Paralegal internships give students and recent graduates hands-on legal experience. Many degree programs build in a supervised placement of roughly 180 hours, though the ABA encourages rather than requires one. Opportunities run from unpaid student externships to paid post-graduate roles at law firms, courts, and legal aid organizations nationwide.
An internship experience with a local law firm will help you hone your interview skills, build your resume, and stretch your freshly minted paralegal wings in preparation for an exciting career in the legal field. Pursuing an internship with a firm that specializes in an area of law that interests you is well worth the effort. It could set the tone and direction for a fulfilling career in a particular area of law.
Whether you’re completing a required internship as part of your paralegal degree program or seeking post-graduation experience, internships serve as the bridge between classroom learning and professional practice. This guide covers the different internship types, how to land a competitive position, and our state-by-state directory of 261 organizations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia that regularly host paralegal interns.
Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Political Science, Fort Hays State University
Wendy chairs the Department of Communication Studies, Law and Political Science at Fort Hays State University, where she also directs the Pre-Law and Legal Studies program. She earned her J.D. at the University of Kansas School of Law and her B.A. at the University of Kansas. She spoke with us about how students combine a paralegal certificate with a degree program that carries its own internship requirement.
Interviewed for our faculty series. Not an author of this page.
Understanding Paralegal Internships
Paralegal internships come in several forms, each serving different purposes in your educational and professional journey. Understanding the distinctions helps you target the right opportunities for your current situation.
What Makes Paralegal Internships Valuable
Internships bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application. You’ll gain exposure to real legal work environments, build professional networks, and often secure full-time employment with your host organization. For many paralegals, internships provide the experience that transforms a resume from untested to competitive.
The obvious benefit is that when your internship is part of your degree program, it won’t be as competitive as a conventional internship. In most cases, you’ll work within a firm that already has an agreement in place with your school to accept students. Programs commonly set the placement at around 180 hours of work at a local law firm or the legal department of a local business.
What the ABA Actually Requires
It’s worth being precise here, because the 180-hour figure gets repeated as though the American Bar Association mandates it. It doesn’t. The ABA’s Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs encourage field experiences, meaning internships, cooperative education placements, and law clinics, but stop short of requiring them. Guideline G-402 refers to a program director arranging internships “if offered,” which confirms they’re optional.
What the Guidelines do set is a ratio rather than a fixed number. For a field experience to count as a legal specialty course carrying academic credit, students should ordinarily work at least three times the number of hours on the job as they would spend in class for that course. Depending on how a program translates classroom contact hours into credit, that guideline can produce placements in the range of roughly 180 hours, which is where the familiar figure comes from. The ABA itself doesn’t prescribe a 180-hour internship. So the number is real and widely used, it’s just a program-level decision rather than an accreditation rule. Ask your own program what it requires.
Internship vs. Externship: Understanding the Difference
The term “externship” traditionally refers to student programs offering exposure to legal work environments, either as part of a formal paralegal degree program or pursued independently. Externships are rarely paid and result in college credit only when offered through a formal degree program.
The term “externship” is falling out of everyday use, and “internship” now refers to both unpaid student experiences and paid positions for recent graduates. The table below clarifies the key differences:
| Feature | Student Externship/Internship | Post-Graduate Internship |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | During the degree program | After graduation |
| Compensation | Usually unpaid | Often paid |
| Duration | About 180 hours, one semester | 3-6 months |
| Academic Credit | Yes, when program-required | No |
| Competition | Lower, school placement | Higher, open application |
| Responsibilities | Learning-focused, supervised | Production-focused, some autonomy |
Student Externships vs. Post-Graduate Internships
Participating in an Externship or Internship While Still in School
Many ABA-approved paralegal degree programs, and many programs offered through schools that hold regional accreditation, build an internship or externship into their graduation requirements. This kind of structured student experience is more common in two and four-year degree programs than in certificate programs. Students of certificate programs would benefit from the experience and are free to pursue opportunities independently.
