Internship guides
How to get a legal internship
How legal internships are actually won: the skills employers screen for, how to stand out without experience, what the interviews test, and live data on who is hiring right now.
The legal internship market right now
Intern Insider is currently tracking 174 open legal internships, 55 added this week. 88% of postings that disclose pay are paid, and 13% offer remote work. Employers hiring now include New York Legal Assistance Group, Earthjustice, International Rescue Committee, International Justice Mission, Baylor University.
Skills employers screen for
- Precise writing and proofreading
- Research methodology
- Confidentiality and ethics awareness
- Deadline and docket discipline
- Professional communication
How to stand out without experience
- Write for anything that edits you hard: journal, moot court, debate
- Intern anywhere law touches (clinic, courthouse, compliance) before aiming at firms
- Follow one active case or regulation and be able to brief it in two minutes
What the interviews test
Expect writing-sample scrutiny and behavioral questions about judgment and discretion. Bring a clean, genuinely yours writing sample and know it cold.
When to apply: the summer 2027 cycle
Big programs open applications around August-November 2026; healthcare, media, and startups keep posting into spring 2027. Roles start May-June 2027. Applying inside the first days of a posting matters more than a perfect resume submitted late, so check the freshest roles first.
