Internships for Pre-Law Students

One of my most impactful internship experiences has been working for Bank on Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the community banking industry on the importance of adding qualified women to the Board and C-suite, and to developing and promoting women leaders in community banking, with the goal of increasing the number of qualified women serving on boards of directors and in executive management. As an intern for this organization, I collect, organize, and analyze data on the financial industry, design and upkeep the organization’s website and database, and communicate with banks and women interested in using our organization’s services.

I discovered this internship through connections I made on LinkedIn.

To express my interest in working with Bank on Women, I reached out to the organization via email and sent them my resume. They were very responsive, and, about one week later, informed me they would contact me to schedule a meeting. About a week after they responded, the CEO interviewed me over Zoom, explained the position, and offered me the role. The application process was very fast and efficient.

This internship taught me a range of personal and professional skills, as well as valuable knowledge about the financial and banking industry. Given my interest in the intersection of law and business, I learned a great deal about the inner workings of banking. Additionally, I developed strong communication, research, and analytical skills that I know will be valuable in any future career.

My best advice for anyone seeking their first internship is to stay confident and reach out to any connections you may have. Also, make use of resources like Pre-Law Advising Services for guidance and preparation throughout the process.

One of my most impactful internship experiences was as a legal assistant at “Grcic Law”, a firm specializing in real estate law. During my time there, I managed real estate closings, handling both residential and commercial transactions. My responsibilities included examining title commitments, drafting and reviewing transaction documents, and assisting with the overall coordination of closings. I also liaised with clients, attorneys, real estate agents, lenders, and title companies to ensure smooth and timely transactions. This experience sharpened my legal skills, enhanced my attention to detail, and deepened my interest in real estate law.

I found this internship opportunity through a networking event. I learned that the firm was known for accepting undergraduate interns, so I cold-emailed them to express my interest in joining their department as a summer intern.

Once I received a positive email response, I submitted my resume and a cover letter highlighting my interest in real estate law and my academic background. The interview process consisted of a phone interview followed by an in-person interview with the head attorney, which took place about 3 weeks after I sent them my resume and cover letter. The process was very fast and smooth.

This internship helped me develop strong attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills. I became proficient in reviewing title documents, drafting transaction paperwork, and identifying legal issues. I also improved my ability to multitask, manage time effectively, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, such as clients, attorneys, and real estate agents, to ensure smooth transactions.

My best advice is to stay proactive and persistent. Start networking early, and don’t be afraid to reach out to professionals in your field of interest. Even if there isn’t an immediate opening, building relationships can lead to opportunities down the line. Also, tailor your application materials to emphasize relevant skills, even if you don’t have direct experience yet.

My most impactful internship experience that I had was last summer when I interned for Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky in Washington D.C. In this role, I was able to work directly on technology policy issues by writing briefs, memos, and attending hearings or panels. I also was tasked with writing constituent letters, sorting batching mail, and answering constituent phone calls. I would say a lot of this internship’s responsibilities required strong reading, communication, and writing skills.

Congresswoman Schakowsky serves the 9th District of Illinois and that is where I am from. I found this internship early in high school and have been wanting to apply to it for some time. Last summer seemed like the perfect time to finally do so.

I believe I applied in January or February for the Summer 2024 internship. The application process for this internship was first submitting a resume, cover letter, and answering questions about why I wanted to work for my Congresswoman’s office specifically. Then, I had an interview with the Deputy Chief of Staff that lasted anywhere from 15-30 minutes. I believe this is the standard application process for working on the Hill. The biggest challenge is securing the interview and getting responses back from offices.

Regarding skills, I believe I learned how to become a stronger writer. I had to write a lot of briefs and memos to the staff that was supervising me which forced me to learn how to be an effective, succinct writer. Another skill that I learned was how to communicate in tense circumstances. A lot of the phone calls I had to take were from concerned constituents who wanted answers about certain policy questions. Because of this, I had to learn how to diffuse situations while also ensuring that I am communicating as much as I can with the person on the other side of the phone call. Lastly, I believe the biggest skill that I took away from this experience was advancing my professionalism. On the Hill, it is important that you remain professional in your conversations with others, on the phone, and with other interns. Even though it may seem like a small place, word spreads fast on the Hill and it is important that you maintain a professional reputation.

