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How to find an internship in your first year of law school
Start with the employer’s eligibility rules, the work you will do, and the cost of attending. A role is suitable for first-year students only when its current notice allows your course and year, or the employer confirms that you can apply.
Where to start looking
Explore litigation chambers, legal aid organisations, research groups, nonprofits, and law-firm teams. These are search directions, not a promise that a particular organisation accepts first-year students. Check the individual notice before preparing an application.
Check these six facts before applying
- Eligibility: course, study year, minimum experience, required skills, and any college restrictions.
- Work: actual responsibilities, supervision, practice area, and expected working hours.
- Dates: internship period, application deadline, and whether your college permits attendance.
- Location: office address or remote arrangement, commute, accommodation, and equipment needs.
- Payment: whether a stipend is offered, the amount and unit, payment conditions, and reimbursements. A blank stipend field does not mean paid.
- Application destination: use the link or email in the employer’s notice. Confirm uncertain details with the employer.
A short application that gives the employer what they need
Use a clear subject such as “Internship application — [month/year] — [name]”. State your course and year, available dates, preferred location, and why the team’s work interests you. Attach a concise CV and only the writing sample or documents requested. Describe your actual coursework and experience; do not invent expertise.
Keep a tracker with the source URL, application date, deadline, documents sent, and response. Follow the employer’s follow-up instructions and avoid duplicate submissions.
How to compare paid opportunities
Compare take-home stipend with accommodation, food, travel, and other costs for the same duration. Review the firm stipend guide as an editorial starting point and confirm the terms of the specific role. Firm-wide estimates do not prove that a particular vacancy is paid.
When the deadline or eligibility is missing
Ask the employer whether applications are open and whether your year can apply. Lawlit labels missing facts as unspecified. An old listing, an undated post, or the absence of a closing date is not evidence of a current opening.
How to use Lawlit’s verification information
Open a listing’s “Opportunity at a glance” panel. Look for the recorded source, reviewer, verification date, and closing status. Use the editorial policy to interpret the label, and report changed terms so the listing can be corrected.