Overview of Legal Internships in Atlanta
Navigating the legal industry in Atlanta, GA can be a daunting task for any aspiring lawyer. That’s where the value of legal internships in this vibrant city comes to the forefront. With a variety of legal firms ranging in size and specialty, the opportunities for internships are plentiful and diverse. As the legal landscape in Atlanta continues to evolve, providing top-tier services such as corporate law, criminal defense, IP law, and personal injury to name a few, the need for competent and skilled interns has never been greater. With an internship, aspiring lawyers gain direct exposure to these different sectors of the legal field and are able to hone their skills under the direct supervision of experienced professionals.
Taking an internship in Atlanta also opens up opportunities to network within the legal community in Georgia. Whether it’s fellow interns or veterans of the field , establishing professional contacts can be invaluable when it comes time to search for a job as a licensed lawyer. The city is also perfect for students to explore their interests in law before fully committing to a particular field; from corporate to criminal law. As interns spend hours on practical work such as researching, writing, or filing relevant legal documents, they are sure to stumble upon their likes and dislikes in the field of law.
Given the ever-growing size and influence of Atlanta, law firms in the area are forced to think outside the box when finding new talent. Interns, with their fresh perspective and attitude towards tackling tasks, provide exactly what a firm could be looking for. An internship can be the perfect avenue to land that dream job, as more and more firms specifically offer employment only to extended tear interns.
Leading Law Firms with Internship Opportunities
When embarking on an internship search, it is crucial to target the biggest and most reputable firms in Atlanta, Georgia. These law firms are known for their merit based internship programs, which provide interns with direct access to partners who can mentor them and teach them the ropes of the profession. In addition to that, these law firms can also teach interns how to maintain and prepare government contracts, handle civil litigation, and successfully conduct and analyze research.
The five law firms most well known for offering 1L and 2L internships to aspiring lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia are as follows: King & Spalding – King & Spalding has been recognized as one of the best law firms in all of Georgia. Interns of King & Spalding often go on to have long and fruitful careers in the legal profession. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP – Specializing in innovative and unique legal services, interns who have worked at Morris, Manning & Martin have gone on to have long and fruitful careers in the legal profession. Alston & Bird LLP – Another one of the most well known law firms in Georgia, interns of Alston & Bird LLP have gone one to become some of the top paid lawyers in the entire country. Friedman, Domiano & Smith Co., L.P.A. – A general practice law firm, Friedman, Domiano & Smith Co., L.P.A. offer liaisons with some of the most prestigious law schools in the nation, including NYU, Yale, and Harvard. Georgia Legal Services Program – Georgia Legal Services Program has been recognized as one of the top non-profit law firms in Georgia.
Application Procedures for Internships
Application Process
Before applying to any internship, research is key: determine what type of law you want to practice and the cities where you want to live and work. If you are not sure yet about the type of law, think about what you liked or disliked about your first-year class or even what classes you excelled in.
Once you know where you would like to focus your search, you can use resources at your school or online to obtain lists of available internships. For legal internships in Atlanta, ENRD (the AG’s Office) tends to post on Fridays for both summer and externships and the frequent-successful applicants usually know to "ramp up" their applications by the end of November.
It’s important to note that the vast majority of legal intern positions are filled in late December or January at the latest. Therefore, if you don’t have a job by February, you probably are not going to be a Summer Associate or Judicial Intern. However, this may not be the case for government or public interest groups.
To apply, you’ll need a cover letter, legal writing sample, and a resume. Many students opt to submit their writing sample as part of their law school application, though this does not always work out. That’s because it’s not difficult for an active attorney to identify which first-year projects you submitted and/or distributed. If you use an old project, be prepared that it doesn’t necessarily represent your current abilities. If you use one from your current job, you get into worse trouble. Often, the applicant is perceived to be dishonest. This does not mean using old work now and again does not work out: it isn’t that uncommon. It speaks to the importance of being aware of who previously had the job and/or if that is a common practice for the employer. Typically, poorer riddance of this type is seen with PI groups.
Other job seekers do special writing samples altogether. This requires some more preparation and could make or break an internship position, so I recommend doing this as a last resort. If you’re lucky, the project may have been due for overhaul, otherwise the new version will have to be nearly identical to the original.
Once you have your applications in, there is little left to do other than hope for interviews. If you do not get any interviews or cannot get an interview with a place you want to work, contact your career office. They can probably help you rework your applications better or tell you if it is time to scale back your goals or increase your horizons.
Skills and Insights Gained from Internships
Clerking for a law firm or other legal office in Atlanta, GA provides interns with a well-rounded professional experience, gaining insight into the day-to-day tasks of licensed attorneys. For those pursuing their legal degrees in the city, Atlanta, GA law firms and other legal offices are perfect spots to hone both their soft and legal-specific skills.
