Legal Students: Network with Law Firms to Locate the Best Internship

By: Tracey Drake
Submitted: 2007-01-17 11:43:49
Print this article | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

For most law students, networking with law firms is the best way to find a great internship. In large cities and small towns, the legal community is close knit and many times, it is who you know, not what you know. The more people you meet with, the better your chances of building your professional network, and finding a great intern position. Networking is best started with one’s own friends and acquaintances. You can gradually branch out to network with your friends’ friends, colleagues, and members of the legal profession, as well as others in the business community that can further your efforts.

Do not be shy about contracting people of the legal profession who are not known to you. Concentrate on lawyers who are active in your field of interest. Make a list of potential law firms and seek appointments to set up interviews. You can make it clear that you are not looking for a job or internship, but seeking their advice and suggestions on your common field of interest. In the process of meeting them, if they do have an opening for an intern, they may consider you. However, your primary concern at this time is to increase your networking. Think of it as personal marketing that will serve you well your entire career.

Preparing for Internship

Prior to networking with fellow professionals and law firms, ensure that you have your resume ready. An internship resume must be informative, proactive and engaging. Have it written by a professional to ensure you stand out from the crowd amongst all other intern applicants. Emphasize your area of interest and why you want to intern for a certain law firm. Your resume should emphasize your experience (including volunteer work, community service and clerking positions while in school) that are relevant to your field of interest, your commitment to the law and must express your passion for your chosen career field.

Your resume should be well written to create a good impression, and should be accompanied by an excellent cover letter.

Depending on the law firm you are applying to for your internship, you may be required to submit a number of documents with your job application, such as:

-A covering letter stating the reasons for applying
-A detailed resume
-A sample of written legal work (take care that it does not breach client confidentiality)
-Two written references
-Copies of university and other degrees, and/or diplomas
-A list of specialized courses taken

If you have applied to a foreign law firm for your internship program, you will require submitting copies of your passport, as well. Make sure that your internship application is submitted as per the law firm’s requirements.

© GradResumes.com – specializes in writing graduate resumes and college admission documents. With dozens of professional resume writers and education specialists, and some of the finest editing staff in the industry, GradResumes.com has effectively helped thousands of clients launch their post-graduate careers and successfully gain admission to their schools of choice. Any reproduction or reprint of this article must include this information.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Careers Employment category

  • Electrical Contractors Are Still In Demand - By: Anna Poelo
    With people urging everyone to go green and environment-friendly in their lifestyles, is there still room for technology-driven electrical contractors? Of course there is, more than enough!
  • Tips for finding Account Management Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    The Account Managers run the account on a day to day basis. They are the ones getting everything done, putting the plan in to practice.
  • Tips for finding Freelance Medical Writer Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    People looking for Freelance Medical Writer jobs have usually attained a life sciences degree and may well hold a higher degree such as a Masters or Doctorate.
  • Tips for finding Healthcare Freelancer Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    On the plus side you get to be your own boss and with this, come the flexibility of deciding when and how much time you want to be working.
  • Role of Non Executive Director - By: Jim Damon
    Non exec Directors should also provide independent views on: organisations' resources, appointments, Standards of conduct.
  • Tips for finding Medical Editor Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    The medical or scientific editor will work in the editorial department alongside medical writers and generally under the supervision of the Editorial Director.
  • Tips on finding Healthcare Public Relations Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    In whichever area of public relations you practice, you will need some basic and fundamental skills. Much of your work in trying to reach target groups will rely on creating interesting and insightful copy, so you will need strong editorial skills and a clear and concise style of writing.
  • Tips on finding Medical Writing Jobs - By: Jim Damon
    As a medical writer you can enjoy a fairly structured career path. The classical route runs from medical writer to editorial director via senior medical writer and editorial manager / team leader.
  • Offshore Jobs - Easy Requirements And Great Advancement Opportunities - By: Steinbeck Miller
    Getting offshore jobs is not tough, as there are no difficult-to-meet requirements. However, one has to be mentally strong to go into this line of work.
  • Radiology Job Market 2010 - By: Robert Truog
    Highly paid Radiologists may not generate much sympathy but their world may be changing. The constant rise in their salaries seems to have hit a wall and indeed due to some changes in reimbursement rates they may actually have fallen recently