Job Description for a Paralegal Intern

Paralegal intern job descriptions may differ in many ways.

There is no one definitive job description for a paralegal intern. Internship requirements vary from one paralegal education program to another, and may be either required or elective. Paralegal internships also vary by sponsoring attorney, law firm, corporation, government agency or non-profit organization. Here are a variety of paralegal intern job descriptions.

Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan

A required 80-hour paralegal internship is performed at the conclusion of Oakland University's paralegal program. In its brochure, "Sponsoring Interns," Oakland recommends to sponsoring attorneys assignments for paralegal interns. Recommended assignments include drafting complaints, answers, discovery, mediation summaries and motions; summarizing and abstracting depositions and documentary evidence; investigation and fact gathering; data organization, control and recovery; briefing, analogizing and distinguishing cases; locating and interpreting applicable statutory and decision law; and organizing research into a memorandum.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia

The ACLU is a non-profit public interest legal organization. The ACLU of Georgia's paralegal interns maintain legal case files; assist attorneys with discovery; prepare trial notebooks; assist attorneys in preparing, cite-checking, proofing and filing legal documents in courts; perform Internet and other factual research; handle routine correspondence; process legal intake requests and respond to requests for legal assistance; field requests for amicus briefs and legal services; and perform other duties as assigned by attorneys.

Minnesota State University Moorhead

The Paralegal Department of Minnesota State University Moorhead requires a paralegal student to complete an internship prior to graduation. In its internship program supervising attorney information, the university states that a paralegal intern should be assigned tasks that any paralegal might do. This includes research, drafting correspondence and pleadings, factual investigation, interviewing clients and witnesses, summarizing depositions, and gathering and organizing documents. "Observation at hearings and depositions is also very beneficial to the intern."

United States Department of Justice

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) offers a variety of internship opportunities. However, DOJ paralegal internships aren't traditional internships done while in school. For example, the 2010 Honors Paralegal Intern Program with the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is a paid, two-year program for recent college graduates. Duties of the ENRD paralegal intern include administrative case preparation, trial support, cite checking, legal research utilizing Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw, and processing Freedom of Information Act requests.

University of Memphis University College

The University of Memphis University College requires an 150-hour internship for its Bachelor of Professional Studies in Paralegal Services. The intern's supervising attorney is required to submit a report, including checklist of duties to use as evaluation factors which may also be used in conjunction with a job description. It includes assisting at depositions, trials and real estate closings; legal research; coordinating trial witnesses; drafting briefs, bankruptcy and corporate documents, correspondence, discovery documents, legal memoranda, pleadings, real estate documents, testaments, trusts, and trial subpoenas; gathering and indexing medical records; interviewing clients and witnesses; preparing trial exhibits; searching titles; serving subpoenas; and summarizing depositions and interview statements.

References

• Oakland University Paralegal Certificate Program
• American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia Internships
• Minnesota State University Moorhead -- Paralegal Department
• United States Department of Justice Internships
• University of Memphis University College -- Paralegal Studies