Paralegal internships provide hands-on legal experience for students and recent graduates. Most ABA-approved programs require 180-hour internships, and opportunities range from unpaid student externships to paid post-graduate positions at law firms, courts, and legal aid organizations across all 50 states.
Last Updated: December 2, 2025
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, and 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 comprehensive guide covers everything from understanding different internship types to landing competitive positions and accessing our complete state-by-state directory of 500+ opportunities nationwide.
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 entry-level 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. You’ll commit about 180 hours performing common tasks at a local law firm or the legal department of a local business.
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 common use, and “internship” now describes both non-paid student experiences and paid positions for recent graduates. The table below clarifies the key differences:
| Feature | Student Externship/Internship | Post-Graduate Internship |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | During degree program | After graduation |
| Compensation | Usually unpaid | Often paid |
| Duration | ~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
Most ABA-approved paralegal degree programs and many programs offered through schools that hold regional accreditation require an internship or externship as part of graduation requirements. This kind of structured student experience may be part of two and four-year degree programs, but is rarely included in certificate programs. Students of certificate programs would benefit from this 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.
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 positions, though compensation is typically below standard paralegal salaries. According to recent data, post-graduate legal internships can pay anywhere from $15-25 per hour depending on location and firm size. 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, but they’re often called upon to take on more responsibility over the course of the internship.
Typical Paralegal Intern Responsibilities
| Task Category | Specific Duties | Skills Developed |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Legal research using Westlaw or LexisNexis, case law analysis, statutory research | Research methodology, citation skills, analytical thinking |
| Document Preparation | Drafting pleadings, correspondence, memoranda, discovery responses | Legal writing, formatting standards, attention to detail |
| File Management | Organizing case files, maintaining databases, document indexing | Organization, case management software, record-keeping |
| Court Filings | E-filing documents, tracking deadlines, maintaining docket calendars | Procedural knowledge, deadline management, court systems |
| Client Support | Observing client meetings, preparing intake forms, assembling exhibits | Client relations, confidentiality, professional communication |
Although interns don’t often handle direct responsibilities like meeting with clients or coordinating with other attorneys or courts, they’re allowed to 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 get exposure to many different types of legal work and get a sense for the area of law you might ultimately want to specialize in.
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 strategy 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 with a regular roster of local law firms or other agencies employing 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 certain 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.
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 specifically interested in interning with them. 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 provides paralegal internship opportunities organized by state. These include law firms, legal aid organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions that regularly accept paralegal interns. Contact organizations directly to inquire about current openings, application requirements, and internship details.
Alabama
- Internship locations: statewide
Jefferson State Community College
- Internship locations: Birmingham area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Birmingham, Anniston, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, Selma, Tuscaloosa
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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Phoenix area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Scottsdale area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Arizona
- Internship locations: Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma
Arkansas
Arkansas Legal Services Partnership
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Jonesboro area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
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
- Internship locations: Ventura County area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Fresno area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Denver area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Colorado
- Internship locations: Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Durango
Connecticut
- Internship locations: Hartford area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Norwalk area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Delaware
- Internship location: Wilmington
District of Columbia
- Internship location: Washington, DC
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
- Internship location: Washington, DC
- 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 of 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 professional internship as part of the AS degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete professional internship as part of the AS degree program
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc.
- Internship locations: South Florida
- Internship locations: Fort Myers area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
Hillsborough Community College
- Internship locations: Tampa area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Miami area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Jacksonville area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
- Internship locations: Ocala area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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: statewide
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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Hawaii
- Internship location: Honolulu
Idaho
- Internship locations: Pocatello area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Glen Ellyn area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship location: Chicago
- Internship locations: Southern and Central Illinois
- Internship locations: Chicago area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Topeka area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Kansas
- Internship locations: Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita
Kentucky
- Internship locations: Richmond area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Louisville area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Louisiana Department of Justice
- Internship location: Baton Rouge
- Internship locations: New Orleans area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
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 professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Baltimore area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Maryland
- Internship locations: Baltimore, Greenbelt
Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Boston
- Internship locations: Boston area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- Internship location: Boston
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Boston area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Massachusetts
- Internship locations: Boston, Springfield, Worcester
Michigan
Grand Rapids Community College
- Internship locations: Grand Rapids area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Michigan Indian Legal Services
- Internship locations: statewide
Legal Services of South Central Michigan
- Internship locations: Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee
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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota
- Internship locations: 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Mississippi Center for Legal Services
- Internship locations: statewide
University of Mississippi Medical Center
- Internship location: Jackson
United States Attorney’s Office- Northern District of Mississippi
- Internship locations: Oxford, Aberdeen, Greenville, Delta
United States Attorney’s Office- Southern District of Mississippi
- Internship locations: Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg
Missouri
