Information for Students

Chicago-Kent offers three avenues for students to pursue externship opportunities in the areas of government, public interest, private, and for-profit firms and corporations. Examples of externships include working for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office; public defender offices; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and numerous major law firms and nonprofits. All externships must be approved. The three types of externships include:

Judicial Externships acquaint you with the day-to-day operation of the courts as you work with trial and appellate court judges and their law clerks to research and write legal memoranda and draft opinions.

Legal Externships allow you to work in civil or criminal practice in a specialized area of your choice with supervising attorneys in federal, state, and local government agencies; private law firms of all sizes; corporate legal departments; or public interest organizations." 

Judicial Externship Program

Judicial Externship Program (JEP) is a four credit hour, pass/low pass/fail program open to students who have completed at least their first full year of law school and want to do legal research and writing for a federal appellate, district or magistrate judge, or designated Illinois appellate or circuit court judges.

JEP enables a student to become involved in particular legal problems through research and writing, and to contribute to the resolution of those problems by participating in drafting memoranda and opinions. 

Depending upon the judge, an extern may also have the opportunity to observe the judge’s day-to-day routine and discuss with him/her the issues and problems that judges confront. Take advantage of this prestigious learning opportunity while enhancing your marketability in the legal world.

Application Process:  We will post opportunities below or you can find one on your own through 12Twenty (see below).   If you do obtain an externship through an outside source, please email Professor Decatorsmith as well as fill out the form the proper semester:   

Fall Semester

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 30 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu).

Find your own judicial externship:  Students can find their own externship through posts made by individual chambers on the Career Services Management System 12twenty* or get placed with judges in various divisions via the Cook County application. In the Summer, students can also apply to judges via the Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization, and applications typically close by the end of January each year.   We will also post any opportunities for externships below.  

Cover Letter and Resume Guidance  

Below are short guides on to help you prepare your cover letter and resume:

Cover Letter Guide

Writing Sample Guide

Judicial Externship Opportunities

Judge William B. Sullivan, Circuit Court of Cook Cty, Chancery Div - Fall 2026

As a judicial extern, the student will be working directly under Judge Sullivan’s law clerks with extensive contact with the judge and the law clerks. Working in General Chancery, students will be exposed to an almost endless array of cases seeking equitable relief including inter alia injunctions, class actions, declaratory judgments (especially insurance coverage disputes), contract disputes for specific performance, rescission, and reformation (especially involving real estate), condominium disputes, construction of wills and trusts, constructive trusts and trusteeships, receiverships, dissolutions of partnerships and corporations, accountings, administrative review appeals, partition actions, quiet title actions, slander of title actions, lien disputes, writs of mandamus, breaches of fiduciary duties, shareholder derivative actions, disgorgement actions, FOIA requests, and much more.

The student will be assigned cases, will read the parties’ arguments on motions before the Court, will research applicable law, will write bench memoranda (including oral scripts for rulings from the bench), will orally present opinions on the assigned case, and will discuss the cases with the law clerks and Judge Sullivan to prepare the Court for oral arguments. Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to write multiple opinions and orders, especially on highly time-sensitive motions much as temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. The student may also be assigned to review other materials and help prepare Judge Sullivan for hearings however may be most useful depending on the case. Finally, the student will be able to attend the court calls (via Zoom unless otherwise ordered) daily to hear attorneys argue a variety of cases, including cases the student prepared. Students, subject to approval by Judge Sullivan, may be able to use their work product including entered opinions drafted by the student as writing samples for future opportunities.

Practice Areas: Real Estate; Mortgage Foreclosure; Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Complex Litigation; Secured Transactions Work Authorization: Permanent United States Resident or United States Citizen

Please download this document for more details.  

Apply before Friday, August 14 at 5:00 p.m.  Email your cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, and a 10-page writing sample (max) to Michael R. Kicinski and Ellie Persellin at michael.kicinski@cookcountyil.gov and ellie.persellin@cookcountyil.gov, respectively, in PDF format.

Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Judge Franklin U. Valderrama, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois - Fall 2026

Judge Valderrama is looking for a judicial extern in the fall semester, particularly students with a focus on IP/patent litigation.  They have interesting pending patent case that would be a good experience for an extern to assist with.

