International Legal Practice Internships for US Law Students

Placements in over 50 jurisdictions around the world

Website: http://www.cils.org/home/internships.php

International and foreign law affects more and more aspects of life. Our transnational world demands lawyers prepared to handle anything from a contract for a client doing business in China to researching Spain’s tax laws, from defending a political exile from Russia in an immigration case, to understanding an Egyptian father’s legal rights in a child-custody dispute. One way to better comprehend the legal world beyond your borders is to spend some time in it. This program offers an experience similar to that of a young practitioner, legal trainee, or summer associate in the foreign host organisation.

Internships are available with law firms, company legal departments and NGOs in all regions of the world lasting 3 to10 weeks (usually 5-6 weeks). The Center for International Legal Studies (CILS) conducted the first International Legal Practice Internship Program in 1976.

Since 2004, CILS has partnered with Suffolk University School of Law to facilitate credit for international internships in accordance with ABA Guidelines. CILS is now also able to make these opportunities available directly to students from other US law schools.

ELIGIBILITY

Law students who have completed at least one third of their professional degree requirements before the placement commences with good grades (GPA 2.67 or higher) and recent law graduates may participate in the program.

Fluency in a language (other than English) relevant to the proposed destination is helpful, sometimes essential.

COMPENSATION

Internships are NOT paid positions. American Bar Association (ABA) guidelines prohibit compensation for internships that result in credit toward the juris doctor degree of an ABA accredited law school. Hosts should not bill clients for an uncompensated intern's work product; the intern’s work product is pro bono.

FINANCES

Federal loans and financial aid may be available for some students. Please contact your law school’s financial aid office for eligibility and application procedures.

Each intern is responsible for her or his own travel, lodging, and health coverage during the internship.

WORKLOAD AND ASSIGNMENTS

Interns ought to be involved full-time in the firm’s activities during the internship and should be as productive as possible in client matters on the host’s behalf. A new intern should be introduced to the members of the firm and all should be made aware of the program goals and the desire of the intern to take full part in the work of the firm. Assignments can be given to the intern from several directions, assuring a sufficient amount of activity during the intern's stay. An intern will profit not only from substantive independent assignments suitable to the intern's abilities, but also from the opportunity to observe members of the firm at work in client interviewing, conferences, and in court.

ASSESSMENT

Each intern must keep time-sheets of daily work activities for supervising attorney(s) to sign and submit these to CILS at the end of the internship (sample). Each intern must also submit a 1500-3000 word reflective essay on his or her experience.

A 5-8 week internship may earn 3 credits; a relevant course, before or after the internship, at each student’s law school may be required to satisfy the ABA’s class-room requirement (e.g. international legal practice, international business transactions, international law, comparative law, etc).

FEES

1. A US $250 application fee must accompany each internship application.
2. A US $400 placement fee is due within 14 days of CILS notifying a placement to the student.

The application fee is non-refundable. The placement fee is non-refundable if the student withdraws; it will be refunded if CILS fails to place the student in accordance with the application on which the student was admitted.

Students seeking academic credit may also need to pay their law school’s per credit tuition rate. See also “Assessment” above

NO-FEE Enquiry - Students who have a focus or desired region for an internship may submit a NO-FEE Enquiry to learn what’s available and feasible for them.

DEADLINES / SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

• Early-Decision Application (2Ls) 15 November 2013
• Early-Placement 31 January 2014
• Regular Application (1Ls and 2Ls) 3 February 2014
• Regular Placement 18 April 2014
• CILS will notify each applicant if he/she is admitted within 10 days of receiving the completed application (including application fee).
• Admitted applicants are placed within 8 weeks of CILS receiving the the completed application (including application fee).

APPLICATION

1. Completed application form
2. Curriculum vitae (résumé)
3. Statement of interest (motivation letter), in English and in any language in which the applicant claims proficiency
4. Law transcript (student copy suffices)
5. Letter of recommendation from a law professor or law-related work (e.g. paralegal, domestic internship)
6. Legal writing sample