Legal Internships Guide
Orange County, with its robust legal community comprising of attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals, is an attractive destination for those who want to break into the field of law. Legal internships are abundant in the area, with many local law firms, courts, district attorney and public defender offices, and NGOs consistently offering opportunities for budding lawyers to hone their skills – and law student interns and volunteers are in no short supply. Orange County presents a phenomenal opportunity for aspiring lawyers to gain real-world experience and prepare for a future legal career.
Legal internships offer an invaluable first-hand experience of the workings of the legal profession. From research and document drafting to interviewing clients and observing court proceedings, interns learn the intricacies of being a lawyer. Interning gives aspiring lawyers a chance to test the waters of what it is like to be a lawyer, providing them with a clearer picture of the tasks and responsibilities associated with the role. They also develop a fresh lens on the law, seeing the application of law through the eyes of practicing attorneys.
Legal internships are not only useful for gaining insight into the profession of law, they are also vital for professional development. Valuable skills, both technical and non-technical, can be acquired through legal internships . Interns develop research and writing skills, become proficient in using databases and other technology, enhance their analytical skills, and develop networking skills that will be helpful throughout their careers. In addition to gaining skills, legal internships provide a platform to gain confidence in these skills.
Perhaps more importantly, legal internships also allow young lawyers to build their professional network. The connections built during internships may prove crucial in the longevity and success of interns’ legal careers. Internship and volunteer experience reveals a lawyer’s professionalism, reliability, and character. Those who have a positive experience with an intern may look favorably upon the intern when the time comes to hire. Interns can also cultivate their network by establishing relationships with supervisors, co-workers, and fellow interns; relationships which may be advantageous in the future.
Interning is one of the most effective ways to secure a job after graduating law school. Further, hiring decisions hinge heavily upon interview performance, and candidates who are best suited for the position are often hired. Thus, gaining experience through a legal internship not only teaches legal interns how to be a great lawyer, but it also sets them up for success for future job opportunities within the legal realm.
Best Firms for Legal Internships
A few of the top law firms in Orange County that often have legal internships available include:
Sullivan, Workman and Dee. One of the largest law firms in Orange County, Sullivan, Workman and Dee represents a wide range of clients and actively seeks summer law students. The firm really stands out for its commitment to training and mentoring interns, giving them a solid foundation for their next internship or position after law school. According to many interns at the firm, this is one of the best places to get not just invaluable experience but also to learn about the ins and outs of working as a lawyer in private practice.
Jackson & Trimble. This is a smaller firm with a great deal of experience and one that many interns believe would be a great first stop. It’s a terrific place to intern, with a number of Phoenix School of Law and Golden Gate University alumni heading here to intern.
Jade McClurg Law, LLC. This law office focuses on entertainment, real estate and business litigation. One of the things that is great about getting an internship with this firm is that unlike some larger firms where you might be working with several different attorneys on a temporary basis, here you get to know your supervisor and get to know what it is like to work in his or her section of the law.
Nukada and Nibbelink. This smaller firm, located in Old Towne Orange, is known for its broad focus on litigation, which allows interns to gain legal experience in many different areas. These areas include family law, landlord and tenant issues, personal injury and representation of both consumers and small businesses.
Diligent Law Group. This is one of the law firms that are considered the best for externships and internships, and does require a cover letter. However, the benefit of this firm is the same as the McClurg Law firm-interns are exposed to many different areas of the law and allowed to get their hands dirty by taking part in court cases, attending trials and settlements and undertaking important research projects.
Top law firms aren’t the only ones hiring interns. Smaller law firms and boutique firms will need interns and law school students as well, but smaller firms sometimes can be just as difficult to get in to. With the economy having recovered from the recession, laws students do not have the same advantage.
How to Apply for Legal Internships
The application process for legal internships in Orange County is generally similar to other industries, but with some specific nuances and common requirements. Typically, law firms and corporations will post internship openings on their websites and various job boards, or through law school career services offices. The competitive nature of these positions means that those who stand out as candidates will most likely secure the internships.
The basic requirements for a legal internship in Orange County typically include a resume and cover letter, with some requiring undergraduate and/or law school transcripts. Some internships may also require additional documents such as writing samples, letters of recommendation, or personal essays. Some firms may also require applicants to fill out an employment application, although firms generally have their applications posted on their websites.
Your resume and cover letter give employers a glimpse of your skills and experiences, and if you’ll be a good fit for the firm. An overly long resume with a lot of description of each position is not attractive to employers, so try to keep your resume to one page with successful information about your education, work history, and any certifications. Employers are generally looking for candidates who demonstrate an interest in law, a good academic background, and the ability to communicate well both in writing and verbally.