This position is unpaid but there is a possibility of obtaining credit through Chicago-Kent’s Judicial Externship Program, which is a 4-credit hour program that enables students entering their second and/or third year of law school to receive academic credit, not pay, for working with a judge in chambers. The program consists of fieldwork and a classroom component. Students are not allowed to have simultaneous legal work while externing. 

The Fall 2026 semester extends from August 24 to November 20. Students learn by doing and by receiving constructive guidance and feedback from law clerks and judges. For each of the approximate thirteen weeks of the semester, students must devote 16 hours weekly to their work in chambers.  In addition to the work in chambers, externs also attend an accompanying weekly class.  Students can apply via 12Twenty.  

In order to register for JEP, you must have applied for an externship, accepted an externship offer and register for the program by the deadline of August 14. Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Judge Allen P. Walker, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division - Fall 2026

This externship position provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with a judge in a state trial court that handles General Chancery cases. These cases include class actions, administrative review, declaratory judgments, temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, actions for accounting, partition suits, and many other types of civil cases.

An extern will function as an additional judicial law clerk and must possess outstanding writing skills and superior analytical abilities.

This position is open to rising 2L and 3L students who are looking to gain practical legal experience during the Fall 2026 Semester.

Externs typically work a hybrid schedule where they spend at least one day a week at the Daley Center.

For consideration, please submit the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) resume; (3) writing sample (5-10 pages); and (4) unofficial transcript.

Division:  Chancery Division, Calendar 03

Position Type:
Part-time, 20 hours per week

Externship Length:  
12 Weeks: August 24, 2026 – December 4, 2026
Externs may select an externship of 6-12 weeks depending upon school requirements.

Compensation: This position is unpaid; however, we encourage students to use their school’s externship program to receive school credit.

Application Deadline:  Applications are due to Judge Walker’s law clerks by July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Contact Information:
Please e-mail application materials to Judge Walker’s Law Clerk:
Jerry Altemar at jerry.altemar@cookcountyil.gov

Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, Hon. Chloe Pedersen - Fall 2026

Position Overview

The judicial extern will work with the judge, judicial law clerk, and other legal and non-legal personnel in the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago in the Chancery Division/ Mortgage Foreclosure Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The judicial extern shall conduct legal research, analysis and writing, prepare bench memoranda, edit court opinions, review motions, and other court pleadings. The judicial extern will also assist the judge with the preparation for an array of matters, including, hearings on contested summary judgment motions, motions to quash service of process, motions for appointment of receiver, evidentiary hearings, pre-trial settlement conferences, and trials. The Fall Semester can be done in person or hybrid (in person and remote).

Position Qualifications, Minimum Education, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and organizational abilities; 
• Strong attention to detail; 
• Completion of “Civil Law & Procedure” and “Legal Research & Writing” law school courses;
• Ability to work well with the judge, judicial law clerk, and integrate with legal and non-legal personnel, in a fast-paced and high-volume environment; 
• Knowledge of methods of legal research and analysis of applicable laws; and 
• Experience with the use of Lexis Nexis, Westlaw, or other legal research sites, as well as “Zoom” and its features for remote access proceedings. 
• Essential Job Tasks

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Judge Alison Conlon, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division

Judge Alison Conlon is seeking to hire Judicial Externs for the Fall of 2026. To ensure that the administration of justice can continue during this time, Judge Conlon is conducting court both in-person and via Zoom.

About Judge Conlon and her Court:

Judge Conlon sits in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Chancery Division handles civil cases involving equitable remedies. Judge Conlon’s court call sees a variety of complex cases, often including TROs, FOIA issues, administrative reviews, and class actions. In addition, Judge Conlon often hears compelling “business divorces,” such as LLC break ups, and other elaborate business disputes, making the position a particularly good fit for those interested in business cases. There are also many emergency motions filed in front of Judge Conlon, such as TROs, which are exciting and provide extra opportunity for externs to observe.

