Internships and UON
Recently, as a second-year law student at the University of Northampton, I completed my internship at an American law firm in London. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience life as a lawyer at the firm.
What the placement involved?
I spent a week at the firm being fully immersed in first-hand legal work. My routine consisted of drafting legal orders, checking the client’s property against Land Registry, conducting research for associates and partners, preparing due diligence reports. All these duties provided me with the opportunity to apply my knowledge I have gained at university so far, and complete practical tasks. This experience enhanced my skills in legal writing and improved my understanding of complex legal areas such as financial litigation, debt, restructuring, employment and insolvency law – all of these I can now confidently mention in my CV when applying for a job in legal sector.
Reflecting on my experience
Now I can reflect on the things I wish I knew before or I wish I focused on more before commencing my internship. The first thing would be to attend a variety of networking events where you can meet partners and associates: it’s a quick way to connect with industry experts, and reduce the lengthy process of applying online by directly impress those who make decisions. Staying in touch with your previous school / educational institution is also important as you can attend events for school leavers and make connections with those who are already in a field.
Advice for completing an internship
Show your passion towards the particular subject / area you enjoy and remember that your tutor/lecturer may also be working in that field too. See it as a chance for you to connect with each other, and they can help you with getting in contact with the right people or advising you with career opportunities.
Develop your proactiveness, communication and representation skills. During your internship, you aren’t expected to know everything, but you are expected to be curious, attentive, engaged and willing to learn!
Finally, do not be scared to talk to people, ask them for a conversation or coffee, request help and further explanation. Honestly, I was amazed by how nice and down to earth partners and associates are at top firms!
Find out more about internships and placements at UON
Learn more about internships and placements
