The Road to Success: Legal Internships in Orlando
With a thriving legal community, Orlando is not only known for its theme parks but also for its robust opportunities in the legal sector. Opportunities to intern within the Orlando area give aspiring legal professionals valuable on-the-ground experience. With a healthy legal market that includes prominent law firms, state and federal courts, in-house counsel offices for large businesses, and non-profit organizations , the city has an abundance of opportunities for those looking to break into the field. These internships allow individuals to gain hands-on experience in the daily workings of various legal environments, be it in a large firm or as counsel to a business, and build confidence in their skills and knowledge of the legal process. In addition to invaluable experience, internships, especially when they entail assisting legal counsel with ongoing matters, can help aspiring attorneys build connections that may lead to job opportunities after graduation.
Leading Law Firms with Internship Opportunities
There are several law firms in Orlando that provide legal internships to students who are interested in gaining experience in the legal field. These firms commonly offer students mentorship programs and decent pay, although other compensation for working as a law clerk can come in the form of practical experience that is legally required for certain licensing exams. Most of these firms only accept one or two interns through their placement offices per semester.
Swope, Rodante PA is a national law firm that focuses on trial law. The firm offers internships to students and recent law school graduates who want to gain legal experience. Student interns can expect to see a wide range of cases that involve premises liability law, product liability law, criminal law, medical malpractice law and more. The firm is only interested in students that have high grades and have shown interest in becoming a litigator during their education. Interns typically receive formal assignments and frequent feedback from senior litigators. The application process entails preparing a resume, cover letter and list of references.
The Morgan & Morgan firm is renowned across the country. The firm has a history of winning female-friendly settlements under the FLSA to victims of workplace discrimination. This is a large, fast-paced firm that expects its interns to keep up. Morgan & Morgan has five locations in Florida alone, including Orlando. Undergraduate students and law students alike may apply to work as an intern or a clerk, respectively. Students can apply to the firm online or by visiting their nearest location. Morgan & Morgan has been known to produce some of the best lawyers in the country.
Who Can Apply and How
While there may be individual variations, most legal internships in Orlando tend to have a few common eligibility requirements. Generally speaking, they tend to look for candidates who are currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from an accredited law school. Typically, but not exclusively, this means recent graduates from Barry University School of Law, Florida A&M University College of Law and Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg. In addition to maintaining a solid academic record, including a strong GPA and application in a particular area of legal study, potential law interns will usually be asked to go through an interview with the firm. Additionally, they will likely be subject to a background check. In some cases, firm-specific requirements may apply. For those applicants who are accepted, the internship program can be a critical first step in developing even further into their future careers. For example, as they generally feature both opportunities to perform critical legal research and interact with clients directly, legal internships can lay a great foundation for a career in counseling and advising clients in the legal system. In terms of hands-on experience, these programs can lay a strong foundation in many fields, from corporate law to family law, from civil rights law to environmental law and beyond. As you might expect from such highly competitive programs, the general application process for legal internships is generally quite intensive. For example, in most cases, a resume detailing your education, GPA and any legal experience or certifications will be required, along with a cover letter that should clearly state the specific qualifications that you bring to the table. In some cases, there may also be an in-person interview on the horizon. Most law firms that have internship programs will have a specific webpage with a way to submit your application electronically. Generally speaking, it’s a great idea to research internship programs well in advance of when you’d like to complete them. Since these spots can be highly competitive and tend to fill quickly, it’s a great idea not to wait for the last minute to apply. Making sure to pay careful attention to all deadlines and specific requirements is also a good idea. Although each law firm in Orlando will have its unique requirements, some tips that can help law students secure legal internships include: With the information that you presented in your resume, cover letter, oral and written interviews and more, law firms will get to know you better to see if you would be a strong "fit" for their organization.
Skills Acquired from Legal Internships
During the course of an internship, students can expect to gain a number of crucial skills required to become successful legal professionals. For example, legal research is one of the most important components of the job. This is because attorneys must be able to properly defend their clients’ civil and criminal cases. Thus, interns spend time not only researching their clients’ cases, but also researching previous cases that are similar to their clients’. This is used to argue for favorable outcomes for their clients.
Furthermore, students will learn about the general workings of law firms, courts, and the process of forming legal documents. This includes drafting evidence-based motions and other legal documents, such as legal agreements, affirmative defenses, and objections. Maintaining communication with clients is also important to establishing a career and requires an individualized approach.
Finally, an internship provides students with the ability to expand their professional networks in the legal community. This could include judges, fellow attorneys, and other legal professionals, depending on the level of experience and responsibilities assigned to a particular student intern. Additional skills and knowledge include the following:
In addition to these skills, students have the opportunity to work with expert lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals on a daily basis, allowing them to apply what they have learned in law school to real-world scenarios, and gain more concrete knowledge based on empirical observation and analysis. As students learn where their talents lie, they can begin to develop a niche, enabling them more easily choose the type of law they would like to practice, or establish their specialties. These factors combined with networking and academic conformation create a strong foundation upon which students can build the furtherance of their legal careers.
