Student Internships
Melbourne Law students are highly sought after by organisations around the world looking for students to take part in internships and voluntary work.
Student internships are a great way to enhance your CV and build your graduate career prospects. They can also be a very rewarding experience for students.
Melbourne Law School is committed to developing the internships that are available to our students. As well as developing a searchable database of publicly available internships in both the non-corporate and corporate sectors, the Law School will also be developing unique internships with organisations, specifically for our students. Work has begun on these initiatives and will continue throughout the year. As developments occur they will be advertised in the bulletin and on the Careers Office website.
The Internships section of the Careers Office website has a range of internships which are currently open. The LSS Equality Handbook also has information on some internships and voluntary experiences in the not-for-profit environment (this book is available from the LSS office and the Careers Office).
The Law School Careers Office advertises a number of internship and volunteering opportunities throughout the year, so make sure you keep an eye on their website and read the monthly Careers Newsletter. Law School academics also email students directly about specific internships they receive from their many contacts.
Some examples of the types of internships available to students are set out below. The list is constantly growing:
Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme
This scheme is a joint initiative between Melbourne Law School and the Victorian Bar. It provides a great opportunity for students to develop practical experience in the legal profession and develop professional networks at the Bar. Students undertake research work and other legal or administrative duties for barristers and/or clerks.
Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH)
PILCH provides volunteer and internship positions to penultimate and final year law students to enable them to gain an insight into many facets of the legal system and profession. The focus is on the practice of public interest work and the provision of access to justice for disadvantaged and marginalised members of the community.
Victoria Law Reform Commission Legal Policy Internship Program
The Victoria Law Reform Commission offers a 20 day internship program within community groups, industry, government, the judiciary and other legal institutions to law students with a career interest in legal research, policy development, community legal education (including legal publishing) and legal and community sector capacity (including building and development).
Global Policy Forum, New York
Global Policy Forum is an NGO that monitors policy making at the United Nations. Their large internship program welcomes students from all over the world to undertake internships in their New York office. Interns specialise in one of more portfolios such as the Security Council, Iraq, Social and Economic Policy, NGOs, UN Reform, International Finance, UN Finance, Nations and States and Globalisation.
Federal Trade Commission, Washington DC
The Federal Trade Commission’s internship program was developed specifically for law students from outside the US who have an exceptional level of commitment to the public interns of enforcing antitrust and consumer protection laws. Interns are given intellectually stimulating projects similar to those given to junior attorneys.
Washington Congress Internship
The Uni-Capitol Washington internship program at the US Congress in Washington DC provides interns with a great opportunity to learn more about the US legal and political system during an eight week program.