Whether it’s for a summertime or school-year internship (the latter done part-time of course), law students are clamoring to get into the best law firms in the country. Here are a few tips to score that dream internship:
Consult with your law school’s career services office
Start with what you have closest to you. Look into the career services offered by your school. Submit your resume and other qualifications to your career counselor before summer internship season. Most schools have strong links to alumni and other reputable law firms who are on the look out for interns and potential employees.
Make an impressive resume
List all the qualities that you think your targeted legal employer might look for such as organizational skills, flexibility, and even aptitude in certain computer applications. Make your resume easy to breeze through so that interviewers can easily see what they’re looking for. Likewise, make a strong cover letter to go with your resume.
Pre-internship
If possible, even before internship at a law firm is required, apply for apprenticeship or intern programs in other related fields. Smaller law firms may not offer you the pay or the prestige that top law firms can. However, a treasure trove of experience can be earned as you can be able to understand how a firm works. Apprenticeships and experience can also be gathered from government agencies such as the DA’s office or even that of the Federal Defender. Private companies and organizations championing causes such as environmental or human rights may also be good training grounds and impressive bullets in your resume.
Make a good impression on the interview
When you do get a call back from a law firm for an interview, do make a good impression. Be sure to dress right and convey body language that is just appropriate for the occasion. Make sure to bring your credentials such as a resume or anything that the employer might ask for.
Photo Credit : curiouslee