Students with a passion for public interest or private practice are encouraged to apply, as the Court sees attorneys from a range of public interest organizations and law firms. Judge Conlon is also very active in the pro bono community in Chicago (for example, she sits on the boards of the Public Interest Law Initiative and the Chicago Bar Foundation and is co-chair of the Pro Se Advisory Committee) and she is happy to be a connector between students and organizations.

About the Position:

Judicial Externs are required to observe Court at least two mornings (status call from 9:30 am to 10am and motion call from 10:00am to 10:30am). They will be tasked with a variety of substantive assignments relating to the over 300 complex cases on Judge Conlon’s docket. 

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.  

The deadline for applications is August 13, 2026.

Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Judge Michael B. Slade - Fall 2026

Judge Slade is seeking a judicial extern in the Fall 2026 semester.  Judge Slade is with the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 219 W. Dearborn, Chambers 638.  

Interested applicants should submit a resume, law school transcript, and sample of legal writing to ilnbml_sladestaff@ilnb.uscourts.gov.

The deadline for applications is August 1, 2026.

Judge Slade Site

Once you secure the position or are in the interview process, you must inform Prof Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and Tracy Kish (tkish@illinoistech.edu)  of your opportunity before you will be granted permission to register.

Legal Externship Programs

Access2Practice (A2P) Legal Externship is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail class which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to gain supervision and mentoring in a wide variety of legal areas – both civil and criminal.  Externs must work a minimum of 16 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and 30 hours per week in the Summer semester, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component, among other academic requirements associated with the course. 

The program does not assign students to particular practice placements. Instead, a student must first directly obtain an externship placement before applying to participate in and register for an Access2Practice Legal Externship. Each placement is separate and external to the law school and will have its own independent selection and screening process.

Application Process:  Externships can be found via Chicago-Kent’s extensive legal network.  For information on how to do this, follow our document on How to Apply for a Legal Externship Placement. Students can find their own externships through 12twenty*, the Career Services Management System. Newly posted externships will also be featured below and in The Record.  

Once a student has secured an externship, he or she must apply to the externship program by (1) informing Professor Decatorsmith via email (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and (2) filling out this Form.  

If you do obtain an externship through an outside source, please email Professor Decatorsmith as well as fill out the form the for the fall semester:   Fall Semester

This information allows us to keep track of student placements as well as give us the information needed to reach out to firms and confirm student placement, as well as discuss our expectations with regard to the student's supervision.  

Permission to enroll in Legal Externship classes is solely within the discretion of the Clinical Education Department, and is subject to pre-review and approval by the Department to ensure the pedagogical objectives of the course are satisfied.  Externships are designed and allocated primarily for new placement opportunities and, accordingly, permission is not generally granted to students for continuing their employment at private law firms or in-house counsel jobs, nor is a second externship (Legal Externship 2) generally allowed for a student continuing their same Legal Externship 1 placement.  Registration in specialized externships (Criminal Litigation Externship, Intellectual Property Externship, Environmental Law Externship), is limited to students enrolled in the associated certificate programs. 

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 30 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu). 

LEGAL EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please see below and continue to check back for new opportunities.  

If you receive a Legal Externship, please register your opportunity here so you receive law school credit.  

Fall Opportunities (one Spring included with the fall list)

Fall 2026 Opportunities

The National Association of Realtors, Legal Externship - Fall 2026

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (“NAR”) is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and America’s largest trade association, representing 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Members belong to 1,200 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS®.

The mission of NAR is to empower REALTORS® as they preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all.  

NAR fully embraces perspectives from all walks of life—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or any other qualities by which we may define ourselves.  

With this class-credit externship position, NAR seeks to provide a law student with an educational and real-world experience that will enhance the student’s professional development and understanding of the real estate profession and industry.  

The extern’s duties and responsibilities will include assisting the NAR Legal Affairs team with: 
•    Summarizing legal cases about key real estate topics 
•    Conducting legal research on topical and regulatory issues 
•    Writing on a variety of legal topics and issues
•    Analyzing federal, state or local laws  
•    Participating in Legal Affairs staff meetings and other meetings relevant to the Extern’s projects and assignments
•    Assisting the NAR trademark team with maintaining and enforcing NAR’s brand protection program

The externship position is a flexible hybrid position with the expectation the extern will go into the office at least once per week to maximize the opportunities to meet and collaborate with others.  Please note that this position is offered in connection with the class-credit earning externship program.
NAR will strive to provide the extern opportunities to become involved in projects or tasks related to the extern’s areas of interest. The extern will need to be able to work independently and manage multiple assignments. 