Interns in the legal field acquire a number of soft skills, including:
Networking opportunities. Participants in legal internships in Atlanta, GA can make valuable connections with firm employees, other interns and even outside professionals who attend in-house functions. Networking enables attorneys to build their social and professional circles, which can in turn lead to further job opportunities.
Comfort and professionalism. Shadowing an attorney can be beneficial for law students who may not have worked in a professional setting before. Interns will quickly learn the ropes, including missing the dress code on casual Fridays or drinking from a coffee mug at their desks.
Time management. Legal interns are often tasked with plenty of responsibilities, from administrative duties to conducting legal research. Staying organized is critical for successfully completing assignments on time, and may prove invaluable during law school and after graduation when interns become licensed attorneys themselves.
Legal interns also gain skillsets specific to the legal profession. These include:
Law-specific training. Interns have the unique opportunity to learn about the legal system in the field rather than just in class. Those who haven’t learned about criminal law or corporate law yet can get a crash course on the subject while getting their hands dirty and diving right into real, applicable work.
Research. Legal interns are typically responsible for compiling documents and gathering information to support cases. In addition to learning research processes, they also have the opportunity to practice developing legal theories based on their research findings.
Writing. Law students who have begun learning about legal writing have the opportunity to get some real-world experience now. They often draft, proof and edit legal documentation to be reviewed by attorneys.
A legal internship can provide many benefits to law students and recent grads, both on a personal level and professional. Those interested in securing one should contact Atlanta legal recruiting professionals to get started.
Networking within the Atlanta Legal Sphere
In the competitive landscape of legal internships, networking can prove to be a vital resource. When interns show initiative to connect with professionals, they demonstrate a level of maturity and ambition that enhances their professional reputation. Finding ways to network during your internship is incredibly important. Consider the following ways you can develop relationships within Atlanta’s legal community. Participate in law school events. If your law school is located in Atlanta, take full advantage of the resources available to you. Any networking opportunities your school offers can set you apart from the competition when seeking out internships. Lawyer-Law Student events are particularly valuable because they facilitate relaxed interactions between students and attorneys or judges. As you develop those relationships, you’ll gain invaluable insight into the legal world and its hiring processes. Former interns who have landed jobs as attorneys attribute their success to law school networking resources. Attend city events hosted by or involving the court system. Organizations throughout the greater Atlanta area frequently host a wide variety of events. Or if you’re doing an internship with the District Attorney’s Office or Fulton County Solicitor General, you have the opportunity to participate in city events that bring together lawyers, judges and lawmakers. Dress professionally and introduce yourself to as many people as possible. Engage them in conversation and ask for their contact information. Maintain those contact relationships for years to come. A strong professional network will always enhance your ability to get the job done , and may even help you land your dream job. Socialize. From almond croissants to hot wings, Atlanta offers an enormous array of options for affordable food and drink. Take some time to explore all your options, and grab lunch or dinner with fellow interns or supervisors. Engage each person in conversation about their positions, or even go deeper to seek their opinion on popular culture topics. Building personal relationships is instrumental in the professional world. The same applies to social events: you’re here for a job, but bear in mind that friendships are equally important. Try to devote some of your personal time to cultivating relationships with other interns and lawyers, all of whom will seek to assist you in the future. Lunch and social outings are great ways to spend time with both your colleagues and larger members of the Atlanta legal community. Volunteer. Even if you haven’t been asked to volunteer, offering your services is extremely beneficial and will help you stand out from other potential hires. Event organizers will be impressed by your initiative, and the greater Atlanta legal community will as well. In Atlanta, volunteering is a unique opportunity to meet a wide variety of lawyers and judges who are all working toward one common goal. Attorneys from a variety of specialties and varying levels of experience will be present. Ask a lot of questions of your fellow helpers, and make certain to thank the judges and attorneys for their time. One day you may be on the other side of the equation, with interns offering their services to you. Networking is a key part of any internship experience, and for legal interns, it’s especially important. Explore legal internships in Atlanta, GA to find a good fit for you.
Juggling Internships with School Commitments
Law students embarking on legal internships are faced with a common conundrum: how to balance these immersive experiences with their ongoing academic responsibilities. The quality of law school courses is undeniably excellent, but the reality is that the rigor and expectations of these classes must be harmonized with the time and energy needed to succeed at an internship. Here are some practical tips for effectively balancing the two.
