How To Be A Good Intern
A law internship isn’t about proving you know the law. It’s about proving you can work in a legal environment.
The interns who stand out aren’t the loudest or the most confident. They’re the ones partners trust, associates rely on and clients never notice (which is a compliment).
Here’s how to be one of them.
1. Accuracy Beats Speed — Every Time
In law, being almost right is the same as being wrong.
Read instructions twice
Check names, dates, citations, and numbering
Never assume, clarify
If you’re running late, flag it early. A late but correct document is usually better than a fast, flawed one.
2. Understand the Task Before You Start
Before opening a document, ask yourself:
What is this being used for?
Who is the audience (partner, client, court)?
What level of detail is expected?
A two-minute clarification can save two hours of re-work.
3. Research Like a Lawyer, Not a Student
Legal research isn’t about volume, it’s about relevance.
Use authorised sources
Note jurisdiction and currency
Distinguish cases properly
Don’t dump information, synthesise it
Good intern output:
Clear issue
Relevant law
Short explanation
Practical conclusion
4. Write Clearly and Conservatively
Your writing should be:
Precise
Neutral
Free of opinion unless asked
Grammatically perfect
Avoid:
Casual language
Over-confidence
Flowery explanations
If in doubt, simpler is better.
5. Respect Confidentiality, Always
This is non-negotiable.
Don’t discuss files outside the firm
Don’t share screenshots or stories
If you’re unsure whether something is confidential, assume it is.
6. Observe the Office Culture Carefully
Every firm is different.
Watch:
How emails are addressed
How partners are spoken to
How other interns ask questions
How mistakes are handled
Adapt quietly. Cultural intelligence matters.
7. Ask Questions the Right Way
Questions are encouraged, but be intentional.
Good approach:
“I’ve reviewed X and Y and drafted a preliminary note. I’m unsure whether the focus should be A or B - could you please advise?”
This shows thinking, not dependence.
8. Take Feedback Without Ego
You will get red-lined.
Don’t explain or justify
Say: “Thank you - I’ll revise it now.”
Apply the feedback next time
Improvement matters more than perfection.
9. Be Useful in the Small Moments
Small actions build big trust.
Bring a notebook to meetings
Offer to help when others are busy
Keep documents organised
Flag errors respectfully
Reliability is remembered.
Final Thought
A good law intern is not someone who knows everything.
It’s someone who:
Thinks carefully
Works accurately
Communicates clearly
Acts professionally
Learns quickly