What do law firms look for in interns?
Asked by: Preston Bartoletti | Last update: April 26, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (72 votes)
Law firms look for motivated, intelligent interns with strong research, writing, and communication skills, alongside essential soft skills like maturity, teamwork, and commercial awareness, focusing less on pre-existing legal expertise and more on potential, enthusiasm, integrity, and the ability to learn and fit into the firm's culture. Key traits include initiative, problem-solving, cultural fit, and a genuine interest in the firm and the law.
What do interns usually do at law firms?
You'll work directly with law firms or in-house legal teams, developing essential skills employers adore. During your internship, you'll get on with various tasks that can include legal research, drafting documents and prepping for court hearings. You're not tied to a law firm either.
What skills do you need for a legal intern?
The most common skills for Legal Interns include legal research, legal documentation, corporate law, litigation review, and legal writing.
How to be the best intern for a law firm?
Here are seven ways to make the most of that time and leave your summer internship on a high note.
- Put yourself out there. ...
- Go to lunch with your boss. ...
- Stay on top of your assignments. ...
- Get a good writing sample. ...
- Ask for feedback—good and bad. ...
- Have an exit interview. ...
- Send a thank you card.
What do law firms look for when hiring?
Law firms tend to focus during the interview process on some combination of talent/credentials, relevant experience, and cultural fit. For some firms, credentials are paramount with relevant experience counting little or not at all.
Things You Should Know Before Your Law Firm Internship - Internship Tips
How old is the youngest lawyer?
The youngest lawyer is currently Sophia Park, who passed the California Bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother's record and becoming the youngest in California history. While she passed the exam, she was sworn in as a licensed attorney in March 2025 after turning 18, joining the Tulare County District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor.
What are the 5 C's of interviewing?
The 5 C's of interviewing offer a framework for assessing candidates, commonly including Competence (skills), Character (integrity, work ethic), Communication (clarity, listening), Culture Fit (team alignment), and sometimes Confidence, Chemistry, or Curiosity, helping hiring managers identify well-rounded individuals who not only can do the job but also fit the organization's values and team dynamics. While specific lists vary, these core attributes help predict a candidate's potential value and long-term success.
How hard is it to get a law internship?
Scoring an internship as a law student is not easy. It requires preparation, organization, hard work, and tenacity. The process takes time, effort and, regrettably, rejection.
Who are the Golden 5 law firms?
The "Golden 5" law firms usually refer to London's elite "Magic Circle" firms: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May, known for their high profitability and corporate law expertise, a term coined by legal journalists in the 1990s. While some US firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins dominate in revenue and size, the Magic Circle remains the benchmark for UK-based global corporate law.
Is 2 months too short for an internship?
No, a 2-month internship is not too short; it's a common length for summer roles, valuable for gaining experience, testing an industry, and building your resume, especially if you focus on articulating what you learned and achieved within that timeframe, even if longer internships offer deeper immersion. Whether it feels "enough" depends on your goals, but it provides a solid, realistic taste of a career path, with many successful professionals starting with such short experiences, according to this Reddit thread.
What are the top 3 skills do you hope to gain from this internship?
A professional internship allows students to develop communication skills, relationships, confidence, and gain valuable experiences they can utilize later in life.
Are law internships worth it?
If possible, acquiring work experience during the summer break might prove to be invaluable later on. Summer internships will offer you a wide range of benefits that can significantly boost your academic, professional, and personal development. Working hard while you are already a student will pay dividends later on!
What skills do law firms want?
In the following sections, we break down the interpersonal and cognitive skills crucial for the modern lawyer, or someone studying to become one.
- Communication. Lawyers must be able to communicate well in both written and oral formats. ...
- Attention to Detail. ...
- Time Management. ...
- Teamwork. ...
- Ethical Judgement. ...
- Negotiation.
Why do law firms hire interns?
The practical experience that internships bring make the legal theory they learn in school make more sense, and better prepares them for actual legal practice upon graduation.
How to answer why do you want to intern here?
How to answer "Why are you interested in this internship?"
- Understand what you can gain. ...
- Include how it can help your career. ...
- Mention the workplace. ...
- Describe why you're a good fit. ...
- Discuss industry innovations. ...
- Focus on the job duties.
What do law students do during 1l summer?
Many students choose to complete an internship during the summer related to the legal profession. This allows students to get hands-on experience within different fields of law. Most internships will be in nonprofit or government settings and focus in a myriad of topics.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially partners at large firms, top corporate lawyers, or specialized trial attorneys, but it's not typical for the average lawyer, whose median salary is much lower, requiring significant experience, specialization (like IP or M&A), and business acumen to reach that high income level.
What is the #1 law firm in the world?
The "number 1" law firm depends on the metric, but Kirkland & Ellis consistently ranks as the top firm globally by revenue, grossing over $8.8 billion in 2024, and leads in areas like private equity and M&A. Other top contenders by size and revenue include Latham & Watkins, DLA Piper, and Baker McKenzie, while firms like Quinn Emanuel are recognized as "most feared" in litigation, showing rankings vary by focus.
Who are the 7 sisters law firms?
In the Canadian legal market, the 'Seven Sisters', leading Bay Street Toronto, Ontario corporate firms, continue to dominate the marketplace. They are Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Goodmans LLP, McCarthy Tétrault, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP and Torys.
Am I screwed if I have no internships?
If you have internship experience in the field in which you are applying, you are more likely to stand out to whoever is looking at your resume. If you do not have any internship experience, it will most likely not harm your chances of getting a job at all.
What disqualifies you from law school?
Disqualification from law school often stems from academic failure (low GPA/grades) or character & fitness issues like significant criminal records, academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism), financial irresponsibility, or, most commonly, failing to be truthful on your application or during the character and fitness review process, as honesty and candor are paramount. While issues like past arrests or financial struggles aren't automatic disqualifiers, they require full disclosure and evidence of rehabilitation to avoid denial or later disbarment.
Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?
Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.
What is your 3 strength best answer?
To answer "what are your 3 strengths," choose qualities relevant to the job (like problem-solving, adaptability, and communication) and provide brief, specific examples demonstrating how you use them, linking each strength to positive results for the employer by focusing on showing, not just telling.
What are 5 common interview mistakes?
Five common interview mistakes include being unprepared (not researching the company or role), talking too much or rambling, badmouthing past employers, poor body language (like lack of eye contact or fidgeting), and failing to ask thoughtful questions at the end, all of which signal disinterest, unprofessionalism, or a lack of confidence.
What are 5 good skills to have?
Five universally valuable skills for success are Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Adaptability, and Critical Thinking, as these empower you to understand, collaborate, overcome challenges, and learn in any role or environment, making you highly sought after by employers.