First, prioritize the tasks presented to you in school and at your internship. Weekly reading assignments should take precedence over Netflix and naturally, personal obligations matter too. If you identify your most pressing academic deadlines and obligations, you can seize opportunities to do extra work on gaps in your understanding of your internship position. Specifically, if you are really enjoying how your internship deals with contract law, you may want to supplement your education with extra coursework and more intensive reading in this area. Thankfully, many law schools offer flexible course schedules that permit students the ability to shift their nightly hours between classwork and research or study related to their internships.
The next general tip here is for students to be brutally honest about when they need time off. Law school is a bear, and students become exhausted. Unfortunately, making a conscious choice to forgo time off to keep a client happy right before a holiday will only result in resentment and shame later on. Do not be afraid to ask your internship supervisor to take extra time off to study or to push back a deadline due to pending academic obligations. Prioritizing requests according to their urgency will help you have balance over time.
Third, minimize commute time. The reality is that in Atlanta, GA, there are few things worse than long commutes. Unable to work much of the time and usually fairly miserable, unaware of the time wasted at the office by Atlanta traffic, or stuck at home studying, do yourself a favor and take academic obligations to a local café or the office. Get a teacher or a classmate to join you there. If your office is located outside of Atlanta, try to work from home whenever possible to save time and money.
Book your appointments, social gatherings, and other events as far in advance as is practical. Your internship is paramount and your time in the legal field is limited, so do not waste opportunities to build relationships with judges, attorneys, and judges in the field by ignoring your internship to pursue social opportunities.
Future Career Opportunities Beyond Internships
The road ahead after law school is rarely straightforward, but the exposure and experience gained from a legal internship in Atlanta can go a long way in helping aspiring attorneys navigate that complex path. Students and aspiring lawyers are often unsure what to do with themselves once they’ve amassed enough experience to move on from their internship period. However, while legal internships provide real-world experience and marketable job skills in a law firm or government office, they’re also a way for students to determine where they truly want to land after graduation.
For example, some students pursue internships with in-house counsel, such as corporate legal departments or independently employed general council. This type of internship can help students evaluate the culture and workflow of a corporate legal office and also provide professional connections that may lead to offers for full-time employment with the company after graduation.
Others may decide early on that they don’t wish to work for any private firms or corporations after interning in these environments. Not all law students seek out corporate law. In fact, for many, the practice of law isn’t about what you know—it’s about what you can do, and where you can bring the most value. Government offices offer a different typical workweek than a legal office, and more importantly, besides offering a 9-5 schedule with weekends off, government internships provide valuable experience in the world of litigation and criminal justice. Many students prefer this type of lawyering because of the wider array of challenges it provides, and the less corporate culture inherent in many government agencies.
Legal internships may also begin to shape an attorney’s interests outside the office, and these interests can lead students towards some of the less common areas of legal practice. For example, intrepid students may discover passions for advocacy or dissolution work during family law internships, or may discover a talent for conciliation during a civil litigation internship. Ultimately, the key to career advancement is to always take opportunities as they come.
Capitalizing on valuable internship opportunities can help students build resumes while exploring a range of career paths. They may also pave the way to full-time offers, but even if they don’t, law students should approach every possible opportunity with enthusiasm and professionalism. In the legal profession, who you know matters just as much as what you know—so students should always be ready to put their best foot forward.
Intern Testimonials
One of the most effective ways to provide a greater understanding of the true impact of a legal internship is to gain perspective from those who have already successfully taken the plunge and from which those still looking for a place can learn from their experiences. Donovan Greene, formerly a law clerk at a minor Atlanta personal injury firm, shared his insight as to the value of his internship, "I needed this experience to be a better attorney, to be frank. I continuously saw how difficult it was to find employment nowadays and I struggled initially in making even enough money to pay rent. I think that interns can sometimes feel like an encumbrance when they are looking for full time employment, but I would argue that they can often play an important role in making or breaking the firm in question, and that’s what my experience taught me." Emily Bowman, an associate at one of Atlanta’s prestigious corporate firms, remarked, "My time at Jones and Brisker was invaluable for the perspective that it gave me . I was told about the horror stories of lawyers from my friend who worked there, and I got to learn what happened next. It helped me realize that I didn’t want to work in a small firm or in a large corporate one, and that let me focus on my search and immediately get to the point when I found the right one." Trey Evans, former law clerk for a top three Atlanta criminal defense firm, is currently a law student at Georgia State University and is now being courted for a top law clerk position by several large firms. "I owe my success thus far to my time working in Atlanta. This is why I believed that it was important to create this resource for new students of the law – first year law students don’t know the ins and outs. They need to know everything they can because otherwise you can be stuck somewhere miserable just working, and never any closer to your goals. And frankly you end up ruining your reputation in the process."