What Should I Be Looking for in a 2L internship? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm talking about internships during the 2L school year, not 2L summer. Assuming I'm only interested in PI/gov't work and go to a T50, should I:

1) Realistically expect to be paid?
2) Work at an organization I'll get experience with but am not actually interested in working with after graduation?
3) Work both semesters or is not working one semester okay? Does it matter if I work at different places the 2L fall and spring semesters?

Also, how many people generally work during their 2L year? Thank you.

[badaboom61]

You say you can't work at this place due to financial constraints - do you have something lined up already that pays better? If so, why would they care if do a public interest internship part time?

[Anonymous User]

You say you can't work at this place due to financial constraints - do you have something lined up already that pays better? If so, why would they care if do a public interest internship part time?

OP here:

Sorry, I edited my OP after you posted. But, no I don't have anything lined up after graduation. I'm not worried that any place I'd work for after graduation would care about me working with a PI place during my 2L year. I'm just wondering if working at a place during my 2L year that I couldn't actually work for would be counter-intuitive. Basically, should I be using my 2L year to work only at a place I would realistically seek employment at?

[keg411]

You should be looking for one of two things (preferably both, but that's not easy):
1) Somewhere that will hire you after law school
2) The practice area you are interested in working in after law school

[Anonymous User]

You should be looking for one of two things (preferably both, but that's not easy):
1) Somewhere that will hire you after law school
2) The practice area you are interested in working in after law school

OP here

Thanks. Any thoughts on the likelihood of being paid during your 2L school year internships if you're doing PI gov't work? Or should expecting that get you laughed right out the door?

[keg411]

You should be looking for one of two things (preferably both, but that's not easy):
1) Somewhere that will hire you after law school
2) The practice area you are interested in working in after law school

OP here

Thanks. Any thoughts on the likelihood of being paid during your 2L school year internships if you're doing PI gov't work? Or should expecting that get you laughed right out the door?

I doubt most gov't/PI jobs pay students; and don't expect to be paid unless the position advertises it (or is with a private firm as opposed to PI/gov't). You can probably get school credit, though.

[badaboom61]

You should be looking for one of two things (preferably both, but that's not easy):
1) Somewhere that will hire you after law school
2) The practice area you are interested in working in after law school

OP here

Thanks. Any thoughts on the likelihood of being paid during your 2L school year internships if you're doing PI gov't work? Or should expecting that get you laughed right out the door?

Don't expect to get paid for PI or government work. Small firms often hire law students part time and pay in the $10 - $15 range, but this is highly dependent on firm and if they need additional help at the time.

[Anonymous User]

There are some outside funding sources for PI: equal justice america, for one, and probably a half dozen others, usually practice-area specific. So that's another avenue.

You can also work as a research assistant for one semester (paid) and do an internship the other semester (unpaid). You'll get experience at both and both are valuable in different ways, but it keeps you from getting no money for a whole school year. Some people RA and intern during the same semester but that's a lot harder during 2L than during 3L and very dependent on having a professor who is flexible + less heavy courseload. More possible if you get credit for internships, because then you're replacing a class.

[JenDarby]

Fordham's Symplicity has listed many paid spring internships at smaller firms and organizations. I imagine yours does as well. I am doing an externship right now, which is in the field I want to practice and I get credits for it. Personally, this benefits me more than the amount of money I would likely make working full time.