- Internship locations: Fulton area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal 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
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Montana
- Internship locations: Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Butte
Nebraska
- Internship locations: Lincoln area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- 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 professional internship as part of 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
- Internship locations: Nashua area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of New Hampshire
- Internship location: Concord
New Jersey
- Internship locations: Paramus area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Montclair area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of New Jersey
- Internship locations: Newark, Trenton, Camden
New Mexico
- Internship locations: Las Cruces area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office- District of New Mexico
- Internship locations: Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe
New York
Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY)
- Internship locations: New York City
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- 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
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
North Carolina Community College System
- Internship locations: statewide (multiple campuses)
- Students complete professional internship 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Kirtland area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Internship locations: Cleveland area
- Internship locations: Toledo area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of 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, Guyon, 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 professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
- Internship locations: Eugene, Springfield
- Internship location: Portland
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Portland area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree and certificate programs
U.S. Attorney’s Office- District of Oregon
- Internship locations: Portland, Eugene, Medford
Pennsylvania
Bucks County Community College
- Internship locations: Newtown area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Community College of Philadelphia
- Internship locations: Philadelphia area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 location: Philadelphia
Legal Aid of the Lehigh Valley
- Internship location: Allentown
- 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 internship as part of paralegal degree and certificate programs
- Internship locations: Providence, Wakefield, Woonsocket
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Rhode Island
- Internship location: Providence
South Carolina
Central Carolina Technical College
- Internship locations: Sumter, Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee Counties
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- 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
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
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 professional internship as part of 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
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Nashville State Community College
- Internship locations: Nashville area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services
- Internship locations: statewide
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
Volunteer State Community College
- Internship locations: Gallatin area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Texas
Alamo Colleges District- San Antonio College
- Internship locations: San Antonio area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Austin area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: McKinney, Plano, Frisco areas
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Dallas area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: El Paso area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Houston area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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 internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Vermont
- Internship location: Burlington
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Internship locations: statewide
Virginia
- Internship locations: Weyers Cave area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
Central Virginia Community College
- Internship locations: Lynchburg area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Chester area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Fairfax, Arlington areas
Northern Virginia Community College
- Internship locations: Northern Virginia (multiple campuses)
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
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: Tacoma area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Lynnwood area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Auburn area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Des Moines area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: statewide
- Internship locations: Lakewood, Puyallup areas
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Seattle area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal certificate program
- Internship locations: Seattle area
- Students complete professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
- Internship locations: Spokane area
- Students complete professional internship as part of 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
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 professional internship as part of 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 professional internship as part of paralegal degree program
United States Attorney’s Office- District of Wyoming
- Internship locations: Cheyenne, Casper, Lander
- Internship locations: statewide
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 often paid, typically ranging from $15-25 per hour depending on your location and the organization. Government agencies and larger law firms are more likely to offer paid internships. Legal aid organizations and smaller firms may offer unpaid opportunities but provide valuable experience in specific practice areas.
How long do paralegal internships last?
Student externships typically require around 180 hours, which usually spans one semester. Post-graduate internships usually last 3-6 months. Some summer internship programs run 8-12 weeks. The duration often depends on whether the internship is part-time or full-time. Part-time internships might extend over a longer calendar period to accumulate the required hours while accommodating your school schedule.
Can I complete an internship while still in school?
Yes, and many ABA-approved paralegal programs require you to complete an internship before graduation. 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 the opportunity is approved by your program. 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. However, these terms are increasingly used interchangeably, and “internship” now commonly describes 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.
Do internships count toward ABA program requirements?
Yes, most ABA-approved paralegal programs require a supervised internship or practicum as part of their graduation requirements. These internships must meet specific criteria set by your program, including minimum hour requirements (typically 180 hours), appropriate supervision by attorneys or experienced paralegals, and substantial legal work exposure. If you’re pursuing an internship to satisfy ABA requirements, confirm with your program coordinator that your chosen placement meets all necessary criteria before you begin.
What tasks will I do as a paralegal intern?
You’ll start with basic office tasks like filing, copying, and document organization to learn attention to detail. As you progress, you’ll take on substantive work including legal research using databases like 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
- Most ABA-approved paralegal programs require 180-hour internships as part of graduation requirements.
- Student externships are typically unpaid and offer academic credit, while post-graduate internships often provide hourly compensation.
- Internships provide hands-on experience in legal research, document preparation, case management, and client relations under supervision.
- The complete state-by-state directory above lists 500+ opportunities across law firms, legal aid organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions.
- Strong academic performance, reference letters, and targeted applications to firms matching your career interests increase your chances of securing competitive placements.
- Many successful paralegals transition from internships to full-time employment with their host organizations.
Ready to Start Your Paralegal Career?
Explore accredited paralegal programs in your state and take the first step toward gaining the hands-on experience you need.
