Legal Internships in NYC: Navigating the Corporate World as a Non-Corporate 20-year-old

As someone who is no stranger to sitting in my bedroom over winter break, tirelessly applying to tens if not hundreds of internships in an effort to get a summer offer, I understand how competitive the field of internships may seem. Don’t worry, keep going! With enough effort, and the right places to look, I guarantee you can land just as many internships as I have, if not more. The city is endless, and the same goes for the amount of opportunities to get professional experience. 

With that, here are some of the most effective ways I have landed my internships

1. Handshake. This is the first place I will always go when starting my search for the upcoming semester, especially if you are looking for experience at major corporations. This can be anything from NBC to the Office of the Attorney General to New York City Council.
2. Cold Emailing. Although this method can be one of the most hit or miss ways to land a pre-professional opportunity, I am a living success story; this is how I got my current internship at USAO-SDNY! This can either be through emailing the hiring team your resume or reaching out directly to people who already work there. Although this may take a little more diligence, it can also be the route to working at your dream corporation or firm. You never know where a little bit of hope could get you!
3. ‘The Legal Brief.’ Our pre-law advising team has an amazing newsletter that goes out every week with legal internships, jobs, career fairs, etc. ([email protected])
4. LinkedIn/Networking. We forget that our peers are our network. Sometimes the best way to find out about cool internships you might not know about is seeing what students at NYU, especially junior and senior students, have already pursued. That’s how I found out about my current internship. They are almost always willing to give insight about the job, application/interview tips, and more!
5. Keeping an open mind! Finally, try to go into the internship process without any preconceived notions on what a job is like or with too limited of a scope of what you’re willing to try. You may not know that an internship you are unsure about or that doesn’t align with your current perception of your career trajectory could be your next dream job!

Personally, once I actually landed these opportunities, I was very anxious about how to enter these highly professional spaces as someone with little experience and time under their belt.

1. 1. Confidence! Confidence! Confidence! Imposter syndrome is so real for so many of us, especially in the prelaw world. Walk into a room like you belong there and have just as much to contribute as anyone else.
   2. Inquiry & Curiosity. Try to absorb everything you can. Ask questions– you are there to learn and observe. I also recommend setting up coffee chats with higher-ups; those are the people who have done what you are looking to do in the future! They are the most valuable insights. 
   3. Dressing the Part. Business attire can be…difficult (and expensive). My best recommendation is to buy a couple of basic black, brown, or blue pieces. This can be a pair of trousers and a blazer or a skirt and loafers, etc., whatever makes you feel like you! Then add sweaters or more formal tops from your preexisting wardrobe (thrifting can also be great for this). Therefore, if you have a couple of nice pieces that match everything, you can tailor your more eclectic or non-business items to fit the business casual dress code on a budget and in line with your style.
   4. Respect & Gratitude. Finally, always, always say thank you! Those who are sanctioning your internship experience are taking time out of their days to mentor and teach you. Always remember how far you’ve come and what it took for you to be there.

Going “corporate” as a non-corporate college student can feel intimidating, but it does not have to be! It is through these legal internships I have been able to gain valuable resume-building experience and discover the exact field of law I want to go into in the future; for me, this means doing public service through criminal law, more specifically, sexual assault and domestic violence prosecution. Ultimately, we will never be able to bridge the gap in corporate or “inaccessible” spaces if we don’t bridge the gap ourselves. Just because something is scary or prestigious or competitive doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Maybe one day you’ll be the mentor to law interns like you!