While television can make it seem like everyone works for a large law firm, the vast majority of law firms are actually small. Maybe you`ll have better luck with an internship in a small company. A law firm with only one or a few lawyers may be eager for help. Small businesses tend to be less formal. They may be better able to pick you up and create a customized program for you than a large company with rigid and inflexible rules. An articling at law school is key to your experience for several reasons, besides the fact that everyone expects you to do it, and you`ll find that you`re comparing notes about where you had such an experience and with whom for years to come (so consider making a good one!). The articling helps you build on what you`re learning and what you`ve already learned in law school, and most importantly, because you can put it in a real law firm with real clients. Work experience is an integral part of many students trying to get into competitive law schools — and in fact, it can be the supplement that gets them where they want to go via other apps — but internships during your law school will help you strengthen your education and help you find a job later. To find a summer internship at law school, you`ll need to do more than just a few searches online. Of course, you should too, but this is just the beginning of your search. And you have to cast a wide net.
Here are some tips that may help: Your school`s career center may also have ideas for you. You may know local lawyers who enjoy working with articling students. You may also receive a list of alumni who are lawyers. These alumni can strive to help a fellow student explore and launch their career. If you`re considering a career in law, an articling session as a student is a great way to explore your options. If you try to decide that you don`t like it, you can save yourself three years of law school and the frustration of a career that doesn`t fit well. An undergraduate articling can help you explore options within the legal profession. Not all lawyers are lawyers in law firms. Finally, at the end of your internship, it can`t hurt to send your supervisor a formal thank you card.
Gifts often raise ethical questions, although a simple edible item or gift card may not be too much. This choice is yours and you feel comfortable with your supervising lawyer. However, a card will never be a bad decision. You`ve probably read that you need to network. If you don`t have lawyer friends, hearing that word from another person can be enough to cause frustration. Don`t worry, there are still things you can do. The first step to finding an internship is to let your friends know you`re looking for one. Spread the word on social media. Tell your friends and family. You may not know lawyers personally, but your friends and family can. Law school is the only time in your life when you have your hands free to test legal waters without restriction. Even if you`re sure you want to practice in a particular area, you should use your time in law school to try other areas.
Do internships and/or summer associate positions during the summer, but also internships during the school year to obtain credits. The more you get in touch with real legal work, the better you can refine your interests. And the more experience you gain, the better prepared you`ll be for practice, which is a bonus. You`re in law school, so you should focus on articling positions, right? Not necessarily. As I said earlier, your time as a student is a time to explore. Many lawyers pursue non-legal careers or work in careers based on their legal, but not strictly legal, experience. For example, if you think your talents are best used as a consultant, start practicing your case interviews and try to get an internship at a consulting firm. If you think you might try to use your legal experience to become a sports agent one day, contact an agency and spend a few months getting a glimpse into that professional life. Even if you are not in dispute, punctuality always reflects professionalism and commitment to your work. Be punctual every day and don`t be the first to go out at the end of the workday.
Most law students are not accepted for an articling until they have completed their first year at law school, which is a great way to complete the beginning of an intense experience. Most first-year students have to adjust to a strict schedule of class time and study time, and while it can sometimes be exhausting and even intimidating, reaching this milestone is also usually extremely challenging. Summer is usually the appropriate time for an internship, so the student can take a break from their studies, but enjoy considerable time in a law firm.