Internship: What Do Interns At Law Firms
Do?
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.