For paralegal students, internships and externships offer the opportunity to get exposure to and build skills at firms that would otherwise not offer regular positions to candidates without more experience. Student interns rarely negotiate for payment and will settle for course credit and a recommendation. The value they bring to the workplace should never be underestimated.
Faculty Voice
“While an internship is not required to complete the paralegal academic certificate, a number of our students choose to combine the certificate with a bachelor’s degree in political science, which requires a one-hour internship experience.
Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Political Science, Fort Hays State University
That combination is worth knowing about. If your certificate program has no placement requirement, a degree you’re pursuing alongside it may carry one, and the two can often be satisfied together.
Pursuing an Internship After You Graduate
Graduates often find themselves in a position where they have fresh credentials but minimal experience. Securing an internship as a recently minted paralegal can help compensate for a lack of real-world experience and help you gain exposure and fill out your resume. These positions may be labeled “entry level” instead of internships, but the concept is the same.
Post-graduation internships are often paid, though at less than a full paralegal position. There’s no published national figure for what paralegal interns specifically earn, so treat any range you see quoted with caution, including on job boards. For context on the career itself, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median wage of $30.24 per hour, or $62,890 per year, for paralegals and legal assistants in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10 percent of the wage distribution earned $21.51 per hour, or $44,740 per year, and below. These are pay-distribution percentiles rather than experience levels, so the bottom of the range isn’t a starting salary. It reflects the whole spread of markets, employers, and specialties.
Paid internship postings tend to fall below that distribution entirely, and unpaid placements remain common at legal aid organizations and smaller firms. Ask about compensation directly during the interview rather than assuming. Federal internships through a US Attorney’s Office, for instance, are typically volunteer positions with no pay at all.
These positions usually last 3-6 months and often lead to full-time employment offers.
Life as a Paralegal Intern
Don’t let the term “internship” carry a negative connotation that it might in other professions. As a paralegal intern, you’ll get to participate in fulfilling and interesting legal work. That being said, you should expect a fair amount of clerical work, filing, copying, and maintaining organized, indexed case files in the early going. This may not seem like the exciting legal work you signed up for, but it’s part of paying your dues and will help teach you one valuable lesson that every paralegal must learn to succeed: attention to detail in even the most mundane aspects of the job.
You can expect to dive into actual, substantive paralegal work sooner than you might think, although you’ll be closely supervised. Interns clearly can’t fill the strategic aspects of paralegal work performed by more experienced professionals. Still, they’re often called upon to take on more responsibility throughout the internship.
Typical Paralegal Intern Responsibilities
| Task Category | Specific Duties | Skills Developed |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Legal research using Westlaw or LexisNexis, case law analysis, and statutory research | Research methodology, citation skills, analytical thinking |
| Document Preparation | Drafting pleadings, correspondence, memoranda, and discovery responses | Legal writing, formatting standards, attention to detail |
| File Management | Organizing case files, maintaining databases, and document indexing | Organization, case management software, record-keeping |
| Court Filings | E-filing documents, tracking deadlines, and maintaining docket calendars | Procedural knowledge, deadline management, and court systems |
| Client Support | Observing client meetings, preparing intake forms, and assembling exhibits | Client relations, confidentiality, and professional communication |
Although interns don’t often handle direct responsibilities, such as meeting with clients or coordinating with other attorneys or courts, they may observe these activities. They also observe proceedings in courtrooms.
It’s not a completely passive experience. Paralegals and lawyers alike help tutor and instruct interns, both to get them up to speed on the work they’ll perform and as part of their education in the profession.
If the internship is with a larger law firm that handles different types of work in various areas of law, you can expect to rotate through different departments and gain exposure to multiple paralegal specializations. This is a great way to gain exposure to many types of legal work and get a sense of the area of law you might ultimately want to specialize in.
