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An internship is an experiential opportunity in the nonprofit or public interest sector for which you are eligible to earn academic credit. Indiana Law students can pursue an internship through the Public Interest Internship program or the Independent Clinical Project.
The major categories of internship opportunities include:
Provide direct legal services to individuals who fit certain criteria (for example, they are poor, disabled, or have HIV/AIDS). Every state has a number of organizations that do this, often called “legal services organizations” or “Legal Aid.”
Provide legal support to individuals or organizations that advance certain law-reform goals. For instance, the Anti-Arab Discrimination League files briefs in cases involving alleged discrimination against Arabs.
Universities, arts agencies, museums, and foundations all have legal counsel. Indiana Law students often work in these settings during the summer. Most of these organizations are located in major cities.
All level of state courts (trial, appellate and supreme) federal district courts (including magistrates and bankruptcy courts) and some (but very few) federal appellate courts accept judicial interns in the summer.
Government internships are available in either criminal law—at the federal or state level—or civil law, at the federal, state, or city level.
It is usually possible to find a good internship anywhere in the country. If you think you might want to practice in another part of the country after graduation, an internship is a good opportunity to get a sense of the area and the local legal culture. If you wonder whether you would be happy in an urban practice setting, or think you might be interested in a small town, now is the time to experience it and find out.
Some good sources include the Web pages that every state and federal government maintains, the Law Library’s collection of resources on judges, and the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD), which maintains a large number of resources. You should also check the B547 section in Symplicity.
Through the Public Interest Internship Program, students can receive up to four credit hours during the summer for engaging in unpaid legal work for nonprofit, government agencies, judges, or legal services. Participating students must secure an internship independently and complete an academic component for credit.
If you want to receive academic credit for the internship, complete a permission form. Return the form to the OCPD when you register for the academic credit. At registration, you will be assigned a faculty supervisor and given an informational packet that contains instructions from your faculty supervisor. Please read this carefully. If you have any questions, see your faculty supervisor before you leave for the internship.
The Independent Clinical Project allows students to create their own clinical project, working under the supervision of individual members of the faculty. Participating students earn up to three credit hours during the academic year (graded pass/fail) through hands-on legal experience working with a licensed attorney. Past projects have included working for the local district pro bono office, interning for a state court judge, working at a governmental agency, and interning in the office of the prosecutor or public defender of a neighboring county.
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