Please apply to Mike Rohde, Staff Attorney, 312.329.8282 and mrohde@nar.realtor before August 14 at 5:00 pm.  Include a cover letter and resume.

Bellementis PLLC - Fall 2026

Bellementis | Experts in Law Across Legacy and Tech (www.bellementis.com) is a newly launched Washington, D.C.-based boutique law firm advising innovators, institutions, companies, investment funds, and market participants across a broad range of matters, including litigation, regulatory enforcement, investigations, transactional work, congressional inquiries, artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital assets.

As we continue to grow, we are seeking exceptional law students interested in gaining meaningful experience in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and intellectually rigorous legal environment that is accelerating quickly with the responsible use of AI.

While we recognize that it is late in the recruiting cycle for this summer, we are also mindful of the challenges many talented students have faced in securing opportunities. Accordingly, we would like to identify outstanding candidates who may benefit from hands-on legal experience, direct attorney mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge legal issues.

Internship Details

• Remote part-time and full-time positions
• Unpaid internship
• Direct interaction with attorneys, firm leadership, and clients
• Exposure to sophisticated legal, regulatory, and policy matters
• Valuable networking and professional development opportunities
• Potential continuation into the Fall semester for outstanding Summer interns
• Substantive Legal Training

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please visit the posting on 12Twenty.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Health Law Externship Program - Fall 2026

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (“SRAlab”), formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a not-for-profit hospital, located in Chicago, Illinois, is the first-ever “translational” research hospital applying research to physical medicine and rehabilitation. SRAlab has been ranked as the top physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in the United States for decades, providing rehabilitation to patients around the world with stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cancer, and other conditions. SRAlab’s research enterprise is the largest of its kind and renowned for breakthroughs in biomedical, neural, mechanical and electrical engineering; molecular/cellular biology; robotics and pharmacotherapeutics.

For more information on the opportunity and how to apply, please visit the posting on 12Twenty.

Elder & Disability Justice Initiative - Fall 2026

The Elder & Disability Justice Initiative of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services is seeking candidates for a Fall 2026 law student internship that will focus on advocacy for elder and disabled victims of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. The intern will work with the Elder & Disability Justice Initiative attorneys to provide legal services in a variety of cases, including orders of protection, elder financial exploitation, housing law, and guardianship. This is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits. The position is based in Chicago and will by hybrid. The intern must be able to come in person to the Domestic Violence Courthouse and attend outreach events held by the EDJI team.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Non-Profit General Counsel - Fall 2026

Metropolitan Family Services seeks qualified law students or recent graduates for a Fall 2026 fellowship, internship or externship in our General Counsel’s office. The position is based in Chicago and will be hybrid, with in-person and some work from home opportunities. This is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits. This position will support our General Counsel and LAS Executive Director with legal research and writing, primarily.

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. The Legal Aid Society (LAS) is the legal aid arm of Metropolitan Family Services. Founded in 1886, it is the oldest provider of legal aid in Illinois and the second oldest in the nation. The mission of LAS is to protect and strengthen families by providing equal access to justice for all by focusing on the most vulnerable communities, including those who are impoverished, the elderly, and victims of violence & crimes. We are based in Chicago, Illinois, and serve low-income clients in Cook and DuPage Counties, and the Decatur area.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Legal Aid Society, HHES Housing Chicago Team - Fall 2026

LAS’ Health, Housing & Economic Stability Practice Group is seeking law student candidates for a Summer 2026 intern/extern-ship with its Chicago-based housing team. The position is based in Chicago and will by hybrid, with in-person and some work from home opportunities. This is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits. The HHES Housing Team provides legal representation to low-income Chicagoans and residents of south suburban Cook County and DuPage County, with a focus on housing issues. HHES’ goals are homelessness prevention and housing stabilization. Additionally, this practice group engages in community education on landlord/tenant issues. The intern will support attorneys in the HHES Practice Group in representation of clients in a variety of housing law matters such as eviction defense, housing subsidy preservation, and substandard housing conditions.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Legal Aid Society, IRSJ Immigration Team - Fall 2026

The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Immigration team at Legal Aid Society is seeking law student candidates for Fall 2026. Fluency in Spanish or Polish is preferred, but not required. The internship is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits. The position is based in Chicago and will by hybrid, with in-person and work from home opportunities.

