Law School Stress: 15 Important Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Legal Internship

Starting a legal internship (or even finding one) can cause law students a lot of stress. School itself is stressful, but the stress of actually working and doing well in a legal internship can be difficult to handle. Fortunately, I have just been in those shoes!

Before working in a law firm for the first time as a law student, you may not have previous (relevant) legal experience. I did not have working legal experience before going to law school. I was familiar with reading cases from my undergrad courses, such as business law, but nothing I could put on my resume. Although any office work experience will help you, working for a law firm can be very different. It may be daunting at first, but experience is key! You will find your way and a groove that works for you.

1) Be punctual 

Being on time is hard. Being on time every day, especially early in the morning, is hard. But, showing up to work on time will help you prove yourself and show your employer that you are serious about your career. No matter what, starting your legal career with good habits now will will only help you in the future, especially with other employers.

2) Ask questions, but don’t overstimulate your boss

As a law student, every experience is a learning opportunity. So, you must take advantage of every opportunity that you have to learn. Ask questions whenever you have the chance. However, lawyers are busy people, so you must know when is the right time to ask those questions. Interrupting someone when they are focused or busy is not the most respectful.

I suggest that when you have time to talk with anyone in the office, ask away! Then, when you think of more questions on your own time, make a list of those questions so you can share them with your supervising attorney later.

3) Know the local legal “dialect”

When you go to law school, they teach you formal citation that most jurisdictions use. Each state has their own ways of doing things. Sometimes, your professors will give you insights on the local practices of that particular state. However, you will get a lot more hands-on exposure to local practices by working in a law office. After starting a legal internship, utilize this time as much as you can so you have more knowledge and experience to bring with you in your career.

4) Know your boss’s work style – Lawyers are known to procrastinate!

Not all lawyers are the same, but there are certain qualities that many experienced lawyers will admit are common amongst the profession. For example, many lawyers procrastinate. Unfortunately, that makes life harder if you’re not a procrastinator yourself. But, if you know how your boss works, in any job, that will make your job easier. Learn and work hard, but sometimes it is better to work smarter rather than harder. If you know how to work with different personalities, you will be able to go far in your career.

5) Create and find solutions – make your boss’s life easier! 

When you actively try to create and find solutions in your legal internship, not only will you make your life easier each day, you will show your employer that you are a worthwhile addition around the office. Making other peoples’ days better will make you stand out. In my opinion, creating and finding solutions is important to any job and makes your career worthwhile.

6) Be respectful and kind

This may seem obvious, but practicing respect and kindness in the office before you even become a new lawyer is really important. Working in an office alone can be difficult at times, but practicing law can get intense. Lawyers can get passionate. It is okay to be passionate and stand your ground when necessary, but you should always strive to be respectful and kind to your colleagues, especially when they are opposing counsel. In my eyes, there is no need to learn to act disrespectful and yell at others, even in the most passionate of moments.

7) Dress to impress

When you dress well, you will feel better about yourself. Period. At least for me, dressing well gives me confidence in my appearance and work.

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

Starting a legal internship means firsthand experience. Make the most of where you are and what you have in front of you. Volunteer to attend calendared events such as meetings, depositions, court dates, and trial dates and take notes. You will look eager to learn and contribute, but you will also learn lots for yourself to take with you and your career.

9) Absorb everything you can

Sometimes it’s easy to get sucked in the everyday motions and take our opportunities for granted. As a young law student starting a legal internship, many things can be overwhelming and difficult to digest. Do what you can to write notes down and absorb the information and experiences flowing around you. I worked at a firm for only 4 months during the summer, but I tried my best to absorb everything I could each and every day!

10) Read and familiarize yourself with the case procedural history and past filings

When it comes to working in a law firm, you will be exposed to numerous cases, new and developed. Of these cases, some may already be set for trial, while some are in various other stages. Of course, each firm has their own processes and issues. It is your job to educate yourself on each case you work with and where it stands. Make sure to brief yourself on the issues, parties, what documents have been filed, and what your firm plans to do with the case moving forward. This may seem like a straight-forward or even obvious tip, but it really helps you do your job better!

11) Pay attention to detail and keep track of your tasks

Every great lawyer has learned to pay attention to detail. Do yourself a favor and make sure you prioritize this skill now. Also, make sure to form the habit of keeping track of your tasks at work. Trust me, you will have a ton on your plate to keep track of! Find a way that works best for you. Do yourself a favor and establish these things now rather than later.

12) Learn the firm’s case management and filing systems

Quickly learn how to file documents in the office’s database, as well as the filing system for the courts in the state you are working in. If this is your first time starting a legal internship, you will need to learn the little technical things like filing. Your firm will likely show you how, but remember, that these are the bits of knowledge and experience you can bring with you to other jobs in the future.

13/4) Be confident, listen to your gut, and be proactive 

At any job you do, being confident, listening to your gut, and being proactive with your tasks are all crucial. This especially applies at a job in the legal field.

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

Every firm has their own way of tracking and billing client hours. At my firm, we kept a spread sheet of the hours with a detailed description of the task that was done for each client during that time. Then, any work done for an individual client are billed to them at the end of the payment period. Writing a detailed description of the tasks is important because it shows your boss and the client exactly what the client is being billed for. It is important to practice this skill because you will use this at almost any place you work for as a lawyer.