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What is the best approach for a paralegal student to secure an internship in a small law firm?
I am currently a student in the Middlesex Community College, Certificate in Paralegal Studies program and will need to secure an internship for myself in the coming semester. I am in need of guidance as to the best way to get an attorney to agree to allow me to perform paralegal duties and not use me simply as a free file clerk. #paralegal #legal #women-in-law #law
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Kim’s Answer
Rachel,
Hi! I am a long way from Massachusetts (but was born there! :-) but think this advice will still be useful. I am actually in a Paralegal Studies program in Texas!
An internship usually has requirements that the law firm must meet. I know some specifically address your concerns in the instructions they give to the firm. Beyond that, I would look at writing a letter highlighting what you have learned in school, what interested you the most, what you did well in, what your career goals are (such as corporate law, patent law, etc.) and what you would hope to accomplish through an internship. Be careful not to oversell yourself! We have all done some work on Lexis or Westlaw, for example, but even if we got an A, we are far from experts. Also include what you hope to contribute to the firm (this is the hard part!)
Research the firms in your community, talk to other students, etc. Try to find out what firms tend to use interns. Solo firms may not have time to do any teaching, but they can be very exciting. Realize that grunt work IS part of the job, so you need to be willing to do some filing, but the focus of the internship should be on work that would be classified as "billable hours."
Edited to include: Also, please try to find out who is in the office, and who you need to talk to! Don't bypass administrative staff and other Paralegals! Stepping on toes is not a good way to start off! Your initial contact may not be with the attorneys!
I think this will be an exciting semester for you, and hope all goes well. Keep me posted!
Kim
Hi! I am a long way from Massachusetts (but was born there! :-) but think this advice will still be useful. I am actually in a Paralegal Studies program in Texas!
An internship usually has requirements that the law firm must meet. I know some specifically address your concerns in the instructions they give to the firm. Beyond that, I would look at writing a letter highlighting what you have learned in school, what interested you the most, what you did well in, what your career goals are (such as corporate law, patent law, etc.) and what you would hope to accomplish through an internship. Be careful not to oversell yourself! We have all done some work on Lexis or Westlaw, for example, but even if we got an A, we are far from experts. Also include what you hope to contribute to the firm (this is the hard part!)
Research the firms in your community, talk to other students, etc. Try to find out what firms tend to use interns. Solo firms may not have time to do any teaching, but they can be very exciting. Realize that grunt work IS part of the job, so you need to be willing to do some filing, but the focus of the internship should be on work that would be classified as "billable hours."
Edited to include: Also, please try to find out who is in the office, and who you need to talk to! Don't bypass administrative staff and other Paralegals! Stepping on toes is not a good way to start off! Your initial contact may not be with the attorneys!
I think this will be an exciting semester for you, and hope all goes well. Keep me posted!
Kim
Updated
MORENA’s Answer
will give you a very easy and simple answer. First of all, express your interest to do an internship in a local law firm at your school. Then explore existing opportunities posted in the social media community in your town/city. Also just walk into any of the law firms and introduce yourself and express your interest to become an intern in their firm with the knowledge of their specialty in the practice.