Getting Your Foot in the Door - Gaining Real-World Experience While in Law School

Law school is time consuming and stressful, and as a result, it’s easy to become consumed with your studies to the extent that you almost seem to neglect the world around you. However, as you begin your second and third years of school, it is essential that you start thinking about life after law school (yes, there is a life after law school). What kind of job will you seek? How will you get your foot in the door in today’s competitive job market?

One of the smartest things you can do as a law student is pursue "real world" work while still in school. Such experience will increase your knowledge, confidence, and your marketability in the competitive post-graduate job market.

Most law programs offer internship and externship opportunities for students, and this is a great way to get real-word work experience. These positions allow law students the opportunity to work directly with prosecutors’ offices, criminal defense agencies, judges, and other private or government funded non-profit agencies. Such programs give the law student the chance to develop their “lawyering skills” in actual real-life scenarios and are invaluable for impressing potential employers with actual legal experience. Interns and externs gain advanced experience in writing, briefing, research, trial skills, and negotiating under the mentorship of participating lawyers and judges. Further, participating in internship and externship programs affords students the opportunity to network with judges and lawyers, and these relationships can often lead job offers following graduation.

Regarding some basic information, intern and externships can last anywhere from the duration of a summer to six months, and they are usually unpaid. Most programs will require some type of class work or journaling assignment in addition to a grade or letter of reference from one’s mentor.

Another way to gain some real-world experience while in law school is through lawyering skills programs. These are programs housed in some law schools that offer intensive training in a “learning by doing” type format. Classes consist of simulating real-world situations in mock court rooms (for example), and such basic but important skills as problem solving, oral advocacy, negotiation, and communication are emphasized. Although not as useful as on the job training, such “skills programs” can be very helpful and impressive to potential employers. Skills programs are also helpful for students to gain some confidence in their abilities before venturing out into the real world for an internship.

Yet another way to gain some actual lawyering experience while still in school is through participation in what are called “clinics.” Clinics are set up to serve financially challenged persons who are in the need of legal help. A second or third year law student can assist these individuals under the supervision of a faculty member and by getting a “seven-eleven” license that will allow the student to work as a lawyer under direct supervision. These clinics are a great way to practice working directly with clients while getting a taste of life as a lawyer!

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