Networking and Career Benefits
One of the most significant benefits of a legal internship in Orlando is the networking opportunities it provides. These connections can often pave the way for career advancement and even full-time employment within the firm or organization. When law students gain direct experience through an internship, they are more likely to make an impression, and personal relationships are much easier to form.
Through daily interaction with seasoned attorneys, legal support staff, and fellow interns, aspiring lawyers have the chance to connect with a host of legal minds and create invaluable relationships . In fact, many legal interns find themselves offered positions within the organization once their internship concludes.
When an internship is done during the summer between the first and second year of law school, it provides an opportunity for students to test the waters and determine whether a job at that organization is worth considering after graduation. Legal internships in Orlando also allow student interns to participate fully in the legal process, giving them hands-on experience that can be instrumental in furthering their careers.
Obstacles and Solutions
Starting a legal internship is no small feat and can be particularly challenging for students who are navigating the process for the first time. For those unfamiliar with the demands of a professional environment, or those who have had limited exposure to the legal field, the challenges can be intense. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common hurdles legal interns face and how they can successfully move past them. One of the biggest hurdles that new interns face is figuring out how to strike a balance. In short, internships require a lot of work. Not only must interns complete the tasks assigned to them; they also need to demonstrate their ability to learn and adapt by proactively taking on additional responsibilities as they become available. Fitting all this in while still maintaining the regular demands of course work can be a struggle. The first step is taking a realistic look at how much time you can devote to your internship, then making a commitment to ensure it stays within reasonable limits. Set specific hours each week for your internship and make sure that neither you nor your employer exceed that amount of time. How much work is reasonable? This will depend on the specific internship, so be sure to discuss expectations with your employer well in advance. When in doubt, start with fewer hours at first, so you have room to add more as you see fit. Also keep in mind that unexpected commitments do come up. Be honest with your employer if you overcommit and be sure to give adequate notice if you’re unable to fulfill your obligations. Legal interns have a reputation for being proactive go-getters, but this doesn’t always come naturally to students tasked with their first internship. Many law firms rely heavily on internship programs to help identify future hires. As a result, they tend to look down on interns who are there merely to learn the ropes. If you’re given a task to complete, make sure you follow through even if you don’t have any prior experience with it. It’s a rare opportunity to demonstrate your worth.
What Former Legal Interns Say
To shed light on the transformative impact of law internships, we gathered firsthand accounts from past legal interns in Orlando. These testimonials offer a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges faced by law interns and how their experiences informed their career trajectories.
"I joined a medical litigation firm in Orlando as a law intern during my second year at faculty. I had no experience working on medical malpractice claims previously, but they gave me intensive training on trauma and causes of action before assigning me to support medical negligence attorneys with ongoing trials and case preparations. I wrote trial briefs and represented the firm before the federal magistrate, which honed my legal writing and speaking skills. It has been such an invaluable experience for me!" – *Bill G.* (a medical negligence law intern at a mid-sized Orlando law firm)
"The best part about my internship at an environmental non-profit in Orlando was that it was a perfect opportunity to develop my legislative writing skills, which I am really interested in. Senior attorneys mentored me and guided me in drafting policy papers and advocacy letters for our organization to send to lawmakers. I am glad that I got to meet with many lawmakers and their staff members during this process, which gave me insights into Florida’s law-making process." – *Diana U.* (a law intern at a non-profit environmental institution)
"My firm practices criminal law, and my focus and interest are in violent crimes and aggravated felonies, so they assigned me to aid in the preparation of many criminal charge cases . I worked on filings and motions under the direct supervision of some of the most experienced attorneys in this field. The learning curve was steep, but well worth it to gain exposure to how they prepare and present cases in court." – *David G.* (a law intern from a local law school)
"My experience as a commercial litigation law intern was very fulfilling. I was able to carry out legal research on which attacked the foundation of a company’s rights and defenses. The lawyer I worked for was adaptable, and my internship experience was not limited to traditional law work. I was lucky to travel a lot with him to many interesting destinations. For example, I attended an arbitration hearing in Mexico on behalf of a client’s management team. It was absolutely great and I got to learn about international commercial laws, too!" – *Zena D.* (a law intern at an Orlando-based international commercial litigation firm)
"Before joining a high-stakes international construction dispute case, I know very little about arbitration laws and their rules. My supervisor in the firm had actually worked for the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, so he was a master of his game. He taught me everything, and I spent hours reading and translating French documents from the witnesses for the barristers. This experience really fostered my passion for this field and solidified my desire to be an arbitration attorney." – *Jamie R.* (a high-stakes international commercial litigation law intern)