““Love” is most certainly the correct word… we are a solid, close-knit, mutually supportive group with strong links to the legal profession that includes innovative, worthwhile internships and a history of successful job placements.”
Peter Chepya · Post University
Chepya was with the paralegal studies program at Post University at the time of this interview, and he described the placement network as something the faculty had built deliberately over years. That’s the thing to look for when you evaluate a program: not whether an internship is on the syllabus, but whether the department has standing relationships with employers who take its students back year after year.
Steps to Landing a Paralegal Internship
Unless you get placed into an internship as part of your program, you’ll face competition when searching for opportunities. There are relatively few available, and since they offer one of the best paths to launching a career, the most ambitious up-and-comers in your area will be applying.
This doesn’t mean the best strategy is saturation by applying to every single one. The best approach is to be strategic. This means being selective and making each attempt to connect with a local law office count. Ultimately, this is your chance to make a connection that could help you transition to full-time employment.
For this reason, it’s wise to pursue internships with firms that specialize in areas aligning with your professional goals and objectives, whether this means pro-bono work for a small firm working in environmental law or high-stakes work for a large firm involved in mergers and acquisitions.
Leverage Your Paralegal Program
As a student, your best resource for landing an internship may be your paralegal degree program. Many programs offer credit for internships and help arrange them for students through a regular roster of local law firms or other agencies that employ paralegals.
Going through your school program may be a mixed blessing. Although you start with a leg up on any competition from outside the program due to the previous relationship your school has with the employer, you may be pressured to fit into specific internships you’re not interested in. Although you may not be formally restricted from finding an internship outside those arranged by the school, you won’t receive as much assistance, and the school will probably encourage you to stick with their list since they know the experience will align with their curriculum.
The flipside is that striking out on your own means competing for a slot, and the position you’re most interested in may go to someone else.
“The program developer at Auburn, encourages students to seek out local law offices before completing the course to see who may be interested in bringing on an intern or even a candidate for an entry level position upon completion of the program.”
Kelly Ard · Auburn University Office of Professional and Continuing Education
Ard, describing how the Auburn program approached placements, points at the single most useful piece of timing advice on this page. Start the conversation with local offices before you finish your coursework, not after. A firm that has met you and knows your graduation date has a reason to hold a spot. A cold application after graduation is competing with everyone else’s.
Collect Reference Letters and Recommendations
Having respected instructors or other members of the legal community vouch for you is a great way to stand out from the crowd when applying for competitive internships. Start building relationships with professors and practicing paralegals early in your program. Volunteer at legal aid clinics, join paralegal student organizations, and participate actively in class discussions to make yourself memorable.
When requesting a recommendation letter, give your reference plenty of notice and provide them with information about the specific internship you’re applying for. A tailored recommendation that speaks to how your skills match the internship requirements carries much more weight than a generic letter.
Perfect Your Resume and Cover Letter
Even as a student or recent graduate, you can create a compelling resume. Highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, legal software proficiency, and any volunteer work or previous employment demonstrating transferable skills like research, writing, organization, and attention to detail.
Your cover letter should demonstrate your understanding of the firm’s practice areas and explain why you’re interested in interning with the firm. Research the firm’s recent cases or clients and mention how your career goals align with their work. Generic cover letters rarely succeed.
Prepare for the Interview
Internship interviews are your opportunity to demonstrate professionalism and enthusiasm. Research the firm thoroughly, prepare thoughtful questions about their practice, and be ready to discuss specific skills from your coursework that apply to their needs.
Common interview questions for paralegal interns include why you’re interested in this area of law, what experience you have with legal research and writing, how you handle deadlines and pressure, and what you hope to learn from the internship. Practice your responses but keep them conversational, not scripted.
State-by-State Internship Directory
The following directory lists 261 organizations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia that regularly accept paralegal interns, including law firms, legal aid organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions. Many run placements in several cities, so the number of individual openings is higher than the number of organizations listed. Contact organizations directly to ask about current openings, application requirements, and internship details.
