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Law Student Division

Networking and Job Opportunities

Welcome

This page contains information on networking opportunities, internships, job boards and other resorces to get you started as you embark on your legal education and/or beginning your legal career.

Internships and Fellowships

American Bar Association
Internships at the American Bar Association
Chicago and Washington DC Offices
Occasionally, internships become available for law students to work in the Chicago or Washington DC offices of the ABA. These positions generally include research, project coordination and other legal assistance assignments.
Tell me more about Internships at the American Bar Association >>>

Antitrust Law
The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project

The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project offers 1L and 2Ls the opportunity for summer work in the Consumer Protection Departments and/or Antitrust Law Departments of state attorneys general offices throughout the United States. The ABA Section of Antitrust Law provides each participant with a $5,000 stipend. For details about the Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project, contact Deborah Douglas at (312) 988-5606.

Business Law
Diversity Clerkship Program
The purpose of the program is to expose more students to business law and business courts and encourage students to consider a career in business law.  These clerkship opportunities are aimed at qualified minority or otherwise disadvantaged candidates who have completed the equivalent of their first year of law school. Tell me more about the Diversity Clerkship Program >>>

Center on Children and the Law
Internship Opportunity – Washington, D.C. Office
Internships are available during the summer, spring and fall for students with an interest in child welfare issues.  One of our Summer ‘08 internship positions will be focused on child and adolescent health; a background in health or psychology is strongly preferred for this position.  To learn more about internships at the Center on Children and the Law, please visit http://www.abanet.org/child/internships.shtml.  To apply, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to PilnikL@staff.abanet.org.

Criminal Justice
Internship Opportunity

Internship opportunities with the Section are available. Previous successful candidates spent a summer or semester in the Washington, DC offices of the Section, and assisted Section staff with criminal justice policy research, Section Committee projects, and various other activities. (Note: You must be a member of the ABA Criminal Justice Section in order to obtain additional information and an application form for this Internship Opportunity.)

Dispute Resolution
Internship Opportunity

Take advantage of Student Internship Opportunities at the Section of Dispute Resolution office in Washington, D.C. Law student interns focus on ADR research into emerging critical issues under the supervision of an attorney, conduct needs assessment and systems design for dispute resolution in specific practice areas or institutions, and make site visits to local programs such as the D.C. Court's Multi-Door Program. Tell me more Internship Opportunities with the Dispute Resolution Section >>>

Domestic Violence
Fellowship Opportunity

One year position to begin in August 2008 with the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence located in Washington, DC. Applicants must earn their J.D. from an ABA-approved law school in 2007 or 2008 and must be licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or a candidate for the July 2008 Bar exam. Provides a $40,000 salary and excellent benefits. Deadline to apply: December 7, 2007. Tell me more Fellowship Opportunities with the Commission on Domestic Violence >>>

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
Fellowship Opportunity

The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is pleased to announce the sponsorship of Fellowships for eligible law students during the summer of 2008. The ABA Fellowship in Environmental Law, formerly the Minority Fellowship in Environmental Law, is designed to encourage disadvantaged or traditionally underrepresented law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law. Tell me more about Fellow Opportunities offered by the Section of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources >>>

Ethnic and Racial Diversity
Judicial Clerkship Program
A joint effort of the Advisory Council and the Judicial Division, this program is designed to bring judges and minority law students together through structured networking activities. Students are able to demonstrate their knowledge and research skills in a small group setting while interacting with the judges in a team building effort. Tell me more about the Judicial Clerkship Program >>>

Immigration
Clerkship Program
The ABA Commission on Immigration seeks talented law clerks and interns to assist in cutting-edge national advocacy work for immigrants, refugees and newcomers to this nation. Law clerks (law students) and interns (undergraduates) will participate in research and development of various policy initiatives to ensure that immigration laws respect the due process rights of immigrants, to benefit adult and children immigrants and refugees detained by the ICE, and to promote pro bono practices across the country. Tell me more about the Immigration Clerkship Program >>>

Individual Rights and Responsibilities
Internship Opportunities

Internships are available year-round and applications are accepted until positions are filled. Candidates should send a resume, a brief writing sample (less than 10 pages), and a cover letter detailing the candidate’s interest in working for the ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities. Tell me more Internship Opportunities available through the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities >>>

