Legal Practice Internships in New York

USA Internship Abroad Law & Human Rights Support

As a gateway into the United States, New York has long been associated with the American Dream. It is the most densely populated city in the USA and the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Therefore, interns coming to focus on Legal Practice have scope to collaborate with lawyers and law firms that work across a tremendous range of clients. From asylum seekers to international artists seeking to perform in the USA, and much more!

What to expect from your Legal Practice internship:

Gain diverse legal practice experience with law firms across New York City.
Connect with experienced professionals to grow your legal practice network.
Build your resume and character in the US’s most iconic city.

Your internship abroad host organization:

Law firms
Private attorneys / lawyers

Apply for free

On this page:

Arrival & Orientation

Accommodation & Meals

Country Info

Gain academic or course credit

Fully hosted experience from $8059

Includes accommodation

Start dates every Monday

Minimum duration 8 weeks, up to 18 weeks maximum

Explore the highlights of New York City

Get job-ready with our Experiential Learning Curriculum

Suitable for English language speakers

Eligibility requirement

At least one year of relevant college/university study in law, political science, international relations, or a related field. Knowledge of social media and digital communications is also required.

Language requirements for this internship

This internship is conducted in English.

Associated career paths

Attorney, Barrister, Barrister's Clerk, Chartered Legal Executive, Legal Secretary, Paralegal, Solicitor, Licensed Conveyancer, Chartered Accountant, Civil Service Administrator, Human Resources Officer, Data & Research Analyst, Human Rights Officer, Child Protection Advisor

Internship details

This is an in-country internship which includes accommodation. Click here to view remote Law & Human Rights internships that you can undertake from home.

Internship placements are spread around the Boroughs of New York City, such as Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, including the New Jersey side of the state line (closer to the Statue of Liberty side). Preferences for particular internship locations are always subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Care will be taken to ensure that you’re accommodated in proximity to your assigned internship placement but in all cases, interns should anticipate using public transportation to commute.

Legal Practice interns have an opportunity to become familiar with themes such as business and family immigration, asylum, domestic violence cases, criminal immigration issues and court litigation. Interns can anticipate activities such as administrative tasks, assisting with legal document translations and summarizations, drafting letters, forms, affidavits, applications and motions. Interns have the opportunity to learn how documents are properly served, while being able to observe litigation preparation and court hearings.

If you love working with people, are motivated to learn and driven to succeed, you’ll find that placements within this field offer fun, active and busy places to become immersed in the field. Firm attorneys who provide mentorship and guidance to interns encourage questions and are approachable, to support personal and professional development.

In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.

Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.

Typical Schedule

Approximately 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday

What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Legal Practice Intern?

Legal Practice interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:

Assisting with legal document translations and summarizations, drafting letters, forms, affidavits, applications and motions.
Observe litigation preparation and court hearings.

Professional development opportunities:

Gain insight into business and family immigration, asylum, domestic violence cases, criminal immigration issues, court litigation and more.
Learn how documents are properly served.
Connect with professionals in legal practice who can provide industry mentorship.
Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from RISEWAY’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence

Are you eligible for this internship?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Not sure which program to join?

Get personalized recommendations >

USA photo gallery

What recent Legal Practice interns said about their experience

Alexia Latoni

July 2022

I really want to go to law school, so I was looking for a good Legal Practice internship opportunity to get some background experience before I commence further study. I came across RISEWAY and you had so many internship opportunities. I had come across other providers in the past, but to me, they just didn’t seem as trustworthy. RISEWAY had so many positive reviews, guest blogs and helpful YouTube videos. Plus, I always received fast responses to emails from my Program Manager, which was really comforting! I don’t think I would have been able to get an internship opportunity like this on my own. I’m so grateful to have gained such value and support from RISEWAY. It has boosted my professional development and contributed to my career goals in the field of law.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Our commitment to providing safe internship experiences

Academic credit available for all internships

Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.

Learn about course credit

Program fees

Applying for our Legal Practice Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.

Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.

Duration	Program Fee (USD)
8 weeks	$8,059 Equivalent to $143 /day
10 weeks	$9,114 Equivalent to $130 /day
12 weeks	$10,114 Equivalent to $120 /day
16 weeks	$12,224 Equivalent to $109 /day

Apply for free

Airport pick-up
NYC Metrocard for your first month
Accommodation
24/7 in-country support
Program orientation
Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
Sourcing and securing your internship placement
Personalization of your internship plan
Coaching from your supervisor
Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
Academic credit facilitation
International reference letter
Certificate of Internship Completion

All meals
All in-country transportation
Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.

