The Full Scoop on Legal Internships in Chicago
Chicago, often referred to as the "Windy City," is not only celebrated for its rich history and stunning skyline but also for its diverse and booming legal sector. Nestled at the crossroads of the nation, Chicago boasts a robust legal economy that has attracted some of the top law firms, corporate law departments, and practitioners from around the country. Its central location provides easy access to a wide range of legal opportunities, making it an ideal destination for law students seeking summer internships or post-graduate positions.
Legal internships in Chicago are highly sought after, with scores of students vying for the chance to work at the city’s most prestigious firms. According to the 2020 American Lawyer Rankings, 13 of the nation’s top 200 law firms call Chicago home, earning the city the title of the tenth largest legal market in the United States. These firms are known for their specialties in various practice areas including corporate law, intellectual property, banking finance law, trust and estate law, and more.
Beyond the big names, Chicago is also home to a number of smaller firms and boutiques that offer unique opportunities for hands-on experience and professional networking. Among these are some of the most recognized law firms in the country including Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden Arps , Sidley Austin, Katten Muchin, Baker McKenzie, and Winston & Strawn, to name a few. Each of these firms is renowned for its highly competitive summer programs and entry-level associate positions, giving students a foot in the door to one of the most dynamic legal markets in the country.
In addition to firms, many corporations have established their legal departments in Chicago, providing a plethora of corporate legal internships during the summer and throughout the year. Corporations such as Accenture, Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, KraftHeinz, Allstate, and AbbVie, among others, boast sizable corporate legal departments with plenty of opportunities for entry-level attorneys and interns.
Furthermore, Chicago offers an impressive array of government agencies and non-profits that provide valuable legal experience and training for law students. For example, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the University of Chicago Law School’s Pro Bono and Legal Aid Clinic, and the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services are among the many legal aid organizations in the region.
As one of the biggest cities in the Midwest, Chicago has a lot to offer aspiring legal professionals. With its wealth of legal opportunities and top-notch law firms, Chicago remains a hub for legal talent and a great place to launch your legal career.
Different Types of Legal Internships in Chicago
In the bustling legal hub of Chicago, aspiring lawyers have a plethora of opportunities to hone their skills outside the classroom. The city offers a rich tapestry of legal internships, each providing its unique challenges and rewards for budding legal minds.
Internships in large corporate law firms are among the most sought after by law students. These firms handle substantial corporate and commercial legal issues, and interns in these environments can expect to engage directly with complex business transactions and sophisticated legal research. Interns may assist in drafting contracts, providing analyses of corporate filings, or researching intricate issues of corporate governance. Companies such as Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley Austin, and Skadden are industry leaders that often seek the brightest legal minds from local law schools.
However, corporate law is not the only avenue for legal intern positions. Opportunities in Chicago also abound in the criminal law field. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office regularly offers internships to law students, providing them with an insider’s view of the criminal justice process. Law students may work alongside Assistant State’s Attorneys, assisting with case preparation, conducting witness interviews, or even participating in court appearances. Positions within the public defender’s office, like the one recently filled by Dre Greenaway, also offer similar experiences, allowing students to learn about criminal defense strategies and trial procedures.
For those interested in supporting social causes through legal work, non-profit legal departments serve as a fertile ground for internships. Organizations like the Illinois Legal Aid Online welcome law students passionate about public service to join their legal teams. Duties may include research on policy issues, client intake, and supporting pro bono counsel. Positions within non-profits provide law students with the unique opportunity to marry their legal studies with advocacy and social justice.
Interning with government agencies can also provide invaluable experience. Law students can gain first-hand insight into the legal framework governing public policy, regulatory compliance, and administrative procedure. The City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois may all offer opportunities ranging from legal aid work, city ordinance enforcement, or administrative adjudication.
In addition to these more traditional internships, opportunities are also available in other sectors, including education law, data security and privacy, and intellectual property. Companies like Groupon, Google, or C.D. Peacock may also require legal assistance on various projects related to intellectual property or data privacy. Higher education institutions, both private and public, also have legal departments that support their enterprise.
Finding internships that suit one’s career aspirations may take time and effort. Networking, attending job fairs, and leveraging career services at law schools can go a long way to finding the perfect legal internship. While Chicago offers an impressive range of legal opportunities, it is up to the student to take the first step in landing that coveted legal internship.
How to Apply for Legal Internships in Chicago
The process of securing a legal internship in Chicago varies by firm, but most commonly requires candidates to have at least completed one year of law school. A background in Chicago law firms, or other Chicago legal settings will likely be given higher preference than those who do not have an existing relationship with the firm. Though some firms do recruit first-year interns, it is not typical for a firm to offer upfront opportunities to first-year law students. A thorough understanding of the law basics is a prerequisite for legal internships, as these opportunities are not offered for legal novices. Beyond that, skills and preferences vary by firm. Many Chicago law firms are stringent about basic skills such as communication, professionalism, and research abilities. Most importantly, relying on your network or building a community of contacts may benefit you in efforts to solicit legal internships in Chicago.
