Internships, Clinics & Placements
Internships
Law students can find internship opportunities in many different types of organizations, both in Canada and around the world: international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, businesses, governments, and charities are just a few examples. Large international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) offer student internships, but many smaller organizations are also glad to hire students to assist them during the summer months. Smaller organizations, however, may not have the funding to widely advertise their positions. The Internet is likely your best source for finding information about potential internship opportunities.
Most law students seek internships for the summer months. You can also work as an intern after graduating and prior to articling if you’d like to gain more experience—or if you’re unsure of the career path you’d like to take. It’s important to search for internship opportunities well in advance of when you plan to start, as you generally need to complete several documents before you can begin your internship (particularly if you’re traveling internationally).
Funding
Most internships are unpaid, or provide the intern with only a small stipend (money meant to cover travel expenses and to help you set up in a new city). While students are often happy to work without pay if they are gaining experience and contributing to a meaningful purpose, the reality for most students is that internships are financially impossible to pursue without some source of funding. You can seek funding for your internships by visiting the Schulich School of Law's Career Development Office (CDO). Here, you can also find additional resources on doing a law internship and information about “alternative,” or “public interest” careers in general.
Funded Internships
Placements
Clerkships
Questions? Contact career.development@dal.ca.