One note on the federal listings. Many US Attorney’s Offices advertise unpaid placements through the Department of Justice’s Volunteer Legal Internship Program, whose general eligibility rules are written for law students. Individual offices set their own requirements, including citizenship and security or suitability screening, and these vary by announcement. If you’re a paralegal student, read the specific office’s current vacancy notice rather than assuming you qualify.
Alabama
- Internship locations: statewide
Jefferson State Community College
- Locations: Jefferson and Shelby-Hoover campuses, Birmingham
- Offers a non-credit paralegal Certificate of Completion through workforce education.
Legal Aid Society of Birmingham
- Internship locations: Birmingham, Anniston, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, Selma, Tuscaloosa
- Court-appointed criminal and juvenile defense work.
Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program
- Internship locations: Huntsville and across Madison County
Middle District of Alabama Federal Defender Program
- Internship location: Montgomery
South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program
- Internship locations: Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Alabama
- Internship location: Montgomery
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Alabama
- Internship locations: Birmingham, Huntsville
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Alabama
- Internship location: Mobile
Alaska
- Internship locations: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau
- Internship locations: Anchorage, Juneau
Alaska Legal Services Corporation
- Internship locations: Bethel, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Bristol Bay, Nome, Kotzebue, Kenai, Palmer, and Barrow
- Internship locations: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Barrow, Bethel, Nome, Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska
- Internship locations: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau
Arizona
Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest
- Internship location: Phoenix
- Internship location: Phoenix
DNA-People’s Legal Services, Inc.
- Internship locations: Flagstaff, Chinle, Tuba City, Window Rock
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
- Internship location: Phoenix
- Internship locations: Tucson area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Phoenix area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Scottsdale area
- Offers a Legal Studies certificate rather than a full paralegal program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
- Internship locations: Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma
Arkansas
- Internship locations: Little Rock and counties in central and southern Arkansas
- Internship locations: Jonesboro and 31 counties in northern Arkansas
- Locations: Jonesboro area
- Offers a non-credit certified paralegal course.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas
- Internship locations: Little Rock, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Arkansas
- Internship locations: Fort Smith, Hot Springs, El Dorado, Texarkana, Fayetteville
California
- Locations: Ventura County area
- Offers a non-credit certified paralegal course through Extended University.
- Internship locations: Fresno area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance
- Internship locations: Bakersfield, Kern County
California Rural Legal Assistance
- Internship locations: rural California, multiple offices
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
- Internship locations: Los Angeles County
Legal Services of Northern California
- Internship locations: Northern California, multiple offices
- Internship locations: San Diego area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the ABA-approved paralegal certificate program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California
- Internship locations: Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California
- Internship locations: Sacramento, Fresno
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
- Internship locations: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California
- Internship locations: San Diego, El Centro
Colorado
- Internship locations: Littleton area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of an ABA-approved paralegal degree or certificate program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Locations: Denver area
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado
- Internship locations: Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Durango
Connecticut
CT State Community College, Capital Campus
- Internship locations: Hartford area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
CT State Community College, Norwalk Campus
- Internship locations: Norwalk area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut
- Internship locations: New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport
Delaware
- Internship locations: statewide
Delaware Technical Community College
- Internship locations: Dover, Wilmington areas
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Delaware
- Internship location: Wilmington
District of Columbia
- Internship location: Washington, DC
- Internship location: Washington, DC
- Formerly the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.
- Internship location: Washington, DC
Natural Resources Defense Council
- Internship location: Washington, DC
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
- Internship location: Washington, DC
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
- Internship location: Washington, DC
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Internship location: Washington, DC
Florida
- Internship locations: Sarasota, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the AS degree program.
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc.
- Internship locations: Broward and Collier counties
- Internship locations: Fort Myers area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Impact litigation plus direct representation in immigration, farmworker, and housing matters.