Never underestimate the power of a well-written cover letter. Typically no longer than a page in length, the cover letter is your opportunity to show the employer how you will fit into their law firm. It should be typewritten, formatted nicely, and grammatically correct. It also provides you the chance to explain your interest in working at that specific firm. Make sure you do your research on the firm and give a succinct example of why you want to work there. If you’re applying online, be sure to follow the firm’s submission instructions closely, such as attaching your resume and cover letter in PDF format. A good rule of thumb is to revisit the application process after you’ve completed it to make sure you didn’t make a mistake.
Even though a law school degree isn’t required for the majority of legal internships, applying directly to the firm is still very common. In fact, about a third of interns apply in-house because they seek a position that is not affected by external factors, such as a law school career services office. This means you have more flexibility over what opportunities to consider. If you can find the firms who offer the types of opportunities you want, you’ll have a better chance of landing an interview.
The application process can be competitive, so it requires thorough preparation on your part. Research the firm or business thoroughly ahead of time and familiarize yourself with their practice areas. Be prepared for difficult interview questions and have your talking points memorized so you can discuss them convincingly. But more importantly, be yourself.
Advantages of Interning in Orange County
Interning in Orange County presents several unique advantages over other areas. For starters, the icing on the cake of being an intern: being in the sunny southern California region of Orange County is certainly a plus. With great weather year-round, coastal beaches and plenty of fun to be had after hours, Orange County is a prime location for both career advancement as well as recreation. From shopping at South Coast Plaza, to visiting Disneyland’s Disneyland Resort, interns have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the local area off-hours.
But beyond the weather and attractions, the internship opportunities available here set Orange County apart. Although it is not a widely known fact, the region has a booming legal community, comprised of several hundred law firms and legal organizations. In Orange County, numerous law firms have offices in two or more of the major popular areas, including Costa Mesa, Newport Beach , and Irvine. This geographical advantage should be highly sought after as many employers value the ability to travel to various offices on demand. If you have a passion for the law, and are willing to travel to the office of your choice for the day, this is an experience that is not easily obtained elsewhere.
Interns also have the opportunity to join a wide variety of professional networking organizations in the Orange County area as well. The OC Bar high school program allows young students to acquire first-hand knowledge about the legal profession while networking with members of the local bar. Other organizations include the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association and the John M. Langston Bar Association. These organizations often offer opportunities to mingle with top-level OC professionals and are excellent sites for interns to forge professional relationships.
With such unique and adherent programs in the legal community, and extensive opportunities to network, Orange County legal interns stand to substantially benefit from their experience.
Making Connections and Seeking Guidance
Interns often have the opportunity to meet with other influential people in the industry, legal or non-legal. Interns may meet with district attorneys, judges, insurance industry executives, and other influential members within the community, not just those within the legal field. The importance of networking is invaluable due to the number of opportunities that may arise from meeting those individuals. This is beneficial for internship candidates because it allows interns the opportunity to show other influential individuals their skills and abilities beyond the typical interview process. In addition, networking can lead to other internships or job opportunities that interns may not have been aware of prior to the position. The relationships interns are able to build while interning, coupled with exceptional performance and skills are key to helping interns navigate the next steps in their professional careers.
Interns have the added benefit of working with supervisors and other attorneys everyday, which gives the intern the opportunity to ask questions, learn from experience and develop the skills necessary to start a successful career. These relationships with supervisors and other attorneys are essential to help interns develop their long-term careers.
Past Intern Successes
The success stories of past interns help frame the greater picture of how important internships are as stepping stones to a successful legal career.
Past interns who have leveraged their Orange County internships to launch successful legal careers include:
• An entertainment and intellectual property attorney who is also a member of the NBA Sports Council, which oversees issues related to the intersection of sports, media, and intellectual property rights. The attorney credits one internship in Orange County with providing them an invaluable network of contacts and a deep understanding of the entertainment industry, and says that they still call upon many of these contacts in their current business today.
• A successful civil litigation attorney who specializes in the defense of trucking companies who has a multi-million dollar a year practice. They leveraged their internship at one of the biggest law firms in the country , which has a significant presence in Orange County, into a full-time offer with the firm upon graduating law school. The intern still talks about their "mind-blowing experience" as "a rewarding, particularly eye-opening glimpse of the practice that would prepare them for their life’s work," which underlines just how valuable an internship can be in showing law students what they’ll be facing in the real world.
• A family law attorney who originally went into law thinking that they wanted to be a public defender, but just "fell in love" with family law practice during their internship. After graduating, they were hired by the firm where they had interned during their law school days, and have been there successfully ever since.
Finding and taking on a legal internship in Orange County is the best way for law students to guarantee a successful legal career.