The Benefits of Summer Internships for Law Students
I get it. You need some rest.
No one would disagree with that. In fact, some weeks of well-deserved rest after the summer exams are mandatory. You need a reset, both mentally and physically.
Therefore, please, by all means, get some rest!
However, remember you are a law student, but you will not be a law student for ever. If you are studying for an LLB in the UK, you have three years of study in total, therefore you will experience two summers as an “active” law student, i.e. the summer after your first year and the summer after your second year.
If you are a continental law student, you will probably be required to complete more years of study, which also (guess what!) means more summers!
Whatever your end goal (post-Uni) might be, it will be well-served by a summer internship (or a vacation scheme).
There are multiple benefits for law students who choose to undertake summer internships. This is why these internships have become extremely competitive in the past few years. This proves how “necessary” these internships are considered by employers these days, and how important it is to prepare well for them and polish your application.
The benefits of summer internships include the following:
1. Practical Legal Experience
Gain hands-on exposure to real-world legal issues.
Learn how to apply the theories you’ve been taught to actual cases and how to conduct legal research.
Understand how courts, law firms, and government agencies operate.
2. Resume Building
Add valuable experience and credibility to your CV.
Demonstrates initiative and commitment to the legal profession.
3. Networking Opportunities
Connect with attorneys, judges, law professors, and other legal professionals.
Build relationships that may lead to mentorship or job opportunities later on.
4. Skill Development
Improve legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
Gain experience in client communication, drafting memos, and litigation preparation.
Prepare for the competitive legal market you will face as a lawyer after you qualify.
5. Career Clarity
Explore different areas of law (e.g., criminal, corporate, environmental) to identify your interests.
Discover what type of legal setting suits you best—firm, public sector, NGO, etc.
6. Job Offers and References
Many law firms use summer internships as a pipeline for full-time employment after graduation.
Supervisors can become strong references for future applications.
7. Build Confidence and Develop Professionalism
Develop confidence in your legal knowledge and workplace professionalism.
Learn workplace etiquette, time management, and collaboration.
8. Exposure to Legal Technology
Become familiar with legal research platforms (like Westlaw or LexisNexis or Nomos).
Gain insight into how law tech is shaping modern legal practice.
To sum up:
· Health comes first. Get all the rest you require, mentally and physically.
· 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!
· Do not accept to work for free. It goes without saying, but it is worth noting since some employers might try to take advantage of you.
Hope this was useful!
For more advice to law students, you can grab a copy of my book here.
This book is for everyone interested in improving their essay writing skills. It is focused on law essays, but the principles discussed here apply to essay writing in general. It is written with the purpose of assisting law students in navigating the very stressful periods of exams and other summative or formative assessments. By reading it, you benefit from advice from luminaries such as Baron Neuberger, former President of the UK Supreme Court, Professor Mark Elliott (Chair of the Faculty of Law at the University of Cambridge), Oxford Law Professor Nick Barber, Oxford Law Professor (Emeritus) Stephen Weatherill, Cambridge Law Professor Alison Young, Cambridge Law Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor David Kershaw (Dean of the LSE Law School) and Professor van der Leun (former Dean of Leiden Law School).