An Intro To Florida Legal Internships
Legal internships play a pivotal role in shaping the career paths of aspiring legal professionals. In Florida, the legal internship landscape is diverse and dynamic, offering students opportunities to gain invaluable on-the-job experience in a variety of legal settings. Florida-based law firms, federal agencies, non-profit groups, and government offices all provide unique internship experiences that can help students define and enhance their legal careers.
For law students and aspiring legal professionals, Florida’s warm weather, beautiful beaches, and lively social scene can offer an appealing alternative to legal internships in other U.S. cities. In addition to the environment, law students who intern in Florida benefit from connections to one of the largest populations in the United States, a strong state economy, and a future-oriented business culture. The state has also been called "the most business-friendly state in the southeastern U.S.," and is known for its business-friendly tax rates.
In terms of specific legal internship opportunities, Florida law students can choose from a wide range of opportunities . For instance, under the supervision of a qualified attorney, they can intern with a Florida state agency, the Florida Department of Children and Families (in roles relating to domestic relations, foster care, case management, adoption, and more), or the Department of Veterans Affairs. They can also intern with firms like the Law Offices of Jason Turchin, which has experienced a surge in interns over recent years, providing an opportunity for interns to assist with client relations, legal research, discovery, and drafting.
Moreover, students may land in-house legal internships at one of the 89 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in Florida. Each of these firms already employs an average of 3,433 associates—providing further proof that the Sunshine State can offer significant career opportunities for students seeking legal internships.
In short, Florida offers unique opportunities for legal internships in a wide variety of fields. However, there are a few obstacles. Legal internships often come with low or no pay, making it important for students to seek out opportunities that provide meaningful experience, enhance their career prospects, and generate long-term value.
How To Apply And Qualifications
Eligibility for legal internships in Florida generally requires applicants to be either current students or recent graduates from accredited law schools within the state. Opportunities may be available not only to those who have completed their coursework, but also to rising 2nd and 3rd year students. Florida Bar rules stipulate that students who have yet to pass the Florida Bar may handle criminal and civil cases under the supervision of a member of The Florida Bar.
Application processes are determined by each individual agency through various methods. Some strictly require online applications while others allow for hard-copy submission. Many programs will offer application openings on a seasonal basis and lists of upcoming openings are generally posted online. Late submissions are typically not accepted.
Deadlines vary, with some allowing for rolling applications, but most internship applications close sometime during the summer. The overall process can be lengthy, and early submission is strongly encouraged.
Applicants are predominantly required to submit 1-3 writing samples along with resumes and cover letters specifically tailored to the position for which they are applying. Fellowships often require additional documents including recommendations.
Firms That Provide Internships
Several of Florida’s most prestigious law firms proudly grant undergraduates the chance to work in real law offices. They view this as a way to "give back" to the community. Here are some that offer interning opportunities.
Akerman, LLP – One of the oldest law firms in Florida, Akerman has been in business since 1920. The firm offers internships to both undergraduate and law students. Though many interns are placed in the litigation department, experience is offered in litigation, real estate, corporate law, intellectual property and other departments. Interns are assigned a partner or senior associate who acts as a mentor and supervisor. The summer internship program is offered from June to August in its Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miami, Orlando and Tampa, Florida offices.
Baker & Hostetler – Baker & Hostetler offers summer internships in seven offices across the United States. In Florida, only the Miami office provides internship opportunities. Internships are encouraged for both law and undergraduate students. The Miami office hires five to 10 interns. Interns are expected to work from 40 to 45 hours per week. Interns are paid an hourly wage. Baker & Hostetler’s Summer Program enables students to experience life as an attorney by assigning them substantive legal writing and research assignments and allowing them to attend key client and firm meetings. Intern candidates must be available to all interview process events.
DLA Piper – DLA Piper’s Fort Lauderdale office offers a nine-week summer internship program. Students work alongside many attorneys on diverse projects. They receive valuable work experience and witness the job environment first hand. Interns are assigned to administrative, corporate, litigation, employment, real estate and tax departments. Interns are paid an hourly wage.
Holland & Knight – Holland & Knight offers summer and fall internships. Law students need to have above average grades to secure a position. Students are assigned to practice group mentors and associate mentors who provide assistance and feedback. They receive substantial training on how to draft legal documents, conduct research, and work with clients. Graduate students need an "A" grade average in order to be considered for an opportunity with Holland & Knight. The firm hires about 125 students each year.
Greenberg Traurig – A top law firm with offices all over the United States and in 11 foreign countries, Greenberg Traurig offers law student and undergraduate internships in Broward County. Interns are part of a close-knit team and are provided with several networking opportunities. They also receive mentoring from attorneys. About 65 interns are hired each year.
