Law Internships Abroad

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A law internship abroad in Canada is a great opportunity to explore different fields of law while putting your degree to practical use.

Guaranteed Law and Legal Internships in Canada

After graduating with a degree or certificate in paralegal or legal studies, your opportunities are endless. Aside from pursuing a career as a lawyer, there are a wealth of career opportunities out there for students or graduates who have a legal background.

A legal internship in Canada – while you are still studying back home – is the perfect way to be able to explore different fields of law across a diverse range of industries. Plus, you’ll gain practical work experience while being exposed to a wealth of non-traditional opportunities that are open to you as a student with a background in law.

If you are an aspiring lawyer or want to work in any related field of law in your home country, having international law experience will give you a new perspective and still allow you to gain relevant legal experience for your resume.

Many host companies can be apprehensive about offering legal internships to international students with an education based on a foreign legal system. Not with us. You can still make a difference and secure an internship in law in Canada. You will be competing with local students, so we will make sure to help you stand out!

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Why Choose Stepwest

1

Guaranteed Legal Internships in Canada

From independent legal firms to working in the legal department of a specific medium company, we work with some of Canada’s most dynamic companies that will be able to give you the best possible insight into the Canadian legal system and different fields of law. During our initial consultation, we’ll learn about your career goals and experience to secure your perfect law internship.

2

Our Legal Internship Network

We work with a variety of excellent host companies in Canadian cities – such as Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary – in a diverse range of legal fields; whether you’re interested in international law, human rights, intellectual property rights, and anything in between. Get a network of connections in law that you can leverage for your future career.

3

Boost Your Resume

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: these days it’s difficult to land a job in a top law firm. Law is a popular career path meaning the competition is tough, so it’s essential to stand out from other candidates with international internship experience. A legal internship in Canada will give you relevant international legal experience that will give you a competitive edge over other candidates.

4

Use Your Internship Towards Academic Credits

Law students rejoice! If you're at law school and want to use your internship towards your degree, we've got you covered. We will make sure your legal internship aligns with your university or vocational school requirements. This means you can gain relevant legal experience towards your studies, all while getting to experience life in Canada. It’s a win, win.

5

Complete Support

You will be assigned a supervisor who will mentor you throughout your legal internship in Canada, giving you in-depth knowledge, insights on North American legal practices and traditions, and international legal experience. This is your chance to gain invaluable experience and learn more about working in the competitive field of law.

Our Canada Law Internship Programs

Year-round

1 - 6 months

C$1,290

Law Internships Toronto

Toronto is an international hub for a multitude of industries, with legal internship opportunities in a diverse range of fields (from business to finance to aerospace). Plus, as one of the world’s most multicultural cities, a legal internship in Toronto will allow you to build your global profession

See Program Details

Year-round

1 - 6 months

C$1,290

Law Internships Vancouver

A legal internship in Vancouver will give you in-depth legal experience in one of Canada’s most progressive cities. Vancouver is a city that has many growth opportunities in related sectors such as government, public policy, politics, business, and more.

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May onwards

1 - 6 months

C$1,290

Summer Internships in Law

On our Summer Legal Internships Program, you’ll get stuck in on a variety of projects from the get-go. You will work alongside legal professionals while applying your academic knowledge in real-world situations – all while getting to experience living in Canada.

See Program Details

Year-round

1 - 6 months

C$1,290

Impact Internships

On our Impact Internships Program, work for NGOs on a range of pressing world issues. From law internships in human rights to gaining experience in environmental law, develop your legal skills while making the world a better place.

See Program Details

Learn More

Interested in learning more about our legal internship placements? Fill in the form and one of our team will be in touch to answer your questions. Start planning your dream legal internship in Canada!

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FAQs

How do I apply for an internship visa for Canada?

In order to get a legal internship in Canada, you must be registered as a student back home from one of the IEC countries that has an agreement with Canada. Your host employer has to take mandatory steps for you to apply for an international co-op visa, which includes paying a fee to the Government of Canada. Our host employers are aware of the process and are willing to support you through these steps to receive your visa. We cover this in more detail in our guide on Applying for the Canada International Co-op Visa.

Can I secure an internship in law if I am an international law student?

Yes! However, you must be proficient in English and have studied at least one year in law school. Having a previous internship in the legal field, in your home country, will also be a great advantage.

We can help you decide what type of internship would be the best fit for you based on your goals, experience and career aspirations. But the most important part: start early! When applying for an internship in law, not only will it be competitive, but you also will be applying with education from a different country. Therefore, it’s important to have plenty of time to plan.

What skills do I need to demonstrate to secure an international internship in law in Canada?

Your personal coordinator will coach you for your interview so that you feel more prepared and confident going into your interview. However, there are certain skills that are a must – not only in Canada but anywhere in the world:

The most important! An eagerness to learn and strong interest in the legal field
Good level of English and good communication skills
Good time management and multitasking skills
Strong research and writing skills

What will I do during my law internship?

This will depend on the host company, however, interns will likely be involved in different tasks. A law internship can mean working in a law firm, an in-house legal department in different industries or in an NGO or nonprofit organization.

During your internship, you will experience the day-to-day operations of a legal office, as well as work on larger projects. Whether you are looking to gain experience, learn about a different legal system in a new country, or start your international networking in the legal field, you will be spending your time on the right project by doing an internship in Canada.
Some examples of internship tasks include:

Complete research, analyze information and summarize findings
Compare legal analyses and research legal issues
Provide administrative support
Support the draft of legal documents
Work on different legal projects, provide support to lawyers on legal proposals or courses of action

What will I learn during my legal internship abroad?

This depends on the type of legal internship placement you pursue. However, broadly speaking, you will develop your skills in:

Awareness of risk or liability
Conflict resolution
Commercial awareness
Counseling
Dissemination of information & fact analysis
Identification of issues
Interpretation of documents
Legal research
Mediation

What career options are there for law graduates?

Aside from becoming a lawyer, there are a wealth of alternative career options available for current or recent graduates of law. In fact, your legal training and international work experience will set you up for a surprising number of careers. Here are just a few:

Administrator
Arbitrator or mediator
Auditor
Career counsellor
Claims advisor
Compliance officer
Commercial loan administrator
Conference developer
Consumer advocate
Continuing legal education instructor
Contracts administrator
Corporate trainer
Criminal law
Director of career services at a university or college
Editor
Employee benefits manager
Estate planning specialist
Ethics officer
Financial aid administrator
Immigration officer or consultant
Insurance broker
Investigator
Labour negotiator
Law librarian
Law professor
Lawyer
Legal correspondent for a newspaper or magazine
Legal technology consultant
Lobbyist
Management consultant
Ombudsperson
Policy analyst
Political advisor
Paralegal instructor
Privacy law consultant
Probation officer
Property developer or manager
Special events or meeting/conference planner
Sports agent
Writer or journalist

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