A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
The maximum duration offered for non-US citizens is 12 weeks. US citizens may intern for up to 18 weeks.
Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
Terms and Conditions apply.

Activities and tourism

Whether it’s your first time in New York or not, there is always something new and interesting to discover - after all, this is known as “The City That Never Sleeps” for a reason. The classic New York experience includes visiting locations such as Central Park, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center. The activities you can’t miss include taking in a show on Broadway and getting your fill of culture and atmosphere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and American Museum of Natural History. (It’s no wonder the minimum duration requirement for internships is 8 weeks, when there is so much to see and do in your free time!) Our local team in New York will be available to provide you with guidance on tours and excursions as well, so we can ensure you make the most of this incredible trip of a lifetime.

Arrival and Orientation

Internships in New York City begin every Monday. Exceptions may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid public holiday disruptions or closed when the program has already reached capacity. The minimum duration requirement is 8 weeks. Non US citizens can intern for up to a maximum duration of 12 weeks. US citizens may intern up to a maximum duration of 18 weeks.

Airport pick up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee. The accommodation is covered from the Saturday night before the Monday start date - interns are asked to please arrive on the Saturday morning prior to the start date, as orientations can often be scheduled for the Saturday afternoon.

The typical port of entry is the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - this is the main international airport serving New York City. Alternatively, interns may fly into the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Airport pick up is included from either of these airports.

If you are planning to spend time independently in New York City prior to your internship and will not require an international airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics with you.

Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation. The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability.

Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.

Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.

Check what's required to visit USA

Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Legal Practice internship in USA, based on your country of residence.

Accommodation and WiFi

All interns in New York are accommodated in clean and comfortable, fully furnished apartments. These apartments are specifically designed to connect students and young professionals. We collaborate with various accommodation providers for this purpose, so your accommodation may be based in the boroughs of Brooklyn or Manhattan. (Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage provides various examples of this accommodation. However, the exact accommodation and room that you’re assigned may differ from the photos).

Within the accommodation, interns will have a private bedroom. However, you may be sharing the apartment with other program participants. Bedding and furnishings are provided, as well as common areas such as lounge, kitchen and laundry facilities. Standard amenities include whiteware (i.e. washing machine, stovetop, fridge, microwave) and clean linen (i.e. bed sheets, pillows, towels). Accommodation includes unlimited WiFi access.

Care will be taken to ensure that you’re accommodated within the most convenient proximity to your assigned internship placement but in all cases, interns should anticipate using public transportation (such as the subway metro) to get around the city and boroughs. Your internship Program Fee includes an NYC Metrocard for your first month. After this, you’ll need to budget approx. US$130 per month (for a 30 day pass) for unlimited swipes on the subway or local buses.

Normal commute time between accommodation and internship placements can be approximately 30 minutes and may require changes of metro line and platform. (The New York Subway is one of the world’s largest underground lines. It has nearly 500 stations!). New Yorkers have access to free internet service in the subway and there is no fee and no time limit, so you will be able to use this for accessing online maps and directions. Just keep in mind that the WiFi coverage is only available when you’re in the stations themselves, so your signal will fade once your train is on the move.

Meals

It is important to note that internships in New York do not include meals. Your accommodation will include access to a shared kitchen, which you may use (in respect of courtesy rules for shared spaces). Affordable supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and delis are easily accessible and New York prides itself on its absolutely spectacular and diverse range of cuisine. From NYC classics like doughnuts, pizza, cheesecake and bagels, to local favorites like hearty sandwiches and Pastrami on rye, going hungry is not an option! The most expensive restaurants are within Manhattan but you can find thousands of more affordable dining options around the five boroughs. With such a melting pot of different cultures, you’ll be blown away by what you can find. (We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!) A rough budget for food is approximately US$175 per week (up to US$75 on takeaways, US$75 on groceries and US$25 for coffees). Of course, your budget for meals will depend on your personal habits and how much you prefer eating out, as opposed to preparing something for yourself in the kitchen.

How to obtain course credit and meet your academic requirements on RISEWAY internships

Gain Academic Course Credit Learn more

Experiential Learning Curriculum Learn more

Essential country information

Capital	Washington, D.C
Population	329.5 million
Languages	English
Currency	United States Dollar (USD)
Time zone	UTC -5:00 / -4:00

Weather and climate:

In New York City, you can expect warm, humid summers, and cold, snowy, windy winters. If you want to visit when the weather is at its best, then you should schedule your internship around May through September. However, the summer months can be wet, so ensure you have a raincoat year-round. The coldest month of the year in New York City is January, with an average low of 29°F and high of 40°F (-2°C and high of 4°C). The snowy period can last from late November through to early April.