Internships
A range of local law firms in San Diego offer internships to legal students. These 10 stars create a highly competitive internship environment that best prepares students for a career in law. Becker Law Firm offers a paid internship every semester. Once an intern has learned the basics of the legal process, they become a paralegal. A typical workload includes drafting simple motions and pleadings as well as interacting with clients. Interactions with judges may also occur. Lee Anav, Acken, Green, and Fullman offer summer judicial internships for third year students. Selected students will get hands-on experience working with magistrate and bankruptcy judges. The internships run for 12-14 weeks, or longer if needed. An internship with the San Diego Public Defender’s office is an invaluable way to gain insight into criminal law. Summer interns can expect to do legal research and work closely with attorneys in the field. Mid-year law interns have a similar experience researching the law, though they are in court often and gain experience visiting clients in jail. During summers, interns with Kearney, Michalowski, & Ismail can expect to learn various civil litigation tasks such as preparing for depositions. Sophomore and junior law students can gain experience working at Power Spencer, an intellectual property law firm. Legal interns here perform administrative tasks and may also get opportunities to assist clients. A popular law firm for student internships is the San Diego office of Hogan Lovells. Students must be in their second year of law school to qualify, and internship dates are flexible. Interns gain exposure to various practices, including complex commercial, product liability, and employment litigation. James, Capriola & Wiggins offers winter and summer legal internships. Students can expect to work closely with a team of family law attorneys, gaining vital legal experience. Small and friendly, Price Lawrence collaborate with Point Loma Nazarene University to offer interns hands-on training at the law firm. Graduate students studying nursing or social work are preferred, but the firm is open to other disciplines. McCarthy Holthus internships are with the litigation group. Students can expect to assist with discovery and gain learning opportunities observing the attorneys during conferences and depositions. An internship with Grossmont Healthcare District is offered by the legal and compliance department. Students learn about compliance, regulations, email management, reporting, and daily operations of a hospital. After a rigorous interview, Victor R. Carrion & Associates hires law clerks who meet the requirements. Students are compensated, but they must be currently enrolled in a law program to qualify for an internship.
Legal Clinics / Non-Profit Legal Internships
The number of law school graduates goes up every single year. A recent study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management shows that 49% of law graduates first positions right out of school are "law related" jobs. It is now more important than ever for law students to focus on gaining legal experience during school. An excellent place to do so is at legal clinics and non-profit organizations.
Clinics and non-profit organizations allow law students to experience public interest law in action while providing vital legal services to low-income families. Legal clinics are typically specialty courses taught by a combination of legal professors, clinicians and practicing attorneys on campus that provide students with real-world experience working on cases. Interns get hands-on experience and participate in case strategy meetings, directly interface with clients, and even go into court. Interns can walk away from a legal clinic experience with a letter of recommendation, detailed explanation or project report to include in their resume and practical skills and knowledge that they can immediately apply in their first year of practice.
Interning with a non-profit organization that serves the needy in the local community can also offer a full range of activities, from preparing briefs, drafting motions or petitions to facing witnesses, to conducting legal research to drafting memos and affidavits.
Applying for a Legal Internship
Internship seekers should be aware that the application process can be highly competitive in San Diego, as many law students reside in the area for internship opportunities. However with hard work, a positive attitude, and effective networking, one can find internships that will provide excellent experience and resume value. The major San Diego-based law firms offer internships, but many are unpaid positions, while some small to mid-size firms may offer paid internships. Regardless, putting interns to work on various tasks is standard in the industry.
Most law firms accept law clerk applications for summer employment between November and early January. The application and selection process varies from firm to firm, but a pattern of interview processes does emerge. This interview process generally takes two forms. The first option is an informal meet and greet with a human resources staff member, which may lead to an informal interview. The second option is a formal interview process, which starts with a written interview. From there, interviewers may move through a group interview and final interview phase.
The application process for unpaid internships at nonprofit organizations varies but tends to be more uniform than the law firm process . Generally, a student will submit their resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter to an organization that looks appealing. In the cover letter, the student should state why they are interested in working for the organization, and how their skills and credentials match those of the organization. An informal interview may occur over the phone or in person.
Before going into any type of interview for an internship, applicants should prepare properly. It is important to dress appropriately for a law interview, to show that one is prepared for the role. Arriving twenty minutes early and sending a thank you letter after the interview can go a long way in making an impression.
When it comes to selecting the right law school organization to pursue a legal internship, candidates would do well to choose groups that are affiliated with the types of practices they’d like to concentrate on. There are many different scholarships offered by these organizations that may also help students with their tuition costs.
