Judicial Internships/Externships

As you begin law school, the thought of summer jobs and externships will quickly enter the forefront of your mind. While Widener offers an array of opportunities for any area of law one may be interested in, I would encourage any student to seek a position working for a judge at some point during his or her time in law school. No matter the practice area you choose to go into, the experience will prove invaluable to your education. Take advantage of these opportunities as they arise!

This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern for a federal district court judge. It was a wonderful, robust learning experience with a fantastic group of people. Here are three positive takeaways I noted that you can expect from a similar internship.

Extensive practice to refine your research and legal writing skills:
- Your Legal Methods classes will certainly pay off! Throughout this position, you will likely be working closely with the judge’s law clerks – assisting them with research assignments on specific legal issues, editing documents, and drafting memoranda or opinions. Writing is one of the most important skills an effective attorney can have. This all comes with practice! The more experience you have with this type of research and writing, the more you will begin to develop a skill set that will assist you your entire career.
Learning through observation
- The chance to sit in on different court proceedings, sentencings, and trials will provide you with examples of successful advocacy in practice and expose you to different areas of law.
Networking opportunities with fellow students and well-respected professionals:
- Working alongside other students can add a lot to your experience. Look at this as an opportunity to create new friendships with potential future colleagues and to learn from one another! Additionally, working alongside judges, law clerks, staff, and attorneys provide an invaluable experience. There is so much to learn from these individuals, and they welcome students with open arms!