PLACEMENTS

Overview

LSI participants will be placed in a nine-week legal internship, summer associate position or clerkship where they will gain substantive experience in the legal profession. Students work approximately 40 hours per week. Prior to the program, the Institute staff works to match the student with a placement from among the many organizations with which TFAS has relationships. The staff does its utmost to place students in positions that best meet their interests and skills.

The placements provide students with a first-hand look at the workings of the U.S. legal system. Washington is the home to over 40,000 summer interns, so students are encouraged to complete their applications early due to the competitive nature of placements in Washington, D.C.

Positions are very diverse including private law firms, lobbying firms, public interest legal organizations, the legal department of trade associations, corporations, and government agencies.

“I was able to attend meetings at the Old Executive Office Building, create case fact sheets, talk with and meet numerous government officials, and became well versed in a variety of lobbying disclosure laws.”
Lisa Middlekauff, University of Richmond
Summer Associate, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Duties often include:

• Writing legal briefs and memoranda
• Conducting legal research
• Attending Congressional hearings
• Managing databases
• Researching and writing reports for publication
• Attending and summarizing depositions

Students may arrange their own placement if it meets the requirements of the Institute and has been approved by Institute staff. If there is a specific organization with which a participant would like to work, it is best to contact that office directly.

“I was able to assist the General Counsel in legal matters relating to many different aspects of the company, and research the climate of judicial reform in the judicial selection process.”
Fritz Eggen, University of Miami
Summer Associate, Koch Industries