International Law
Internship Opportunity

The program is intended to facilitate the establishment of legal internships for U.S. law students interested in the practice of international law with overseas law firms. Tell me more about Internship Opportunities available from the Section of International Law >>>

Law and Aging
Internship Opportunities

Seasonal internships designed to provide law students interested in pursing a career focusing on law and aging issues with experience in a nationally known organization in that field. Tell me more about the Internship Opportunities available through the Commission on Law and Aging >>>

Litigation
Judicial Opportunities Internship Program

Seeks to provide internship opportunities for minority or financially disadvantaged law students, those who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession. The Judicial Intern Opportunity Program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first- or second-year minority and/or financially disadvantaged law students who want to do legal research and writing for state or federal judges in participating cities. Students may indicate geographic location preferences on their applications. Interns will receive an award of $1,500. Tell me more about the Judicial Opportunities Internship Program >>>

Mental and Physical Disabilities Law
Internship Opportunities
Available for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Duties include using Westlaw to research disability law issues, cite-checking cases and legislation, and assisting with various other Commission projects. Tell me more Internship Opportunities available from the Commission on Mental and Physical Disabilities >>>

Public Service
Internship Program
The Division for Public Service provides summer internships to design and carry out a public interest legal research and writing project of particular interest to the law student. Tell me more about the Internship Program with the Division for Public Service >>>

Rule of Law Initiative
Domestic and International Internships
Applications are now being taken by the ABA Rule of Law Initiative for domestic and international internships for the Spring and Summer, 2008. Deadline: Spring Internships--November 15/Summer Internships--February 15 Tell me more about Internships available through the Rule of Law Initiative >>>

For more information on Career Resources and Opportunities, visit the Law Student Division Career Page and the ABA Career Counsel.

Find a Mentor

Mental and Physical Disabilities Law (Commission on)
Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities
This program is open to all law students with physical, mental, or learning disabilities (brochure). Students are paired with practicing attorneys, based on the student's interest in either being matched according to disability, geographical location, or area of interest. Mentors offer students both academic and career advice, in addition to insights into the private and government sectors.
Tell me more about the Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities >>>

Mentoring Certificate Program
General Practice, Solo and Small Firms Division

The ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firms Division offers a Mentoring Certificate Program for law students designed to expand upon traditional law school education, by focusing on introducing law students to the practical aspects of being a lawyer through real world activities and through the mentor’s insight and guidance. Further, the program is flexible, enabling law students to pick their own mentor and tailor the program’s criteria to their own interests.  Tell me more about the General Practice Mentoring Certificate Program >>>

Other Career-Building Resources

PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW PROGRAM
Section of International Law

The Section of International Law invites your law school to join their national tour!  If you are interested in attending a program or hosting one at your law school, please contact Angela Benson at bensona@staff.abanet.org or (202) 662-1664.  Tell me more about the Pathway to Employment Program >>>

Law Student Vice-Chair Positions
ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)

Take advantage of an opportunity to meet and work with trial attorneys, enhance your résumé, and write for national publications.  Note:  The TIPS Liaison/Vice-Chair program is an independent program and not associated with the ABA Law Student Division Liaison program.  Application deadline: November 15.  Tell me more about the TIPS Law Student Vice-Chair Program >>>

Obtain Access to Resources Designed for New Lawyers
ABA Young Lawyers Division (YLD)
Join ABA YLD for only $5 and take advantage of these great member benefits while you're still in law school:

  • Access to The Young Lawyer - a practice-oriented newsletter designed to deliver specific, practical information in an easy-to-read format. It is mailed to all ABA YLD members 11 times per year. Tell me more about The Young Lawyer Newsletter
  • Access to the 101 Practice Series - an online resource for new lawyers covering basic training in both substantive and practical aspects of law practice. With over 170 quick tips and tools, this series is an essential resource for lawyers in their first three years of practice. Tell me more about the 101 Practice Series
  • Continue the advantages of ABA YLD membership after you graduate: Advance your career by attending CLE and Professional Development programs at an ABA YLD conference, joining an ABA YLD committee, and even applying for a leadership position in the ABA YLD. The information and networking available through the ABA YLD are priceless resources that will help you advance your career. Tell me more about the Young Lawyers Division

Contact Us

Question, Comments, please email us at abalsd@abanet.org

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