Hillsborough Community College
- Internship locations: Tampa area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Miami area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Jacksonville area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the paralegal certificate program.
- Internship locations: Ocala area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Gainesville and 17 Florida counties
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida
- Internship locations: Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Fort Myers
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida
- Internship locations: Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola, Gainesville
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida
- Internship locations: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Key West
Georgia
- Internship location: Athens area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the AS degree program.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
- Internship locations: Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and South Fulton/Clayton
Central Georgia Technical College
- Internship locations: Macon, Milledgeville, Crawford County, Monroe County, Jones County, Putnam County, Twiggs County
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the AS degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the bachelor’s, associate’s, and certificate programs.
Georgia Legal Services Program
- Internship locations: 154 counties outside metro Atlanta, with regional offices in Albany, Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, and Savannah
- Employs attorneys and paralegals.
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia
- Internship locations: Macon, Columbus, Athens, Valdosta
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia
- Internship locations: Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, Rome
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Georgia
- Internship locations: Savannah, Augusta, Brunswick, Dublin, Statesboro, Waycross
Hawaii
- Internship locations: Honolulu area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii
- Internship location: Honolulu
Idaho
- Internship locations: Pocatello area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the paralegal certificate program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Idaho
- Internship locations: Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Pocatello, Moscow
Illinois
- Internship locations: Chicago area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Glen Ellyn area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Chicago and Cook County
- Internship locations: 36 counties across northern and central Illinois, 11 offices
- Internship locations: Chicago area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the paralegal certificate program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of Illinois
- Internship locations: Springfield, Peoria, Urbana, Rock Island
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois
- Internship location: Chicago
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois
- Internship locations: East St. Louis, Benton
Indiana
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: statewide, multiple campuses
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana
- Internship locations: South Bend, Fort Wayne, Hammond
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana
- Internship locations: Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Evansville, New Albany
Iowa
- Internship locations: Cedar Rapids area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa
- Internship locations: Cedar Rapids, Sioux City
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa
- Internship locations: Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Kansas
- Internship locations: statewide
Johnson County Community College
- Internship locations: Overland Park area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Topeka area
- Offers a Bachelor of Legal Studies, an associate degree, and a legal studies certificate.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Kansas
- Internship locations: Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita
Kentucky
- Internship locations: Richmond area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Bowling Green, Madisonville, Owensboro, Paducah
- Serves 35 counties in South Central and Western Kentucky.
- Internship locations: Louisville area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Kentucky
- Internship locations: Lexington, Ashland, London, Pikeville
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky
- Internship locations: Louisville, Bowling Green, Paducah, Owensboro
Louisiana
- Internship locations: Baton Rouge area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Louisiana Association for Justice
- Internship location: Baton Rouge
- A membership association with a Paralegal and Legal Assistant Division, offering networking rather than placements.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
- Internship locations: New Orleans, Hammond, Slidell, Houma, Thibodaux
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
- Internship location: New Orleans
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Louisiana
- Internship location: Baton Rouge
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana
- Internship locations: Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Monroe
Maine
- Internship locations: statewide
Southern Maine Community College
- Internship locations: South Portland area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Maine
- Internship locations: Portland, Bangor
Maryland
Anne Arundel Community College
- Internship locations: Arnold area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Baltimore area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the paralegal certificate program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland
- Internship locations: Baltimore, Greenbelt
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- Internship location: Boston
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
- Internship locations: Boston
- Funds civil legal aid organizations across the state rather than hosting interns directly.
- Internship locations: Boston area
- Law school placements rather than a paralegal program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts
- Internship locations: Boston, Springfield, Worcester
Michigan
Michigan Indian Legal Services
- Internship locations: statewide
Legal Services of South Central Michigan
- Internship locations: 13 counties including Ingham, Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston, and Monroe
- The direct services program of the Michigan Advocacy Program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan
- Internship locations: Detroit, Flint, Bay City
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Michigan
- Internship locations: Grand Rapids, Marquette, Kalamazoo
Minnesota
- Internship locations: Brooklyn Park area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Duluth, Grand Rapids, Virginia, Brainerd, Pine City, and northwestern Minnesota
- Formerly Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota.
