Blog Details

Author - Prenita Ranjan

INTRODUCTION

INTERNS: Definition

An internship is a job/ training for professional careers, lack of standardization and oversight leaves the term open for broad interpretations, the people who work in these internships are called interns, who can be college students, school students or post-graduates. Generally an internship consists of exchange of service between intern and the organization which helps them to determinate if they have interest in a particular career and also to create network of contact, gain recommendation letter or to score school credit. Many interns manage to get paid employments from the organization they work for as an intern, though it is not always guaranteed.

LAW FIRMS: Definition

A law firm is basically a business entity formed by one or more than one lawyer in order to engage in the practice of law, a law firm consists of certified legal practitioners who are hired to advise clients about their legal matters, rights and duties. 

By the time a law student completes their first semester of the law school, the talk is all about where they are going to apply for internships? What they are going to do? It’s all about how important it is to do the right internship at the right time. An internship can be done in an NGO, in a litigation firm, corporate law firm. The importance of internship for law students is that one should gain a kind of practical experience while studying law, it has been seen that an individual tends to learn more during their one to two months of internship done in a nice firm than one does in an entire semester. What one studies in a law school is more of a theoretical knowledge, internships on the other hand helps you gain that real world practical knowledge giving you a taste of your upcoming professional life. 

In a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), it was seen that nearly 50% of employers would like to see an internship in the resume of a student and almost 36% employers hire employees from their own internship.

HOW A LAW FIRM HELPS IN GROWTH OF AN INTERN?

An internship done under a good firm can help these law students to figure out their area of interest that they wish to pursue as their career after law school. Law internships provide first-hand experience in the legal profession and a close look at the day to day responsibilities that come with being an attorney. Importance of internship for law students is that it gives:

●        DIRECTION: Students are able to ask questions and observe the working, giving them an insight into what type of law the student would want to and would not want to pursue after their graduation from the law school. Interning in different areas of law internships can really help a law student to decide his curious mind.

●        PROFESSIONALISM: Whether the internship places an intern in a courtroom, in front of the client or behind the desk in an office, one gets an in site of how lawyers conduct themselves. Simply knowing how to behave in a professional setting will help ensure that you never stand out for the wrong reason.

●        BETTER UNDERSTANDING: While law school teaches you the fundamental substantive law, one needs to know how to apply the concepts and principles learned in the classroom to situations in the real world.

●        GOOD RESUME: Completing a law firm internship makes law school graduates more marketable to the employers. Law internships exemplify their dedication to learning as much as possible about the law, not just in the class rooms but also in the real world.

HIRING OF INTERNS BY LAW FIRM/ PROFESSIONALS.

These interns are excited to set into the world to gain some real experience while they spend years in the classrooms to become theoretically educated. Many of these have already chosen their area of expertise. There are different options that are provided to these interns, some paid, unpaid, minimum wages other are salary that government may authorize. Hiring an intern is a minimal investment that can be done by a law firm. 

●        It has been seen that interns often bring out fresh perspectives, as a legal intern while working as an employee to the firm for a brief period of time is also an outsider to the firm, who can bring fresh perspectives and strategies. 

●        Another advantage of hiring an intern that has been seen is that, it often boosts the confidence and leadership skill of already working employees who act as a mentor to these young minds. 

●        There is no question on the fact that with new generation comes new ideas, technology skills and unique ways, the idea of involving these interns in understanding new ways and social strategy will let one be updated with the changing time. Social media and technology was not as popular in the field of law as it has become today with online internships, online case filing and even online case proceedings.

●        Hiring interns also provide for a mentoring opportunity, interacting with these young and fresh minds is very useful for both interns and the lawyers.

●        Internship periods also act as a trial period for the search of those brilliant minds that can join in after the completion of their law school, it is also considered as a way of hiring permanent employees/ lawyers. As it is better to work with someone who already has understood the ways of working of a particular firm than to hire a completely new person.

●        Legal Interns can be really helpful in smooth and fast working of a firm, an intern works as a extra hand for the firm, we are aware of the amount of paper work and research work that goes into while working on even a single case in a law firm, interns can always work as a support and helping hand to these employees of the firm in completing and compiling all the paper works.

●        Hiring an intern can get a lot of promotional benefits, the type of promotion depends on the firm and its mentor, if one is a good mentor who provides the intern good guidance and knowledge, the interns will probably talk good about the mentor along with the law firm whether it be to their family, friends or other law professional which can be really beneficial for the growth of the firm. When people will hear good things about a particular firm they are more likely to be inclined towards them and will more likely prefer working or taking help from that firm.

That most common mistakes that has been seen in hiring an legal intern is that often interns are taken as a replacement of a professional, internship is not something that should be taken lightly, an intern should only be hired by a firm if the firm is able to provide proper mentorship to the intern and is able to enhance the skills of the intern, not being able to mentor and provide proper training to your intern will not be a good experience for either of the party, nor only will the intern not learn something but will also promote the firm in a negative prospective.

CONCLUSION

I feel that the relationship between a law firm and a legal intern is always a win-win situation for both the parties as one gets to experience practical knowledge and skills whereas, the other is able to get a extra helping hand. Receiving feedbacks and reviews from the legal intern is always a good idea as it helps the law firm get a second perspective and help them to know where they stand and what all they can do in order to improve themselves and be more productive. The concept of hiring an intern is always a good idea if you are strong and competent enough to train and mentor them properly; this not only improves the skills of the intern but also the mentor.

Legal Intern is the future of the firm, the better you train them, the better they will manage the firm and as I already mentioned it’s better to appoint someone who has seen the working of the firm and has already worked in it than to appoint a completely new person who will have to take time to adjust and understand the working of the law firm from the very beginning.