Law Internships

Can you do a law internship?

Absolutely! Internships are your golden ticket into the legal world. Getting hands-on experience before graduation dramatically boosts your chances of landing that dream legal job.

Here's what's available:

Summer internships

These full-time experiences last one to four months and take place during summer break. You'll work directly with law firms or in-house legal teams, developing essential skills employers adore.

During your internship, you’ll get on with various tasks that can include legal research, drafting documents and prepping for court hearings. You’re not tied to a law firm either. There are legal departments across all industries. So you could find yourself working for companies like Walt Disney or Chanel. 

Vacation schemes

These are short work experience opportunities lasting between one and four weeks and give you an insight into a law firm’s culture and training process. You’ll get on with tasks that contribute to the everyday running of the firm. Some tasks can include:

• Researching cases and legal precedents

• Attending court hearings

• Working across different legal specialities

• Understanding client relationships

• Shadowing qualified solicitors

Competition for law jobs can be super fierce, and opting for a vacation scheme will give you a huge advantage. In fact, loads of vacation scheme students go on to further training, work experience or end up with training contracts once they graduate.

Insight days

Perfect for first and second-year students, these one to ten-day experiences happen during the university holidays. They'll boost your employability through:

• CV and application workshops

• Professional networking opportunities

• Team-based projects

They’re the perfect introduction to a career in law.

Mini pupillage

If becoming a barrister is on your list, a mini pupillage is your chance to learn more about the field. Lasting up to two weeks, you’ll:

• Experience life in Chambers

• Observe barristers in court

• Sit in on client conferences

• Discover legal specialisations

• Determine if a career at the Bar is right for you

Here's what a first-year university student had to say about their insight day at a law firm:

Now that you know the types of internships available, what will you actually be doing during your time? Let’s explore.

What do you do in a law internship?

Ever wondered what you'll be doing day-to-day during a legal internship? Interns aren’t stuck making the office coffee, you’ll have real responsibility from day one. Here's the real deal on what to expect:

• Draft and review documents. Create contracts, letters to clients, and court applications, which will give you hands-on experience with real legal writing.

• Researching. You'll find examples and analyse judgments for active cases.

• Visit the courtroom. Attend hearings with qualified lawyers and see legal arguments in action.

• Review key documents. Learn to identify important information in witness statements, police reports, and case files.

• Prepare case summaries. Develop the crucial skill of condensing complex information into clear briefings for busy lawyers.

• Connect with professionals. Build relationships with practising lawyers who could become mentors or future colleagues.

An internship will transform you from a student into a young professional. Every task helps you develop the skills employers are looking for.

Want to know more about what it’s like to be a legal and law intern? Hear from students themselves and read our job reviews written by them.

How much do legal interns earn?

On average, and from those working for both small and firms, legal and law interns earn £19,000 pro rata. But don't worry - pay varies widely between schemes, so it's worth exploring all your options.

Some vacation schemes only cover lunch and travel expenses, especially shorter ones. The good news? Schemes lasting longer than a week typically come with proper pay. Top employers like Allen & Overy and Linklaters offer at least £500 a week for their schemes - that adds up quickly!

Here's the exciting part, all this experience leads to something amazing. You'll earn between £45,000 and £55,000 in your first year as a trainee lawyer at a London firm or between £28,000 and £38,000 at regional firms.

So this is just the beginning. Your earnings will grow as you gain experience. There's serious potential to build an incredible career and financial future.

When should you apply for a legal internship?

Competition is fierce. So, you’ll want to apply early because places fill up fast, and law firms often make offers to students well in advance. Applications for some training contracts open up to two or three years in advance.

Legal internships in the UK often open for applications quite early, sometimes as early as August. So, make sure you keep an eye out for impending application deadlines.

To apply, you’ll need to write a compelling CV and cover letter. This will be an employer's first impression of you, so be sure to read the job description and match up any soft skills to the skills they’re looking for.

Should you impress, you’ll be invited to an assessment day. Expect a jam-packed day filled with group exercises, online assessments and an in-person interview. Full-on, but super fun. You’ll also get to meet your possible future employers and industry professionals.

Ready to apply? We love that for you! Scroll below to get started.