Turning your Internship into a Job

Let me paint a scenario of a time when I let a big opportunity slip through my fingers:

The time: fall 2008, and I’m half-way into an externship with a really great agency.  I turn in an assignment to my supervising attorney who reminds me that applications for summer internships at this agency are due in a week.

Cue: me saying, “oh ok,” and totally missing the huge sign of my boss encouraging me to apply for a PAID summer internship.  No, instead I decide to apply to a different agency that summer for an internship that does not pay me for my time (an internship I could have done during the school year, FYI).  Now, in my defense, the first signs of the Recession had just barely started to make it’s way into the law so no one yet knew what was coming down the pike. But looking back now, even if the economy hadn’t tanked, it was not smart to skip out on an economic opportunity.  I also gave up the chance to grow my professional network and lost out on mentorship with an attorney that liked my work and wanted me to continue working for them.

Now, there’s a lot of reasons for my huge misstep, but the main one was my lack of knowledge regarding internships.  I didn’t understand their purpose. They are not just a chance to grow your skill-set or to do something law-related during the summer. The main objective is to parlay your experience into a job.  And I guess I kind of knew that, but I really didn’t understand just how to make that happen…

This is when I confess to you that my law school career felt like I was bumbling for a light switch in the dark.  Let’s praise Tuxedo T-Shirt Jesus that I made it.

So, now that I’m on the other side of it all I want to share some details current law students should keep in mind as you progress into your summer internships:

One. Plan out your options now.  Even if you’ve just finished your 1L year, take the time to learn about options post-law school so that you can be prepared in the years to come.  For example, in the public sector a lot of agencies are getting funded for special fellowships and grants. Look into those programs now to gain a general idea of what you need to do to make that a viable option. If you’re in the private sector, learn about your school’s OCI process and/or talk to young associates to learn about their trajectory. If you’re interested in government work make sure to keep in mind deadlines (though that is important for everyone) because deadlines to apply for those jobs are usually very early in the fall.  Essentially, the more you can game plan your career and options post-law school the better off you will be.

Two. Strengthen your weakness. If you know you’re interested in a certain practice area, research what it is you can do increase your experience and skill set within that area.  For example, if you want to practice Immigration, consider taking a criminal procedure class as Criminal Law and Immigration intersect so often that knowing each area is really useful and makes you a stronger candidate for jobs.  Or maybe you want to work in the litigation department at a private firm, but want to get actual experience doing trial work as a student; considering interning at a prosecutor’s or public defender’s office.  Even though it’s not in your specific area of law, you’ll have a higher chance of increasing your litigation skills, which could make you the more appealing candidate.

Three. Make and cultivate contacts. Interning is not a time to be shy. Make contact with attorneys whose careers interest you. Make time to listen to your supervising attorney, and really ingest their constructive criticism and feedback (they will, after all, likely be the ones that write the letters of recommendation). Attend networking events (which are almost non-stop during the summer).  Most importantly don’t let your career-goals be a secret.  It’s so intimidating to say I want to work here, or even to say, I want to practice this area of law in this type of place. That’s because fear of rejection can be so strong.  But no one can help you if they don’t know what your plans are.  Ask for a quick meeting, go out for coffee, reach out via email–whatever is quick and painless (for both you AND the attorney you’re contacting), so that you gain enough information and create a strong network that will help you prepare long-term for your career.

What other steps are important during internships for long-term career planning?