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
- Internship locations: Southern Minnesota
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota
- Internship locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Fergus Falls
Mississippi
Northwest Mississippi Community College
- Internship locations: Senatobia area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Mississippi Center for Legal Services
- Internship locations: Hattiesburg, Jackson, McComb, Meridian, Gulfport
- Serves 43 counties in central and southern Mississippi.
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Office of General Counsel
- Internship location: Jackson
- Law-student placements through the Office of General Counsel.
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Mississippi
- Internship locations: Oxford, Aberdeen, Greenville
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi
- Internship locations: Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg
Missouri
- Internship locations: Fulton area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a legal studies degree program.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
- Internship locations: Eastern Missouri
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri
- Internship location: St. Louis
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri
- Internship locations: Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, St. Joseph
Montana
Montana Legal Services Association
- Internship locations: statewide, administrative office in Helena
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Montana
- Internship locations: Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Butte
Nebraska
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska
- Internship locations: Omaha, Lincoln
Nevada
Truckee Meadows Community College
- Internship locations: Reno area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada
- Internship locations: Las Vegas, Reno
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Legal Assistance
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Hampshire
- Internship location: Concord
New Jersey
- Internship locations: Paramus area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a legal studies degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey
- Internship locations: Newark, Trenton, Camden
New Mexico
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico
- Internship locations: Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe
New York
The Legal Aid Society (New York City)
- Internship location: New York City
New York Legal Assistance Group
- Internship location: New York City
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York
- Internship locations: Brooklyn, Central Islip
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York
- Internship locations: Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton, Plattsburgh
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York
- Internship locations: Manhattan, White Plains
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York
- Internship locations: Buffalo, Rochester
North Carolina
Central Carolina Community College
- Internship locations: Sanford area
- The for-credit paralegal curriculum is closing to new students. A continuing education paralegal program is scheduled for Fall 2026.
- Internship locations: statewide
North Carolina Community College System
- Internship locations: statewide, multiple campuses
- Students complete professional internships as part of paralegal degree programs.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina
- Internship locations: Raleigh, Wilson, New Bern, Wilmington
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of North Carolina
- Internship locations: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of North Carolina
- Internship locations: Charlotte, Asheville, Statesville
North Dakota
Legal Services of North Dakota
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota
- Internship locations: Fargo, Bismarck
Ohio
Columbus State Community College
- Internship locations: Columbus area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Kirtland area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Internship locations: Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
- Internship locations: Toledo area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio
- Internship locations: Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio
- Internship locations: Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Indian Legal Services
- Internship location: statewide
- Internship locations: Midwest City area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.
- Internship locations: Oklahoma City, Chickasha, Poteau, McAlester, Hugo, Ada, Ardmore, Stilwell, Muskogee, Shawnee, Norman, Altus, Lawton, Tulsa, Jay, Bartlesville, Enid, Stillwater, Guymon, Woodward, Weatherford
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Oklahoma
- Internship locations: Muskogee, Okmulgee, Poteau
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Oklahoma
- Internship location: Tulsa
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma
- Internship location: Oklahoma City
Oregon
- Internship locations: Eugene area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of the paralegal certificate program.