The knowledge that I believe that I developed from this internship was learned more insight regarding technology policy issues. Congresswoman Schakowsky is the Ranking Member of Innovation, Data, and Commerce. Because of this, I was able to retain more knowledge about the technology policy issues that are prevalent to people from my district. In addition to this, I also learned more about the world of politics. I learned about how Congress functions and how it compares to what you see on TV. I believe that was my favorite part of this internship.

My best piece of advice for someone looking for their first internship experience would be to apply to as many internships as possible and cast a very wide net. You should take applying very seriously and ensure that you are allocating a lot of time for it. The reason why I advise this is because all it takes is one yes to get an internship. You cannot get to the yes, however, without applying to as many as you can and putting yourself out there.

One of my most impactful internship opportunities to date was working as a Legal Documents Clerk at Robbins Geller Rudman and Dowd, LLP. With this position, I was responsible for managing documents relevant to ongoing litigation, as well as managing confidential documents and ensuring safe management/storage.

I found this internship opportunity due to connections that I fostered through personal networking and outreach. I gained these skills through positions within my pre-law organization, which allowed me to confidently leverage my connections in a respectful manner.

The application process consisted of a vetting process, containing letters of recommendation, and an interview. I applied in early January and began the position in June. The interview consisted of behavioral questions pertaining to my work style, experience in fast-paced office environments, and experience handling large quantities of documents.

This position helped me immensely in many necessary skills for a future in law. I gained experience in researching cases and finding applicable case law, managing litigation support documents, interaction with Judges/Attorneys/Office support staff, and more.

My best piece of advice is to be organized and maintain an ongoing document containing internships you applied for, and how they relate to your personal skills, along with using the resources available to you. UIUC has several different resources for having application materials reviewed, such the Career Center, Writing Center, and more. Don’t be afraid to use these resources to your advantage and ensure you are submitting the best possible application for these positions.

 My most impactful internship experience was last summer when I was working in the U.S. House of Representatives. I was a congressional intern and was responsible for communicating with constituents, logging calls/letters, writing back to constituents, analyzing pressing issues, and attending briefings and hearings.

I found this internship opportunity through cold calling.

My application process consisted of submitting a resume and cover letter. Then, a 2-part interview process on the phone with a congressional staffer, who asked questions about my qualifications and behavioral skills.

This internship helped me develop my writing skills as I was tasked with writing memos on the daily for staff review. Moreover, it helped me understand the importance of the legislative process and all the different pieces that come to work together. Prior to my internship, I was not familiar with the importance of committees in the legislative process.

 The best piece of advice someone gave me was to be a go-getter. This doesn’t mean being rude to an employer or recruiter, but it means showing genuine interest and following up. A lot of times when you follow up and send thank you emails it lets recruiters and employees remember you which will help you in the future.

This summer, I worked at Salvi & Maher Personal Injury Law Firm. I was a Summer Intern and I worked on the pre-litigation team. Each intern was paired with a mentor, so I got to work really closely with one of the paralegals. My job mostly consisted of requesting medical and billing records from healthcare facilities to get a clear picture of how clients were affected by their injuries. I used this information to draft itemizations of medical costs and liens, as well as demand letters to insurance companies.

I searched up law firms near me and found Salvi & Maher. I did not know that this internship opportunity existed when I first reached out, but I emailed them and asked if they had any internship opportunities available.

My application process was a bit unique. I reached out to one of the attorneys and asked if there were any internship opportunities available for pre-law students. They told me about their summer internship program, and I sent over my resume and a writing sample. Shortly after, I had a brief interview over the phone, and I was offered the position. For a typical intern at Salvi & Maher however, they apply on LinkedIn and go through a more formal application and interview process.

This opportunity really allowed me to develop my analytical and critical thinking skills, because I had to look at every aspect of a client’s injury (police reports, medical records, medical bills, wages lost, etc.) to advocate for fair and complete compensation for the injuries they suffered. I also had to learn how to communicate with so many different people—including fellow

My best piece of advice is that the only shot you miss is the shot you don’t take. Keep an open mind, learn and listen from everyone you meet, and look for opportunities everywhere you go. I had an amazing experience with Salvi & Maher, and I never would have had that if I taken that first leap in just reaching out.