Internships

Who is eligible for an internship?
If you have completed 45 credits, and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher, you may do an internship. Some departments have additional requirements.

When should I do an internship?
Some students do internships during the summer; some prefer to do them during the academic year. If you are hoping to learn more about the legal profession from your internship in order to decide whether to apply to law school, then you will probably want to do one during your junior year or the summer before or after your junior year.

How do I find a law-related internship?
There are at least three sources of information about internships: your department, UMass Career Services, and your own contacts through family members, neighbors, acquaintances.

The Pre-Law Advising Office also maintains a network of lawyer-alumni who may be interested in offering paid or unpaid internships.

How much academic credit will I get?
If you do an internship through your department, there may be a specified number of credits for the internship. If you do an internship through Career Services, you may designate how many credits you will receive.

Where do I go on campus to find out about internships?
Your first step should be to check out the UMass Career Services website. It has a comprehensive overview of the field experience programs offered at UMass.

How do I find a faculty sponsor?
Start with your undergraduate advisor who may refer you to a specific person in the department who handles internships. Otherwise, ask any faculty member who you know from your courses if he or she would be willing to be your sponsor.

Will a law-related internship help me get into law school?
Not necessarily. Law schools don’t require that applicants have any legal experience. They are looking for students with a well-rounded liberal arts education. Your academic record is far more important than extra-curricular activities or internships.

Why would I do an internship?
One way to find out if you would like being a lawyer is to spend time around lawyers to see what lawyers do in the course of a day. This will help you determine if the tasks they perform are ones you would enjoy doing. Working in a law office or government agency may help you clarify your goals and give you an added incentive to work hard preparing for the LSAT and applying to law school.