How to Find and Succeed in a Paralegal Internship

A paralegal internship is a temporary, sometimes unpaid, position with a law firm or law practice. A legal internship is an opportunity to work under the guidance of legal professionals and get a sense of what the position entails. A paralegal internship means working with the other paralegals in the office and performing some paralegal duties.

Law students in their third year of law school often perform internships or externships (paid internships) with a law firm and work with one or more attorneys. Legal internships are invaluable for anyone wanting a career in the legal field. Working as a legal assistant helps you understand the position and whether the career is right for you.

Being a paralegal intern is a great way to get experience and meet other legal professionals you might not get until much later in your career. Even a brief internship introduces you to legal research tools, how to write and file legal documents, and the ins and outs of working in a busy law firm.

As a paralegal, you must multitask and interact with several attorneys daily. Most entry-level paralegals support two or three attorneys. An internship gives you some insight into the amount of work that entails. A legal intern doesn’t have to do all the hard work, but you will see paralegals in action and can understand what the job entails.

You’ll also have something for your resume after school. An internship may not “count” as employment, but it demonstrates your commitment to your career. If you contribute meaningful work, you can request a referral or letter of reference after leaving your internship.

Many colleges, such as the Delaware County Community College, include a paralegal internship in their curriculum. The paralegal studies program, both the certificate and degree programs, requires an internship to complete the course.

Some government offices and nonprofit agencies offer unpaid internships for college students. If you’re interested in this type of work, these internships are tremendous opportunities for experience.

If you’re in a college requiring a paralegal internship, the college should have an office or department to help locate internships. Job boards like Indeed.com have filters for “internships” to help screen out paying jobs. You can find internships in your area.

Legal sites like Lawcrossing.com are better than general sites like Indeed.com because they have exclusively law-related listings. If there is a law school in your area, take advantage of job fairs and information sessions to network and ask if any firms have internships for paralegal students and law student internships.

Applying for an internship is just like applying for a job. Even if you’re applying for a school course requirement, don’t just settle on any available internship. Treat an internship interview like a full-time job interview for a position you want.

Everyone’s dream is a post-internship job offer. Most internships do not result in job offers for several reasons, including conflicts of interest and lack of experience. Even after you leave an internship, you’re still just an entry-level paralegal.

Getting a job after school means starting a new job search. Now you have your certificate or degree, and you have job experience. When you apply for full-time positions, list the qualifications you acquired during your internship. The communication skills, time management abilities, and software platforms you’ve learned are all things to highlight when you put your application on job boards. Ask your supervisor if you can use them for a job reference.

A paralegal internship is a valuable tool for advancing your legal career. If you’re getting a paralegal certificate or degree, your college may require you to spend some time in a law office as a paralegal intern.

If you’re looking to become a paralegal or already working in the legal field and want to advance your career, start looking for internships on job boards and in community colleges. Ask for more information from the registration office if you are interested.