- Internship locations: Eugene, Springfield
- Internship location: Portland
- Law school and pre-law placements rather than a paralegal program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Portland area
- Students complete professional internships as part of the paralegal degree and certificate programs.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon
- Internship locations: Portland, Eugene, Medford
Pennsylvania
Bucks County Community College
- Internship locations: Newtown area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Community College of Philadelphia
- Internship locations: Philadelphia area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Internship location: Philadelphia
Harrisburg Diocese Catholic Charities
- Internship location: Harrisburg
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
- Internship locations: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, eight regional offices
- Internship locations: 20 counties across northeastern Pennsylvania, including Allentown, Scranton, and Williamsport
- Internship locations: Clarion, Erie, Meadville, New Castle, Warren, Bradford, DuBois
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship location: Philadelphia
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- Internship locations: Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
- Internship location: Pittsburgh
Rhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete professional internships as part of the paralegal degree and certificate programs.
- Internship locations: Providence, Wakefield, Woonsocket
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Rhode Island
- Internship location: Providence
South Carolina
South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
- Internship location: Columbia
South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
- Internship locations: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Florence
South Dakota
- Internship locations: Vermillion area, statewide
- Offers a legal studies bachelor’s degree and minor with an internship program, not a dedicated paralegal credential.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
- Internship locations: Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City, Aberdeen
Tennessee
Chattanooga State Community College
- Internship locations: Chattanooga area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Knoxville, Johnson City, Morristown, Greeneville, Oak Ridge
- Internship locations: Memphis, Shelby County
Middle Tennessee State University
- Internship locations: Murfreesboro area
- Offers paralegal studies as a minor through the political science department.
Nashville State Community College
- Internship locations: Nashville area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services
- Location: Nashville
- A statewide coordinating alliance of legal aid programs that does not provide direct legal representation.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Tennessee
- Internship locations: Knoxville, Chattanooga, Greeneville
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Tennessee
- Internship location: Nashville
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Tennessee
- Internship location: Memphis
Texas
Alamo Colleges District, San Antonio College
- Internship locations: San Antonio area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Austin area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: McKinney, Plano, Frisco areas
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Dallas area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: El Paso area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Houston area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide, South and West Texas
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas
- Internship locations: Tyler, Sherman, Beaumont, Lufkin
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas
- Internship locations: Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
- Internship locations: Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen, Victoria
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas
- Internship locations: San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Del Rio, Midland, Waco
Utah
- Internship locations: Salt Lake City area
- Students complete professional internships as part of the paralegal degree and certificate programs.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah
- Internship location: Salt Lake City
- Internship locations: statewide
Vermont
- Internship locations: Burlington area, online options
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide, based in Burlington
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Vermont
- Internship location: Burlington
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Internship locations: statewide
Virginia
- Internship locations: Chester area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal certificate program.
George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School
- Internship locations: Fairfax, Arlington areas
Northern Virginia Community College
- Internship locations: Northern Virginia, multiple campuses
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Lynchburg, Danville, Farmville, Martinsville, Suffolk
- Serves 20 counties and 6 cities in Central, Southside, and Western Tidewater Virginia.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia
- Internship locations: Alexandria, Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia
- Internship locations: Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Harrisonburg
Washington
- Internship locations: Lynnwood area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Auburn area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Des Moines area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Lakewood, Puyallup areas
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
- Internship locations: Seattle area
- Offers a graduate Master of Legal Studies rather than a paralegal program.
- Internship locations: Spokane area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington
- Internship locations: Spokane, Yakima, Richland
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington
- Internship locations: Seattle, Tacoma
West Virginia
- Internship locations: statewide, 12 offices
United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia
- Internship locations: Wheeling, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, Elkins
United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of West Virginia
- Internship locations: Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Bluefield
Wisconsin
Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Internship locations: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls areas
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
Wisconsin State Public Defender
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Internship location: Milwaukee
United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Wisconsin
- Internship location: Madison
Wyoming
Laramie County Community College
- Internship locations: Cheyenne area
- Students complete a professional internship as part of a paralegal degree program.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming
- Internship locations: Cheyenne, Casper, Lander
- Internship locations: statewide, six offices
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid for paralegal internships?