The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group at LAS works to ensure victims of crime have access to a full array of legal and social services. The IRSJ Practice Group works with survivors of human trafficking, immigrant victims of crime, and individuals with certain employment-related legal concerns. This multi-disciplinary practice group engages in significant community outreach efforts and strives to ensure clients receive trauma informed services that address all of their needs, either through in-house services or by providing referrals to community partners.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

711-Licensed Safe Families Program - Fall 2026

The Safe Families Program of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services is seeking 711-licensed law student candidates for a Fall 2026 intern/externship that will focus on working with domestic violence victims in criminal settings. The intern will work with the Safe Families Program team to provide direct representation to victims of domestic violence in their requests for orders of protection in conjunction with criminal prosecution when the parties have children in common. The position will be primarily in person at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse (555 W. Harrison). This is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Ponder Diversity Group LLC - Fall 2026

Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG) is one of the top boutique law firms in Illinois, committed to facilitating inclusive and legally defensible procurement and employment practices nationwide for government agencies, major corporations, and not-for-profit organizations.  

Seeking a highly motivated, self-disciplined law student with a minimum 3.2 GPA, excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong critical thinking abilities, and a genuine passion for socially impactful legal work to join our team as a Law Clerk/Fall Legal Intern. We value proactive, independent thinkers who take ownership of their work, thrive in a collaborative environment, and present themselves with professionalism (business attire preferred). If you are ready to use your legal education to drive meaningful change and build your career alongside experienced practitioners trained at BigLaw firms, we invite you to apply – join us and make a difference!

Please download this document for more information on the position and how to apply.  Students must apply to Anita Ponder via email aponder@pdg-law.com.  Include your resume, cover letter, writing sample, and unofficial transcript and apply by July 24 at 5:00 pm

Life Span, Fall 2026

Life Span (https://life-span.org) is seeking enthusiastic law students interns to assist our team of attorneys to provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault – including Orders of Protection, Civil No Contact Orders, Divorce/Dissolution of Marriage, Parentage & Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and more!

Clerks and/or externs can be based out of either our Chicago or Des Plaines offices – 1L, 2L & 3L law students all eligible to apply. Part time accepted and encouraged!

While these are unpaid positions, Life Span accepts applications from law students:

• who have funding;
• who are seeking academic credit or participating in an externship through their law school; and
• who do not have funding.

Extern/Clerk Duties

Clerks will gain invaluable hands-on legal experience by working on complex and diverse cases and projects with our Family Law attorneys. Clerks will participate in client intake, negotiations and client advising meetings, draft pleadings, and appear in Court with their 711 law student license. Clerks will also have the opportunity to conduct legal research and analysis on changes in the law and novel legal questions related to client representation.

About Life Span

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement and systemic advocacy. Life Span values diversity-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve. We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic.  All services are free of charge.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter, including the weekly number of hours you are seeking, via email attention: Victoria Bell, Senior Staff Attorney, to hiring@life-span.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all clerk positions are filled, through Monday, August 3, 2026, at 5:00p.m.

Please, no phone calls!

Ascend Justice, Fall 2026

At Ascend Justice, interns will provide direct legal services to survivors of gender-based violence and/or individuals and families impacted by the child welfare system. Interns should:

• Have strong self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Demonstrate ability to work with diverse populations
• Spanish proficiency helpful, but not required (Highly preferred for immigration program
• Ability to work in fast-paced legal environment
• Ability to communicate effectively with people in crisis
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Flexible, self-motivated
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent communication and time management skills
• Sense of humor

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document. 

Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Service (CARPLS), Fall 2026

CARPLS trains interns in three core substantive legal areas (consumer, landlord/tenant and family law), after which interns work side by side with our legal staff, interviewing, counseling and advising clients over the hotline, under the supervision of an attorney. Interns are also assigned to assist with research and drafting of how-to guides for attorneys and general information packets for the public. Depending on the applicant's level of interest, opportunities for community engagement may be available.

Hybrid in office. Please apply before August 14 via email to Karla Chrobak, kchrobak@carpls.org.  Include your resume and cover letter. 

Lake County State's Attorney's Office

Under supervision of a licensed attorney, 711 interns will assist in our traffic/misdemeanor or domestic violence divisions by handling regular court calls, motions, hearings, and trials.  Gain valuable insights into the workings of a prosecutor's office.   

Please apply via email before August 20 to Nicole Farrow, nfarrow@lakecountyil.gov.  Include your resume and a cover letter. 

Saper Law Offices (Chicago, Illinois)

Saper Law is an intellectual property, social media, entertainment, and business law firm with headline grabbing clients and cases. Saper is best known for our expertise in handling contract negotiations, drafting complex software, domain name, trademark, and copyright licensing agreements, drafting sweepstakes and contest rules, organizing new LLCs or Corporations, and generally serving as outside “inside” counsel to many creative individuals and innovative business organizations.

Our litigation practice is equally famous for tackling novel internet, social media, and cyberlaw cases as well as traditional cases involving breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, defamation, trademarks, copyrights, right of publicity, and privacy.

The majority of our cases are related to trademark infringement, copyright infringement, defamation, breach of contract, right of publicity, and trade secret misappropriation.

Our office has 3 attorneys. Each semester, 3 to 6 law students and undergraduates serve as law clerks or interns.

The clerk responsibilities and activities include:

• Assisting the firm's attorneys with researching case law, drafting pleadings, reviewing discovery, preparing for depositions, and otherwise helping out with ongoing cases,
• Going to court and sitting in on depositions and settlement discussions if appropriate,
• Helping maintain our trademark and copyright docket,
• Drafting and reviewing contracts,
• Creating educational content for various presentations and for www.saperlaw.com
• Preparing talking points for Daliah when she is solicited for commentary by news outlets related to tech, social media, and entertainment law issues

Please apply before July 31 via email to Daliah Saper, ds@saperlaw.com.  Include your resume, writing sample and transcript. 

Cook County States Attorney's Office

The CCSAO Volunteer Internship Program is highly competitive due to the hands-on, challenging, and relevant work experience participants will garner. Interns will be paired with an Assistant State’s Attorney within one of the several divisions of the Cook County Court System, who will guide and mentor the participant during their time with the office.

The volunteer will be responsible for contributing and assisting with legal research, preparing memos, partnering with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements. This internship is unpaid and does not include benefits.

The fall externship session runs from September 8 - December 12; start and end dates are flexible between these dates to coincide with the semester..

While this role is open to all active students, preference is given to students actively perusing a Juris Doctor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contribute with legal research and prepare memos on pending legal issues
• Draft motions, answers, and other required legal filings
• Aid in the preparation of discovery
• Other duties as assigned by supervising attorney

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be an active student.
• Must be in good standing with your school, and not be on any type of academic probation or the like

Physical Requirements:

(a) Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally, and other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

EEO Message: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants that are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran may contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Team via email at Hr.Sao@cookcountysao.org and arrange for an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability."

Please apply via email before August 16, 2026 the below Link: 

https://www.cookcountystatesattorney.org/careers?jobId=07B03C51-0654-4C73-063A-7FA120B2F75C 

Include your resume and cover letter. 

Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

Externs act as a "member" of the IP Group for the semester. Assignments will likely involve research and writing in litigation and transactional matters related to Intellectual Property. The type of work varies by semester.

Please apply via email by August 14 to Bart Lazar, blazar@seyfarth.com.  Please include your resume and transcript. 

