What an internship in law involves
The word “legal” covers very different realities. An internship may take place with a lawyer, a notary, a court bailiff (commissaire de justice), in a company’s legal department, in a town hall or ministry department, at a court, with a victim-support charity or with a trade union. In every case, the intern does not represent a client and does not sign any document that binds the organisation: the intern prepares, checks, documents and suggests.
The guiding thread stays the same: a fact, a rule, a consequence. You are asked to understand a situation, find the statutes and decisions that apply to it, then set out clearly what they allow or forbid. It is exactly the exercise in legal reasoning taught at university, but with deadlines, contacts and real consequences.
Which host organisation suits your plans
Each environment builds different reflexes. Choosing with open eyes avoids finding out too late that the pace or the subject does not suit you.
- Law firm: work on litigation or advisory files, tight procedural deadlines and client contact depending on how the firm is organised.
- Notary’s office: family law, property and companies; plenty of document checking and drafting of preparatory deeds.
- Company legal department: commercial contracts, compliance, employment law and intellectual property; the in-house lawyer is an internal adviser serving the teams.
- Local authority or administration: public procurement, planning, administrative litigation and replies to the public.
- Charity or access-to-law organisation: informing the public, advice sessions and follow-up of individual cases.
- Court or public prosecutor’s office: observation and assistance, with their own access rules and limited places.
Duties given to a legal intern
Duties vary with your level of study and the trust placed in you, but some come up often. Legal research means finding the applicable text, recent case law and useful academic commentary, then checking that they are still in force. The briefing note reports this work in a few pages, with a question asked, a reasoned answer and cited sources.
To these are added building and following files, reviewing contracts, preparing documents and schedules of exhibits, tracking deadlines, monitoring developments in one area of law, and sometimes a first draft of submissions or a letter. These drafts are always reviewed and approved by the tutor. A good internship also leaves room for observation: attending a meeting, a negotiation or a hearing, when confidentiality allows.
Framework, agreement and rules specific to the sector
In France, a law internship rests on a three-party placement agreement between you, your educational institution and the host organisation. It sets the dates, duties, hours on site, tutor and arrangements for assessment. Beyond a certain length a gratification is due; its minimum amount is set by regulation and changes, so check it with the institution or the organisation when you sign.
Some rules come from the subject itself. Regulated professions are subject to professional secrecy and to ethical obligations: you must keep quiet about the files you have seen, even after the internship has ended. A university internship is not the same as the practical period built into the training of trainee lawyers (élèves avocats), which belongs to a separate professional route with its own arrangements. If your internship is part of a specific course, check what is expected with the person in charge of your programme.
Finding a host organisation
Many places are never advertised: they are obtained through speculative applications, a teacher’s recommendation or an alumni network. Start by drawing up a list of ten to fifteen organisations that match your plans, varying size and speciality.
- Pin down the subject that interests you (business law, employment law, public law, family law, intellectual property, criminal law).
- Identify organisations that practise it, using their websites, professional directories and lawyers’ profiles.
- Consult your faculty’s internship or careers service: it often knows firms and departments used to hosting students.
- Send a targeted application and follow up once after about ten days.
Consider small organisations: a modest firm sometimes gives more responsibility than a large, highly organised one, at the price of less formal supervision.
An application that speaks the language of law
A law applicant’s CV works best when plain and precise: course, any honours, subjects studied in depth, languages, legal research tools you know, voluntary experience or a law clinic. The letter should show that you know the organisation’s field of activity and explain why it interests you, with a concrete example drawn from your courses or a research project.
Take care over form: a spelling mistake in an application is especially damaging in a world where writing is the heart of the job. At interview, expect questions on your favourite subjects, a notable court decision or a mini case to reason through aloud. What matters is not reciting but structuring: pose the question, cite the rule, apply it, conclude.
A typical day, for illustration only
Imagine a two-month internship in the legal department of a medium-sized company. In the morning, the head of department asks whether a supplier can be held to a delivery clause considered ambiguous. The intern reads the contract, notes the neighbouring clauses and looks up the applicable rules in the civil code and two recent decisions. In the afternoon, the intern writes a one-page note: question, rules, application, risk, recommended option.
The next day, the head of department corrects it, asks for a more precise citation of one source and for a decision that is too old to be set aside. This exchange is a lesson in itself: the value of a note lies less in its length than in the reliability of its references and the clarity of its conclusion. The figures and situations in this example are fictional.
Frequent mistakes to avoid
- Citing a repealed or amended text without checking which version applies.
- Mixing facts, rule and personal opinion in a single sentence.
- Including in an internship report details that would identify a client or a case.
- Not asking for the expected format: short note, case-law table, draft letter.
- Handing in work without checking references, dates and names.
- Staying passive: offering to take on a piece of research or a monitoring task quickly brings responsibility.
Finally, do not underestimate personal conduct: punctuality, discretion and a courteous tone with clients and fellow professionals count as much as technique.
After the internship: making the most of the experience
At the end of the internship, ask for a conversation with your tutor to get honest feedback on your strengths and areas to improve. On your CV, note specific duties (“research and note on contractual liability”, “monitoring a portfolio of supplier contracts”) rather than a general phrase. If you enjoyed the experience, it can guide your choice of master’s degree, exam preparation or a work-study plan; if it suited you less, it helps you rule out a path before committing to it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be on a master’s course to do a legal internship?
No. Observation internships exist from the first years of a bachelor’s degree, particularly in notaries’ offices, town halls or charities. In-depth research and drafting duties are more common from the third year of the degree and at master’s level, because they assume a method of reasoning and a solid legal background.
Is an internship in a law firm paid?
It depends on the length and the agreement. Beyond a certain length, a gratification is due, with a minimum set by regulation that changes over time. It is wise to ask for the amount and arrangements before signing the agreement, then have them written into that document.
What should I do if the file I am working on is confidential?
Respect the discretion asked of you strictly. In an internship report, describe methods and lessons while making people, companies and identifiable facts anonymous. If you are unsure what may be published or passed to your school, ask for your tutor’s written agreement.
What is the difference between a university internship and a trainee lawyer’s placement?
A university internship fits into a degree, with an agreement signed with the institution. The practical period of trainee lawyers is part of a separate professional training route organised by the lawyers’ schools, with its own rules. Neither replaces the other.
How can I be convincing without prior legal experience?
Highlight your tutorial work, a dissertation, a law clinic, a mooting competition or voluntary activity. Above all show your method: the ability to find a reliable source, summarise clearly and write without errors. A precise letter about one area of law carries more weight than general enthusiasm.
Can a legal internship lead to a job?
It can, but nothing is guaranteed. An organisation that appreciated your work may offer another internship or a work-study place, or recommend you. The outcome depends on its needs and budget; the main value remains gaining concrete experience and building a network.