Student internships completed as part of your paralegal degree program are usually unpaid. You receive academic credit instead of compensation. Post-graduation internships are more often paid, though below what a full paralegal position pays. There is no published national wage figure specific to paralegal interns, so ask each employer directly rather than relying on a quoted range. Government agencies and larger law firms are more likely to offer paid internships, while legal aid organizations and smaller firms may offer unpaid opportunities that still provide valuable experience. Many student legal internships at US Attorney’s Offices are unpaid volunteer positions, so check the individual vacancy announcement.
How long do paralegal internships last?
Student placements commonly require around 180 hours, which usually spans one semester. Post-graduate internships usually last 3-6 months, and some summer programs run 8-12 weeks. The duration often depends on whether the internship is part-time or full-time. Part-time internships might span a longer period to accumulate the required hours while accommodating your school schedule.
Can I complete an internship while still in school?
Yes, and many paralegal programs build one into their graduation requirements. These are often called externships when arranged through your school. Your program will typically have partnerships with local law firms, courts, and legal organizations that regularly accept student interns. You can also pursue internships independently, though you may not receive academic credit unless your program approves the opportunity. Part-time internships let you balance work, school, and internship responsibilities.
What’s the difference between an internship and an externship?
The term “externship” traditionally referred to unpaid student placements arranged through paralegal programs for academic credit. “Internship” typically described post-graduation positions, often paid. These terms are increasingly used interchangeably, and “internship” now commonly refers to both student placements and post-graduate opportunities. What matters more than the terminology is whether the position is part of your degree requirements, whether it’s paid, and whether you receive academic credit.
Does the ABA require an internship in an approved paralegal program?
No. The ABA’s Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs encourage field experiences, which covers internships, cooperative education placements, and law clinics, but do not require them. The Guidelines set a ratio rather than a fixed number: for a field experience to count as a legal specialty course carrying credit, students should ordinarily work at least three times the number of hours on the job as they would spend in class for that course. Depending on how a program converts classroom contact hours into credit, that can produce placements around the 180 hours many programs use, but the ABA does not prescribe that figure. Individual programs set their own requirements, so confirm with your program coordinator what applies to you and whether a placement you’ve found will count.
What tasks will I do as a paralegal intern?
You’ll start with basic office tasks like filing, copying, and organizing documents to develop attention to detail. As you progress, you’ll take on substantive work, including legal research using databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, drafting legal documents and correspondence, preparing discovery responses, maintaining case management systems, and assisting with court filings. You’ll observe client meetings, depositions, and court proceedings. The exact responsibilities vary by practice area, but all internships emphasize developing research, writing, and organizational skills under close supervision.
How competitive are paralegal internships?
Competition varies significantly. School-arranged internships are less competitive because they’re specifically set aside for students in your program. Post-graduation internships at prestigious law firms, federal agencies, and major corporations can be highly competitive, with many qualified candidates applying for limited spots. Smaller firms, non-profits, and legal aid organizations often have less competition but still seek motivated candidates with strong academic records. Building your resume through volunteer work, maintaining good grades, and obtaining strong references significantly improves your chances.
Key Takeaways
- The ABA encourages but does not require internships in approved paralegal programs, and it does not prescribe a 180-hour placement. That widely quoted figure comes from individual programs applying the Guidelines’ three-to-one on-the-job to classroom hours ratio, so requirements are set program by program.
- Student externships are typically unpaid and offer academic credit, while post-graduate internships more often carry compensation.
- Internships provide hands-on experience in legal research, document preparation, case management, and client relations under supervision.
- The directory above covers 261 organizations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, spanning law firms, legal aid organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions.
- Start talking to local law offices before you finish your coursework. Timing matters more than volume of applications.
- Strong academic performance, reference letters, and targeted applications to firms matching your career interests increase your chances of securing competitive placements.
Ready to Start Your Paralegal Career?
Explore accredited paralegal programs in your state and take the first step toward the hands-on experience employers want to see.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. National 2025-35 employment projections from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. Figures reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2026.
