5 answers
1
Question
Asked
1177 views
Undergrad Experiences/Extracurriculars for Law School Applicants?
What types of experiences would you recommend for undergraduate college students looking to go into law school? Does e.g. interning at a law firm help more than other experiences to show law schools your interest in the legal field? Thanks!
Login to comment
5 answers
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hi Blake,
Internships are a great way to show your initiative and gain valuable experience in the legal field. They will definitely help with school applications and future jobs. An externship can also turn your studies into real-world experience. Volunteering at government offices or law firms, no matter their size, can be very beneficial. You might also explore opportunities in the legal departments of local companies. Consider taking online classes and maybe find some summer jobs as well.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Internships are a great way to show your initiative and gain valuable experience in the legal field. They will definitely help with school applications and future jobs. An externship can also turn your studies into real-world experience. Volunteering at government offices or law firms, no matter their size, can be very beneficial. You might also explore opportunities in the legal departments of local companies. Consider taking online classes and maybe find some summer jobs as well.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Updated
Cung’s Answer
I'm not a lawyer, but I know many who are. From what I've learned, there are plenty of pro bono legal firms in every city where you can reach out to volunteer or possibly find a part-time job. Look into opportunities at your city or county courts, as they might have openings for aspiring legal students to help with their work. Also, consider contacting the State BAR Association or the National BAR Association for information on volunteer or pro bono work. This could be a great way to gain valuable experience in the legal field. You've got this!
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
I'm not a law school admissions officer, so I'm not sure about the current criteria, but showing an interest in law is a good start. It's helpful to work in the legal field to see if law school is right for you. You could try getting a job at a courthouse or a law firm as a file clerk or paralegal. Check if the law school needs help in the library or if professors need research assistants. Government agencies and non-profits often have internships, though they might be unpaid. Joining your school's pre-law society can help you find more ways to connect with the legal field. That's how I got a paralegal job during undergrad, which paid my rent and gave me a strong legal background for law school. It also helped me in my civil procedure class. Networking in the legal world is a great way to find opportunities that will boost your law school application and personal growth. Good luck!
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Hi Blake,
There's some good advice above. I would add that if you know what field of law you want to get into, look for opportunities to either intern or volunteer in that division of a firm, or, if firms aren't an option, get involved in that field in some other way. This could help strengthen your application narrative. Look for opportunities to build out your story and allow law schools to understand your path forward through your actions. Hope this helps!
There's some good advice above. I would add that if you know what field of law you want to get into, look for opportunities to either intern or volunteer in that division of a firm, or, if firms aren't an option, get involved in that field in some other way. This could help strengthen your application narrative. Look for opportunities to build out your story and allow law schools to understand your path forward through your actions. Hope this helps!
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi! I went to law school so I can give you my thoughts.
Interning at law firms helps, but it's also not the end of the world if you don't have law firm experience during undergrad because a lot of law firms do not host undergrad interns anyway (some do, but I feel like they're quite rare). Also, I think it doesn't necessarily matter what kind of internship you get, but rather what did you get out of the experience that matters to law schools. For example, as an undergrad, I spent some time volunteering and interning at a local art museum that features an artist whose work became lost during WWII but were later recovered. I did not do anything related to law in that position, I just did a whole bunch of scanning and cleaning out storage spaces and helping out with external events, but that experience sparked my interest in laws relating to the recovery and repatriation of lost art, and so I made it a point to write about that in my personal statement when I applied to law schools.
If you're not able to get a legal or even legal-adjacent internship, you can still join student organizations like mock trial (if your school has it) or debate and devote some time to reading about any legal topics that interest you. I did none of those things--I was in the running club and badminton club--and I still got into law school just fine. As long as you have good grades and can demonstrate your interest in the legal field through internships or extracurricular activities, you're just going to be fine.
Best of luck!
P.S. There are some legal organizations that do accept undergrad legal interns, and they're typically non-profit organizations that provide informational legal resources to the community for various areas of the law. They're also typically unpaid but can provide valuable experience and connections to undergrad and law students.
Interning at law firms helps, but it's also not the end of the world if you don't have law firm experience during undergrad because a lot of law firms do not host undergrad interns anyway (some do, but I feel like they're quite rare). Also, I think it doesn't necessarily matter what kind of internship you get, but rather what did you get out of the experience that matters to law schools. For example, as an undergrad, I spent some time volunteering and interning at a local art museum that features an artist whose work became lost during WWII but were later recovered. I did not do anything related to law in that position, I just did a whole bunch of scanning and cleaning out storage spaces and helping out with external events, but that experience sparked my interest in laws relating to the recovery and repatriation of lost art, and so I made it a point to write about that in my personal statement when I applied to law schools.
If you're not able to get a legal or even legal-adjacent internship, you can still join student organizations like mock trial (if your school has it) or debate and devote some time to reading about any legal topics that interest you. I did none of those things--I was in the running club and badminton club--and I still got into law school just fine. As long as you have good grades and can demonstrate your interest in the legal field through internships or extracurricular activities, you're just going to be fine.
Best of luck!
P.S. There are some legal organizations that do accept undergrad legal interns, and they're typically non-profit organizations that provide informational legal resources to the community for various areas of the law. They're also typically unpaid but can provide valuable experience and connections to undergrad and law students.