Blog Details

Author - Muskan Bansal

The word “internship” is some of the things law students start hearing from their first year of school of law and it stays important right till the end. First-year law students often wonder if there is any point in doing an internship since they don’t know enough to contribute to a firm. Interning at a law firm is a golden opportunity to interact with eminent personalities, though it won’t be as interesting as they show in television series. You will need to go and invite work, the more you invite work the more you will learn. Passion towards the profession will definitely take you to higher levels. Let’s have a glance what interns do at law firms:

RESEARCH

Research constitutes a crucial aspect when it comes to case preparations and therefore the extent of research required per case often means long working hours are spent per day. Among the tasks which will be carried out as a part of the research process includes reviewing precedents and past legislations, fact-checking, draft memos, updating on current events. The key is being able to identify what is relevant out of the mass information and write it concisely. One needs to be a pro at various legal research tools, the prominent being Manupatra, LexisNexis etc. Research also plays a huge role in day-to-day jobs. You will need research skills when doing the background work on a case, drafting legal documents and advising clients on complicated issues. 

DRAFTING 

Drafting skills require tons of diligence and patience. One must be well versed with the varied drafting specimens and formatting skills in order to undertake and complete such assignments properly. Apart from these assignments may include proofreading of various legal documents, observance of court proceedings, making notes on various legal issues etc. and other tasks.  Legal interns are often responsible for writing various agreements, contracts, writs and leases.

READING CASE BRIEFS

Case briefs are one of the most important tools of an advocate. Interns read case briefs so that they would catch the arrangement of the file, which means knowing where the exhibits, affidavits, arguments, synopsis of the case are to be placed. No one teaches this one you are into the profession. 

PRESENTATIONS

While finding information through research is vital, interns must even be ready to effectively communicate that information to their superiors at the firm. Good communication skills play an important role in a lawyer's life. Therefore, interns in law firms are asked to prepare presentations to hone their speaking skills. This helps in speaking cogently and presenting yourself before a client. 

ACTING AS A COURTROOM ASSISTANT

This role will be one of the features of your internship at a litigation law firm. Interns usually assist their senior advocates to get good exposure to courtroom proceedings, they get an in-depth understanding of court processes and protocols. 

ORGANIZE AND PRIORITISE

If there is one thing that is synonymous with law firms is the massive amount of legal paperwork. Research papers, legal documents, client forms, billing invoices, case files, evidence records, the list just goes on and on. With such a large amount of paperwork involved, interns are a helping hand. Arranging case files in a way which is easy for them to find, organizing research papers and legal documents in a systematic manner. It’s a skill that will come in really handy in future. It is common for interns to do traditional clerical work such as taking calls and messages, drafting emails, preparing meeting minutes, scanning and photocopying documents.

OBSERVATION

The most important role as a law intern is to observe the workings of whatever environment they find themselves in. Many students enter law expecting it to always be dramatic and exciting. However, it's important to come to terms with it as a job that, like any other job, has both exciting and mundane parts. Sometimes, the most beneficial part of a legal internship is watching how professionals carry themselves in their day-to-day affairs. Gaining this perspective can help you prepare for your own career and guide your speciality choices.

DIRECT ASSISTANCE

One of the more exciting things a law intern does directly is helping attorneys with projects. This could range from follow-up work on depositions to participating in client interviews or assisting attorneys in the courtroom. They may be basically on call for any tasks required by the team to which you are assigned. Whether they are assigned to an engaging lawyer who gives a wealth of opportunities to see the law at work, or to a demanding boss who keeps them mired in paperwork, they will definitely be learning.

While there could be some preconceived notions about what it means to intern at a law firm and the tasks one will be undertaking, you won’t know for sure until you finally begin your internship. Basically, an internship at a law firm is meant to offer law students valuable insight into the professional lives of attorneys and judges.