A Guide to Internships in the School of Legal Studies

Transcription

1 A Guide to Internships in the

2 This Guide Serves the Following Courses: PA 280: Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies Internship This course will provide students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program with practical experience in a professional field. This course is an opportunity to combine academic learning with new, career-related experience in paralegal studies. 5 Quarter Credit Hours. Prerequisite: PA 101 or LS 102 PA 493: Paralegal Internship This course will provide students in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies with practical experience in a professional field. During the 10-week term, 150 hours of service are required. This course is an opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in legal studies, political science, or a closely related field. Tasks must be delineated in the Learning Contract, which demonstrates an advanced application of academic theory in the workplace. 6 Quarter Credit Hours. Prerequisites: Permission from the Dean, a GPA of at least 3.75, and completion of at least 25 undergraduate quarter credit hours. LS 493: Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Internship This course will provide students with practical experience in a professional field. This course is an opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in legal studies. At least 15 hours per week must be devoted to tasks that apply theory and academic content in a professional setting for a minimum of 150 hours during the term. Tasks must be delineated in the Learning Contract, which demonstrates an advanced application of academic theory in the workplace. 6 Quarter Credit Hours. Prerequisite: Last term or permission from the Dean. EM 693: Environmental Policy and Management Internship This course will provide graduate students in the Master of Science in Environmental Policy program with practical experience in a professional field. During the 10-week term, 150 hours of service are required. This course is an opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in legal studies, public administration, environmental policy, or a closely related field. Tasks must be delineated in the Learning Contract, which demonstrates an advanced application of academic theory in the workplace. 5 Quarter Credit Hours. Prerequisites: Permission from the Dean, a GPA of at least 3.75, and completion of at least 25 graduate quarter credit hours. LS 693: Master of Science in Legal Studies Internship This course provides students in the with practical experience in a professional field. During the 10-week term, 150 hours of service are required. This course is an opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in legal studies, public administration, environmental policy, or a closely related field. Tasks must be delineated in the Learning Contract and demonstrate an advanced application of academic theory in the workplace. 5 Quarter Credit Hours. Prerequisite: Permission from the Dean. 2

3 Dear Kaplan University Student, Thank you for inquiring about internship opportunities. The is dedicated to preparing students for real-world learning experiences in the workplace. We offer a variety of course options for completing an internship, both at the undergraduate level (PA 280, PA 493, LS 493) and in our graduate programs (EM 693, LS 693). If you decide to pursue an internship, you will embark on an invigorating journey of personal development and life experience. As in other aspects of life, the benefits of an internship are largely dependent on your motivation and effort. The internship offers an excellent opportunity to enhance your resume with practical work experience, as well as the possibility of gaining positive references regarding your character and skills from those lawyers or managers supervising your day-to-day internship activity. This guide provides a general overview of the policies and procedures for our internship courses. As such, it does not address individual or personal situations. For personalized guidance, contact your Education Advisor for most of your general questions. If he or she is unable to assist you with your specific questions, you will be referred to the Internship Coordinator, Professor John Berube. If you are eager to test your knowledge, skills, and abilities in the workplace, an internship course can be a significant part of your learning path. It often serves as a meaningful bridge between the world of the classroom and the world of the workplace. We look forward to assisting you, and hope your internship proves a positive experience. Sincerely, Frank J. DiMarino, JD Dean, fdimarino@kaplan.edu John Berube, JD Professor and Internship Coordinator jberube@kaplan.edu Ginger Devine, JD Academic Chair for Undergraduate Internships gdevine@kaplan.edu Lori Tripoli, JD Academic Chair for Master of Science in Legal Studies Internships ltripoli@kaplan.edu 3

4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Internships in the May I intern at my current place of employment? Yes, but there are conditions. First, your internship work cannot be compensated time. That means that you must volunteer 15 hours per week for the 10 weeks of the internship. Either you need to work 15 additional hours per week without compensation, or 15 hours of compensated work now goes uncompensated. In addition, the work must, of course, be legal or environmental work. Further, it must be substantive work (not merely secretarial or administrative). Does Kaplan University provide any recommendations for internship sites in my city or community? Consider federal, state, and local government agencies in your area as well as corporations, smaller businesses, lobbying and consulting firms, trade associations, nonprofits, and volunteer organizations. Contact your Education Advisor to determine whether Kaplan University has any specific recommendations for your locality. Can this be a paid internship? If not, why not? Interns cannot be compensated for their time. Your compensation is the academic credit. May I work for a relative who is also a licensed attorney? Yes, you may. We expect that all written documentation presented throughout the course by both the student and the internship sponsor will be completed accurately and honestly. What will I be doing and who will I report to? What you do in an internship will vary from office to office. You will need to work out the specifics of the internship with the host office. You will report directly to the supervising attorney or other appropriate person in the office. However, you will also have a class with a professor. You will need to maintain regular, weekly contact with the faculty member to ensure that you re completing all of the required work in order to obtain academic credit. Where do I look for an environmental policy internship? Consider applying for internships at federal, state, and local government agencies in your area as well as corporations, small businesses, lobbying and consulting firms, trade associations, nonprofits, and volunteer organizations. The U.S. Congress and state legislatures might also provide internship opportunities. Do I still have a class and seminar to attend? Yes, you still have class. There are no weekly seminars, but you will have scheduled phone conferences between you, the site supervisor, and the professor. Is there a comprehensive paper? No. However, there are weekly journals and a final PowerPoint presentation due. Weekly journals require the student to reflect upon the internship tasks, what is being gained from the experience, and what skills are utilized in completing such tasks. Are there attorneys or government agencies you can direct me to in order to start looking? There are many government jobs you can consider. If you re interested in litigation, you can contact the prosecutor s office, public defender s office, and attorney general s office. You could also intern in the court system, working directly under an attorney or judge. Outside of the court system, there are many government agencies that have attorneys on staff. Any agency that has an attorney could host a paralegal, such as the Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Social Security Administration, Workers Compensation, Department of Corrections, county executive s office, mayor s office, U.S. Congressional member, Congressional or state legislative committee or office of legislative counsel, and the like. Why do I need to apply for an internship one full term prior to the term in which I want to complete the internship? The approval process takes time. We need to contact your host office and send them documents to educate them about what is required for the internship to be approved. Should any problems arise, you will have time to try and find another site. We also need time to prepare for the classroom experience. 4