To meet recruitment demands, many Chicago law firms have a rigorous timeline for internship applications. Recruitment typically begins in August, with most firms offering deadlines for applications between mid-November and late-December. At this time, many law students begin sending out applications and resumes to firms of interest. After the holidays, you can expect to hear back on a rolling basis, though the timeline for interviews and offers typically falls between February and March.
Networking and Building Professional Relationships in Chicago
The natural next step after securing an interesting internship is to maximize the potential of that opportunity by building networks among staff and colleagues. Legal internships are particularly well-placed to help you establish a strong interconnection with firms, which in turn can help you with future job prospects. There are lots of ways to engage with professionals either over the course of your internship or by seeking out opportunities to attend public events. Most of the internship experience will be contained within the firm, which can make it difficult to network outside. Professional events provide an ideal platform for developing your network and confidence, as well as gaining insight into what law firms expect from their employees. Take note of how the professionals you meet interact with one another and prepare to conduct yourself in a similar manner in the future. Successful networking could help you secure a permanent position with the firm at the end of your internship or provide a useful reference for future endeavors. Some other useful networking tips include: Make sure that you do not dominate conversations between staff members or come on too strong when speaking with mentors or contacts. You want to leave a good impression but don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable as a result of appearing power or excessively self-promoting.
Juggling Legal Internships and Law School in Chicago
In the previous section, we discussed navigating a legal internship while balancing your law school class and extracurricular requirements. In this section, we’ll offer some more strategies for handling the workload associated with a law degree and how to maintain balance between personal time and professional obligations.
It’s important to be able to set a schedule and prioritize tasks properly to avoid falling behind not only in your internship but also in your law school classes. If you have to work late in the office for a project or deadline, then make sure that you time manage and do some of your reading on the train or during your lunch break so you don’t stray too far behind.
Overloading your schedule can lead to burnout , so feeling overwhelmed isn’t a positive sign. Make sure you take the time to relax and decompress from your hectic week by devoting time to yourself and your personal commitments outside of "work mode." This will help you to feel more balanced, allowing you to give your all to both your internship and your studies. Don’t be afraid to ask your employer for flexibility if you need to catch up on classwork, as many are willing to accommodate your academic responsibilities so long as you communicate them early on and don’t use the flexibility as an excuse. Mistakes happen. If you do fall very behind in any task, however, it is always best to keep your employer informed so everyone is aware of any issues.
Career Possibilities After a Legal Internship in Chicago
Upon successful completion of your legal internship in Chicago, you could potentially find firsthand what broadened responsibilities that typically come with legal internships at law firms and companies might mean to you. An internship could be a great opportunity for you to use research projects as writing samples and to build professional contacts who could refer you for other job opportunities. In addition to considering linking your internship accomplishments as links on your resume, you may also consider listing your responsibilities as a bullet point in a skills section, covering letter or objective statement. You may even seek letters of recommendation from those you work with during your internship to use in your professional portfolio. Interns at the Chicago Cook County states attorney offices, for example, could have the chance to draft and file motions, conduct legal research, interview witnesses, go to court and file complaints or indictments in addition to completing legal research. Internships at these offices could also give students an opportunity to decide whether litigation is the area of law that they are most passionate about so they can narrow their job search processes and professional pursuits towards careers that they would like to explore further after graduation. Opportunities in-house at corporations like those available for interns through the law firm Loeb & Loeb’s summer associate program could also expose interns to a variety of projects in various departments, helping prepare them for what may come after graduation. Interns at a company in-house may have the chance to work on corporate transactions, mergers, compliance work and all manner of legal issues that may arise during a typical day.
Past Interns’ Experiences in Legal Internships in Chicago
We reached out to a variety of past interns in legal settings in Chicago, and the following experiences were shared with us:
"I’ve interned at a mid-sized IP firm where I was impressed by the hands on nature of the internship. I gained a lot of exposure to real cases and worked independently on different projects. It’s important to know how much they will rely on you, and not everyone is so lucky to get such so much responsibility, so that was a positive experience for me."
"It can be hard to balance your expectation with the reality of an internship. Remember that you are only an intern and part of the learning is figuring out the style and method of your supervisor. Sometimes you can pave your own way when it comes to how your work , but you have to be patient."
"I had a very positive experience with my internship. I learned a lot about how to facilitate relationships with difficult (sometimes hostile) clients. Networking is key in this job and know that you should always be professional because even if you don’t get hired, you want your reputation to speak for itself."
"Make the most of your internship no matter what position you find yourself placed in. Your job as a legal intern goes beyond the tasks and work you have in front of you. Gaining an idea of how the firm works and exploring the culture is just as important."