20 Best Tips For Success in a Legal Internship

This post is all about how to find success in a legal internship!

When you are starting something for the first time, it can seem daunting and overwhelming. Your first legal internship can be especially nerve-wracking! Before law school, I had never set foot in a law firm, let alone work in one. It definitely took plenty of learning and trial-and-error.

Luckily, I made it out alive, and you can, too! Once you make it past your first legal internship, your confidence levels will skyrocket. You will discover that you feel more prepared, more experienced, and ready to tackle any new opportunities that come your way in the future.

After my first summer legal internship, I somehow landed TWO MORE internships. I still can’t believe how far I’ve come. And, you can do it, too.

Still need help finding a legal internship for the summer after your first year of law school? Check out this post!

To ease your nerves, I put together my 20 best tips for success in a legal internship!

1) Be on time.

Being on time is crucial in the legal profession. It is important for most professions, but lawyers are often driven by timelines given by the courts, clients, and even other lawyers. Being on time is one of the most important skills you must develop to work in a law firm.

This includes being on time each morning and turning in your assignments in a timely manner. Your work as an intern can be important, and your timeliness (or untimeliness) can affect many different people. Being on time is also an easy way to show your professionalism in a new environment.

2) Know the local “legal dialect.”

This is something you will certainly learn on the job, but success in a legal internship includes being able to learn new things and learn them fast. Knowing the local “legal dialect” is another way of saying that certain states or jurisdictions have unique ways of writing and using shorthand. Each law firm has their own culture and way of doing things, too.

Although this is a small example, just keep in mind that you will be learning so many new things. Soaking up the small nuances like this can help give you a leg up in the eyes of your boss by showing that you are dedicated and eager to learn!

3) Ask questions, but don’t overwhelm your boss.

You are here to learn and gain experience, but your boss or other attorneys are likely very busy. Find a good balance between the two as soon as you can, to the best of your ability. Although this will take some practice, make the most of your time there, but don’t overwhelm your boss and create a negative perception of yourself in their minds.

4) Lawyers procrastinate.

When starting your legal internship, be very aware that many lawyers tend to procrastinate. Lawyers are often very overworked. There are often many different tasks to be done at one time. Sometimes, lawyers do not intend to procrastinate – they are just so packed with work that it looks like it. This can unfortunately lead to procrastination, which can be frustrating. (My theory is that lawyers are just like any other type of professional, and individual working styles dictate the likelihood of procrastination.) Regardless of the stereotype, you must always be aware of deadlines when they concern you and that procrastination can be real!

5) Know your attorney’s work style.

Learn your main attorney’s work style as soon as you can so that you can start the internship off at an advantage. Feel free to ask questions when you can. Learn about how you can best work with this person and make the most out of your time with them. You are here to both learn and create value for the firm. Knowing the work style of those you work with will make life much easier.

6) Create and find solutions.

Plenty of people like someone who helps solve problems, because most people hate dealing with problems! By helping to find solutions to the problems that may arise in your office, you will be positively impacting the office and making a positive impact on those overseeing you. They will see you as someone eager to work and easy to work with. This will definitely help you succeed in a legal internship.

7) Be respectful and kind.

I am a believer that you get more bees with honey than, well, you know. However, when you are first starting your legal career, you want to start with a good reputation. You are there to work and learn, and in return, you will receive great knowledge and mentorship. Being a lawyer does not mean you have to be a jerk. Acting in a respectful and kind manner will only help further the types of opportunities that come your way. And, this includes all office staff and opposing parties.

8) Dress to impress.

Dressing to impress will help you feel your best in a new, stressful environment, but it will also help you show those around you that you are serious about this opportunity! You don’t have to spend a ton to look professional as a student.

For more on dressing to impress as a student, check out my post here!

Need help creating a budget-friendly wardrobe? Check out this post!

9) Learn how to file with the court.

When you start in a law firm for the first time, make sure you ask how things are done in your specific jurisdiction. Filing with the court can be very specific, and doing it the correct way is important. Make sure you know how to file with the court before you leave your first legal internship.

10) Ask to attend meetings, depositions, court dates, trial, etc. 

Experience is one of the most important things you can give yourself early on in your legal career. You can read casebooks and listen to old professors lecture all day, but real experience is going to help you the most if you decide to practice law. As someone who never worked in a law firm before law school, I was missing the valuable knowledge that comes from pure experience in the field. And, I have worked in plenty of offices and odd jobs.

Make sure you take advantage of your opportunities and put yourself out there. Offer to take notes during a deposition. Ask to sit in during a hearing. Many lawyers are more than understanding that these types of experiences are valuable. To my surprise, many lawyers LOVE to help students. Open yourself up to every opportunity that comes your way!

11) Attend events when invited.

Law firms are usually very involved with the community. They gain clients and form relationships by attending and hosting events, both in and out of the office. Make sure to attend! Grab a familiar face, like another intern, and put yourself out there. And, when you attend, don’t forget to introduce yourself to a few new faces while you’re at it. It’s that easy – and there will probably be food.

12) Absorb everything.

 Make a conscious effort to retain everything you learn. It may feel very overwhelming at times, but make sure you absorb whatever comes your way. When I started my first legal internship, I started a running list of the types of things I did during my time there. I updated it at the end of each week and finalized it when my internship ended. I used it to update my resume and prepare for my other internship interviews.

13) Make your boss’s life easier.

Make a conscious effort to help out your boss or other attorneys whenever you can. Lawyers are often stressed. Make a positive presence in the office. Find solutions to problems they may have. Everyone will be happy to have your help. They will think positively of you and make the learning experience even better!

14) Read and familiarize yourself with the case procedural history and other filings.

When you are drafting pleadings or other documents, it is really important that you take all facts and given information into account. There have been many times where my supervising attorney returned my work back to me with edits that I could have easily caught by paying more attention to the case’s history. Take the time to read the case’s documents first because it will save you time later.

15) Pay attention to detail.

The practice of law requires attention to detail. Most issues are fact based – every case is different. Practice this skill now when you can! This is a valuable skill everyone must have to succeed in the legal world. You will find that it will save you in the future, as well as finding success in a legal internship.

16) Learn the firm’s case management system.

Each firm has a different way of managing clients and cases. As a newby, it will be really hard to adjust to a new environment. When you start at a new firm, make sure someone shows you the firm’s case management system to save you some time later on.

17) Keep track of your tasks.

When you start at a law firm, the attorneys will likely be eager to have fresh blood in the office to give allllll their work to. This may seem overwhelming at first, but with practice you can learn to manage it all. Find the method that works best for you. Get a calendar, make a list, set reminders, etc. Make sure you keep track of your tasks and deadlines. Your life will be much easier trust me!

18) Learn to track your hours and describe your tasks – for the client and your boss.

When you work in a law firm, you will most likely have to track your hours. Learn this now because it isn’t going away! It isn’t that hard, but putting it off can make it harder and unnecessarily stressful. Your boss will likely send your descriptions to the client with their bill. You will save your current and future bosses so much time if you learn how to do it now.

19) Listen to your gut.

You are more capable than you think! Listen to your gut when you are working on tasks and projects. You have made it up to this point, and that isn’t always easy. This is a new environment, but you have tackled hard things in the past. Confidence is key!

20) Be proactive. 

As with anything, working in a law firm requires being proactive and staying on top of your work. When you leave things unattended to for too long, it creates more problems. Success in a legal internship requires hard work, but being proactive and fighting procrastination can make it a much better experience.

This post was all about how to find success in a legal internship. What are you most excited about at your legal internship?