Lessons Learned From Internships
For legal interns, the opportunity to acquire practical legal experience is invaluable. Interns work closely with attorneys and legal professionals to gain an intimate understanding of the legal process. Typical day-to-day activities for interns may include administrative tasks, such as filing papers or preparing legal documents, shadowing client intakes, and sitting in on court proceedings. Interns often have the opportunity to draft court documents or write up memoranda.
Interns at different settings will have different experiences depending on their location and the type of firm for which they work. Most internships in the Sarasota area are geared towards injury law offices. Interns are trained in how to investigate and prepare clients for mediation or trial. All documents, from releases to discovery requests, must be reviewed and printed out by interns. Interns also learn to deal with clients directly to keep them informed of case progression. For fellows, this is a chance to earn CLE hours for significant legal tasks. Interns at criminal offices are likely able to learn about every area of law by working with, and assisting, their supervising attorney. This may have greater ethical rules than civil work.
Interns are in constant communication with their supervisor. Many law firms and organizations that offer legal internships prefer to expedite the learning process by assigning a different supervisor every semester. Supervisors are usually happy to provide letters of recommendation, particularly if they have an association with an American Bar Association accredited law school. This can prove to be a vital asset for pre-law students and those seeking admission into a sports law degree program.
Obstacles You Might Encounter
Overcoming Challenges in Legal Internships
While internships are a great opportunity for law students to gain real-world experience, they are not without their challenges. Interns may feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work they have to do, or they might find it difficult to balance their internship with their course work. They could also struggle to fit into the firm culture or find it difficult to make connections that lead to job opportunities after graduation.
Some of the most common challenges law students face include:
Interns can take steps to make sure they are able to handle these challenges and provide value to the firm. For example, if an intern is feeling overwhelmed by their workload, they should speak up . While some might think that asking for help will make them look bad, the truth is that asking questions makes them look like they are eager to learn and succeed, both traits that are highly desirable for future employment.
Interns should also make sure to connect with other interns and legal staff. Networking is an important part of law school, and students should consider working at multiple firms to build a diverse network that may prove useful in the future.
Finally, students who land internships should always follow up. After the internship, they should make the effort to connect with everyone they worked with to thank them for the experience and to stay on their radar.
Employment Possibilities
In many cases, a legal internship in Florida will lead to a job offer with the firm hosting an internship. Completing an internship spreads a legal student’s network, introducing them to lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal professionals in the field. Many firms now exclusively select candidates for associate positions from their intern ranks. Even if an associate position is not immediately available, interns are sometimes hired after they graduate and complete their bar exam requirements.
Some interns convert to full-time positions with their current employer. Others complete their internships elsewhere, then move on to a different establishment for a full-time position. In either case, interns who graduate with a multitude of working relationships usually find employment easier to come by than those who have been more elusive to potential employers. This is doubly true for interns earning outstanding reviews from their employer.
Many employees are eager to begin working with an intern full-time as soon as possible, even prior to graduation and bar admission. Legal businesses are frequently flexible with work schedules to allow hours to meet operation needs while still meeting the requirements of a legal education.
Final Thoughts On Florida Legal Internships
The journey through the legal profession is long and rigorous, but it is also rich in experiences and opportunities that shape the perspective of future leaders. For aspiring attorneys in Florida, the varied legal internships throughout the state provide an unrivaled opportunity to dive into the workings of the law. From the initial forays into courtrooms and law offices, to the complex and dynamic process of client interactions, legal internships offer a preview of what is to come after graduation. The opportunities in Florida’s unique legal landscape range from working in bustling city firms to government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Each city bears institutions and personalities that influence the practice of law in their own way. A legal internship in Southern Florida, for example, will introduce one to an array of issues and practices that reflect not only the needs of the community but the diversity and legal challenges so unique to the region. Northern Florida’s internship landscape, in contrast, may emphasize a different viewpoint or offer a different slice of legal life. All the while , the interns soak up what it means to be an attorney in one of the many specialties that await them. The wide range of options available helps future attorneys find their niche among a variety of paths. Applying for and completing a legal internship can mark a turning point in determining the right future career. Some students find the environment and experiences of a courthouse internship to be riveting, while others may discover a passion for corporate law, voluntary work with a nonprofit, or research. Each path has its pros and cons, but the only way to make such a choice is by trying it out and learning from the experience. The ultimate goal of a legal internship continues to be the accumulation of skills and knowledge that adds to the preparation for a legal career. Internships are a way to develop the employable qualities so crucial to the law. These include drafting legal documents, rounding out cultural knowledge, observing courtroom demeanor, and learning from the conduct of other attorneys. Only through continuous learning and development can one grow in the field, gain confidence, and move on toward a successful career.