Overall, it is wise to apply to every legal organization that has an interest in your specific practice area, whether it is maritime law or environmental law. Having relevant experience in your desired field is essential before attending a job interview.
How to Make the Most of Your Legal Internship
Internships represent a unique opportunity to gain experience in an actual legal setting while developing professional skills. You’ll naturally pick up some skills through observation, but there’s also a lot you can learn by taking the initiative to gain as much knowledge as possible during your internship. Internships on their own represent a significant investment of time and effort. So, you shouldn’t passively wait for experience to come to you. Maximize your internship by seeking to maximize your experience.
Start at the beginning: When looking for an internship, make sure to focus on two key things: Try to find an internship that provides a good mix of the two factors above. If you can, study the firm before your interview. If they claim to emphasize young talent, then you should be able to witness this and assess its veracity.
Once you’ve landed an internship, try to start out on good footing by getting engaged early in the process. Reach out to staff members beforehand, either through email or in-person. Get to know as many people as you can. Try to observe how they work and communicate with each other. As an intern, you want to establish an air of willingness and approachability from the beginning.
Ask about opportunities as soon as you arrive. Things like tours, training sessions, and lunch with co-workers helps you acclimate to your new space. Most importantly, don’t let yourself remain isolated for too long. You can only get the most out of your internship if you strike a healthy work/life balance. If you’re trying to impress and keep your nose in the books all day, you’re missing some of the most important aspects of an internship.
You also want to continually probe for ways to grow within the legal field. Early in your internship, seek advice from mentors, peers, and co-workers. They may have insight on other areas of law that interest you. You may even want to read a book they recommend. This will lead to helpful discussions, including how they wound up in their current position. The amount of effort you put into the relationship will determine how much you get out of it. However, be careful not to pester a mentor. Ask gently and then leave them be. Better yet, ask to schedule a regular meeting with them.
It’s important not to specific when seeking advice. Try to formulate open-ended questions that generates thoughtful and detailed answers. These types of questions usually begin with "what" or "how," such as: Be wary of yes or no questions. They don’t provide the same level of engagement. Use the rapport you build with staff members to ask these questions. Try to keep in touch with your mentor as the internship progresses. They may have other opportunities for you down the road.
Finally, be honest about what you want from the internship. Before the first day, write out some goals. Does the internship need to help you find a new job? Will it help you figure out where you stand with your employment prospects? Do you want to discover a new area of law you want to pursue in further detail? Write down how you want your internship to help you. Review those goals regularly and try to adjust them as you grow and develop.
Internships represent a significant step toward a productive and successful legal career. Seek to enjoy the process. By focusing on learning, you’ll want to absorb as much knowledge as you can.
Converting an Internship to a Full-Time Position
Many law students are fortunate enough to land a legal internship, which can lead to employment opportunities following graduation. In Southern California, this is particularly true for law firms in San Diego, which regularly recruit law school graduates who have interned with them in the past. Many hires come from student interns who had impressed with their abilities as legal interns, and offered top graduate employment opportunities as a result.
When an internship does not transition into a full-time position, a student may start the search for a job after their final year of law school. They can make use of their extensive network of legal industry contacts built during their time as an intern to explore opportunities in the city where they will be graduating. Law firms in San Diego that have hired them for the internship might be willing to offer them a full-time role following their bar admission.
Staying connected to their former colleagues and the people they worked with will be the best way to ensure they are at the front of any line when a full-time position becomes available. Now is also a good time to hone the all-important cover letter, SOLAS, and resume so that they will be ready to apply when those openings do come through.
After they set up an informational interview with any contacts, it’s wise to send a thank you note to reinforce their continued interest in any opportunities that may arise within the firm. Networking is one thing, but it’s not the only way that an internship can turn into a job after graduation. Some law firms in San Diego may have standing offers of employment for top-performing legal interns.
Resources for Legal Internships
Prospective interns can explore opportunities from a variety of sources. For law students, the office of career services should be the first point of contact. These offices frequently keep lists of firms, government agencies and businesses in their local areas that participate in internship programs. Most law schools also have career fairs and summer programs that provide the students with the tools for writing resumes and interviewing. Use these resources to contact places where you might want to intern , and to find out where other law students have interned.
Private job search sites are another option for finding legal internships. Many law schools provide links to these sites so it is worthwhile to begin a search here. Sites like NALP.org and AfterCollege provide listings of legal internships across the country. Legal internship jobs are usually posted a few months in advance so keep checking.