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.

• Selecting a Practice Setting
• Volunteering
• Internships, Fellowships and Clerkships
• Job Listings
• Find a Mentor
• Student Specific Pages from ABA Entities
• Other Areas of Interest
• Other Career-Building Opportunities

• ABA Career Counsel
• Starting a Career in Children's Law
• Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Career Center
• Careers in Intellectual Property Law
• Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and Center for Pro Bono

• Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunities
• Entering the Community -- Tips on Volunteering
• Directory of Law School Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs
• ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service
• ABA Center for Pro Bono Web Links

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.)

• Tell me more about policy research opportunities with the Criminal Justice Section.
• Tell me more about student membership in the Criminal Justice Section.

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 Bar exam. Provides a $40,000 salary and excellent benefits. Deadline to apply: December. 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. 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. Deadline: Spring Internships--November 15/Summer Internships--February 15 Tell me more about Internships available through the Rule of Law Initiative

Tax Section
Public Service Fellowship
The ABA Section of Taxation is pleased to announce our new Public Service Fellowship award program, developed to address the need for tax legal service assistance around the country, and to foster an interest in tax-related public service for those lawyers who participate. The Public Service Fellowships are open to recent J.D. and LL.M. graduates and judicial clerks who commit to working in tax-related public interest, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations for two years.  Applicants must select and arrange employment with those organizations prior to applying for the Fellowship, and must confirm that their work will involve taxation or the administration of tax law.  Up to two Fellowships will be awarded each year, and the Section will fund the salary, benefits and law school debt service (when applicable) for each awardee.  Tell me more about the Tax Section's Public Service Fellowship

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

• Directory of Sections, Divisions and Forums
• Find a Specific Entity
• Writing Contests and Competitions

• Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
• Antitrust
• Business Law
• Career Counsel
• Criminal Justice
• Dispute Resolution
• Domestic Violence, Commission on
• Environment, Energy and Resources
• Ethnic and Racial Diversity, Commission on
• Family Law
• General Practice Solo and Small Firm Practitioners
• Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division
• Health Law
• Intellectual Property
• International Law
• Labor and Employment
• Law and Aging, Commission on
• Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
• Pro Bono, Standing Committee on
• Public Contract Law
• Public Utility, Communication and Transportation
• Real Property, Trust and Estate Law
• State and Local Government
• Tort and Insurance Practice

• Career at the American Bar Association
• Career Counsel
• Pro Bono and Public Interest
• ABA Commission on Ethnic and Racial Diversity Job Board
• Young Lawyers Division Career Page
• Job Hunting Tips
• Tax Law Job Locator Program
  

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

Mentoring Program
Health Law Section
When most people think of health law, they think of Medical Malpractice. Health law encompasses so much more, touching on employment laws, contracts, transactional issues, and yes, even medical malpractice. Does your school have a Health Law organization? Would you like access to experienced health law attorneys to speak at your school? The Health Law Section can help.  For more information, contact Marc Meyer (marcmeyer36@yahoo.com), Law Student Division Liaison to the Health Law Section.

Labor and Employment Law
Mentoring Program for Third Year Law Students
The Section of Labor and Employment Law sponsors a voluntary mentoring program, open to all lawyer and third year law student Section members. This program matches new Section members seeking guidance in their practice with veteran members who have experience in a particular aspect of the labor and employment law field. Matches are made based on interest, affiliation, geographic location, and any other criteria provided. For more information, visit www.abanet.org/labor/mentorfaq.pdf.

Listserve for Law Students in Recovery
Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs
A listserve has been developed by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) to provide a confidential email vehicle for law students who want to get, or stay, clean and sober while in law school. This is a chance for students to connect with and ask questions of their law student peers throughout the US and share their experience, strength and hope. Interested law students should email the CoLAP Director, Donna Spilis (spilisd@staff.abanet.org and be prepared to talk a bit about your history,  need and desire to communicate with other law students facing similar challenges.  Tell me more about CoLAP.

• Commission on Ethnic and Racial Diversity
• Native American Concerns
• Commission on Women
• Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Why Antitrust?
Section of Antitrust Law
"Why Antitrust?" was developed by the ABA Section of Antitrust Law to encourage law students to consider antitrust law as a career. Representatives from private firms, the government, in-house and academia come together at various law schools around the country to discuss why they embarked on a career in antitrust, and talk about their experiences and the benefits they have realized from practicing in this area of law. Tell me more about Why Antitrust. 

Pathways to Employment in International Law
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

Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
National Directory of Law School Disability Programs
The ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law launched an online national directory that will allow potential law students to search for law schools that offer disability-related curriculum. This resource is the first of its kind and allows students to easily search ABA-approved law schools to find those that offer courses and clinical programs in disability or mental health law. The directory also includes student organizations for law students with disabilities and contact information for those seeking assistance. Tell me more about the National Directory.

Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law (RPTE)
Begin a Real Estate Organization at Your Law School
Wish your school had a real estate organization? Wish you could get America's most successful real estate attorneys to come speak at your school? Find out how you and your school can start a new student branch of RPTE ("Rippity"). Tell more more about the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law.

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.  Tell me more about the TIPS Law Student Vice-Chair Program

Obtain Access to Resources Designed for New Lawyers
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.

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