Enova Legal Externship - Fall 2026

Enova is a technology- and analytics-driven, web-based lending company. Our products are offered in the US and Brazil. The Legal Department is responsible for all domestic and international legal matters, including corporate transactions, corporate governance, intellectual property, regulatory, employment and litigation matters. The Legal Department is composed of ten attorneys, four paralegals and one legal operations member, mostly located in the Chicago office.

The Legal Department is seeking a law student extern with an interest for in-house practice for its Chicago office. The Enova Legal Externship Program is modeled after law firm summer associate programs but is designed to fit the unique rigors of an in-house legal department. The program is highly collaborative, and externs can expect to work directly with all members of the Legal Department.

Depending on the hours and schedule, the opportunity would be hybrid at the downtown Chicago office, as we are hybrid and working in-office on Tues., Wed. & Thurs. Our legal team consists of a mix of regulatory, transactional/corporate, finance, employment, marketing and litigation attorneys, and we would be able to provide opportunities for development in each of these areas.

For more information about this opportunity and how to apply, please download this document.

Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD) - Fall 2026

The Office of the State Appellate Defender offers internships in the following district offices: Chicago.

District Office Internships:  The Chicago Office offers part-time 12-week spring and fall internships. Interns in these positions will work on criminal appeals with experienced attorneys writing opening briefs, reply briefs and petitions for rehearing that will be filed in the Illinois Appellate Court, and petitions for leave to appeal that will be filed in the Illinois Supreme Court. Interns will also likely assist attorneys in preparing for oral arguments and may occasionally be asked to complete legal research assignments. Interns may work in-person, remotely, or on a hybrid schedule based on the district's needs and intern availability. Springfield accepts in-person/hybrid applicants.

Qualifications for All Internships:  

Applicants must be current law students and possess excellent legal research, writing, editing, and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to understand factual and legal issues and present them clearly and concisely. Preference is given to applicants with a demonstrated interest in public service and coursework in legal writing, criminal law, evidence, and appellate advocacy. The internships are unpaid; we can provide school credit if the university permits.

How to Apply:

Applications for internship programs described above will be accepted until the following dates or until all positions are filled:

Part-Time School-Year Internships (Chicago office only):

         Fall 2026: July 31, 2026

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample in PDF format (preferably as one file, with the file name beginning with your name, e.g., “Jane Doe Application” or “Jane Doe Resume,” “Jane Doe Writing Sample”, etc.”) to:

Chicago: 1stdistrict.internprogram@osad.state.il

The Office of the State Appellate Defender is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion.

City of Chicago

The City of Chicago is now accepting applications for legal externship opportunities.  Participants gain invaluable hands-on legal experience by working on complex and diverse projects with Law Department attorneys.  They participate in negotiations and Client advising meetings, conduct research and analysis to draft dispositive motions on constitutional or procedural issues of law, and - utilizing an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 license - appear on behalf of the City in Court or before Administrative Tribunals.

To get more information about the opportunity and how to apply, please visit their website. If you do get an externship offer, please be sure to fill out the application as explained above. 

Semester Law Firm Associate Program (SLFAP)

SLFAP endeavors to bridge the gap between the academic study of law and its practice. SFLAP is different from other traditional law school classes because it pushes your legal education into the experiential frontier. Experiential learning is learning by doing, learning from experience. As an extern, you will work for lawyer supervisors whose primary loyalties lie with their clients and their firms, but who also have a desire to mentor law students by providing them with interesting work and useful guidance. Through your fieldwork you will learn not only about certain areas of substantive law, but about the practice of law itself.

SFLAP is different than the Legal Externships Access to Practice program because of its more intensive nature and larger time commitment.  Students enrolled in the SLFAP program will spend a minimum of 24 hours per week working in their externship role with an off-site firm or organization. The student receives 6 credits for the work (as compared with 4 for a non-SLFAP externship).  Note that there is an in-person classroom component to this course, over and above the 24 hours you will put in at the firm/organization.

As with the Legal Externship programs, interested students must not only receive an offer from the participating firm, but also receive Department permission to register, all of which must be completed prior to the start of classes for the subject semester (i.e., the normal add period does not apply).  See the above Legal Externship Application process for those instructions.  

SLFAP Opportunities

Check back for future opportunities