5 Setting Up an Internship Seven Steps to Success Overview Interning provides you with a chance to earn on-the-job experience in your career field, even before you graduate. It can also serve as a springboard from the classroom to workforce, offering you real-life experiences that strengthen your professional knowledge. You ll have opportunities to network with professionals in your field and you could obtain key work-related references. Kaplan University offers you that valuable experience before you graduate. Follow the seven steps below to help secure your internship position. Step 1: Consider what area you want to gain experience in, and how it can tie into your education/career aspirations. Speak with your Education Advisor early on to determine when is the best time in your education to search for an internship and review the requirements for qualifying to take an internship course through the.* Step 2: The next step is to start preparing your resume for the internship you are seeking. The purpose of a resume is to obtain an interview. It is NOT a biography but a way to brand and display your accomplishments and skills. You may need more than one resume depending on the breadth of organizations you are considering. Step 3: Once your resume is completed, you can begin preparing for your preliminary search for internships. Start your search at the Kaplan University CareerNetwork, which is available when you log in to your KU Campus account. Here are some sites to get your search started: > > lawcrossing.com > > ihirelegal.com > > lawjobs.com > > usajobs.gov Possible Internship Sites: > > Litigation: law firms, prosecutor s office, public defender s office, legal aid clinics > > Business: corporate legal departments, banks, insurance companies, hospitals, title companies > > Government: federal, state, or municipal (city/town) agencies; court system Have a question? We are here to help. Education Advising: (Toll Free) or LHall1@kaplan.edu Internship Coordinator: John Berube JBerube@kaplan.edu Career Services: careerservices@kaplan.edu

6 Step 4: Networking is an ongoing process of developing, building, and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships for social and professional success. Here is a list of possible networking connections: > > Relatives > Friends and neighbors > > Colleagues (past and present) > Job fair attendees > > Supervisors > Civic groups > > Instructors and classmates > Clubs and organizations > > Religious groups > Stylists/service providers > > Professional membership > Sports leagues > > Doctors > Accountants > > Attorneys Contact various offices with a well-written letter. (Use quality paper and envelopes if you can.) Be sure to follow up with a phone call to make sure your letter has been received. Ask to set up an appointment to speak with someone about an internship opportunity. Step 5: Prior to interviewing with a prospective organization, follow some of these tips to be prepared: > > Think about your education to this point and how the practical skills gained would be an advantage to an organization > > Research as much as you can about the organization > > Review your resume to be sure all of your information is accurate and that you can speak to your experiences > > Practice interviewing with someone, such as a family member or friend > > Prepare some questions about the organization to ask the interviewer Step 7: Once you have found the right internship and accepted the position, complete an internal internship application and submit it to your Education Advisor. Then, let the organization know that they will receive an with important information from the University about the internship, to which they need to respond. Make sure that this is submitted about 10 weeks prior to when you would expect to start the internship. Conclusion: Completing an internship can help you make the right career decision and avoid making a wrong one. Regardless of where you intern, you ll have a valuable opportunity to find out more about yourself, and learn more about what you want to do in your career. You may even discover an interest or activity you never considered before. Through my internship, I met people in the legal profession. I gained knowledge on the other side of being an attorney. The insight allowed me to see the benefits of prosecutor and defense attorney. It gave me a chance to participate in hands-on training which is beneficial to fill gaps in your career. Kathy L. Harrah Graduate, Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, 2011 Internship Organization: Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney s Office, West Virginia * The student is responsible for identifying and obtaining approval for an appropriate internship in his or her location. This testimonial was solicited by Kaplan University. Views and opinions stated herein are the individual s and not necessarily those of Kaplan University. Individual student schedules and experiences may vary. Step 6: During an interview, your task is to prove that you would be an asset to the organization during the time of your internship. The following are some tips to assist you: > > If a description of internship is available, read it carefully > > Arrive on time > > Dress appropriately; wear conservative business attire > > Be kind to the receptionist > > Be enthusiastic and energetic > > Be prepared to answer interview questions > > Turn off your cell phone Have a question? We are here to help. Education Advising: (Toll Free) or LHall1@kaplan.edu Internship Coordinator: John Berube JBerube@kaplan.edu Career Services: careerservices@kaplan.edu SoLS_Intern_F_9/12

7 ATTN: education ADVISING DEPARTMENT 550 West Van Buren, 7th Floor Chicago, IL Tel: Internship Application This application is for students in the seeking to complete an internship. The application can be used for the following: PA 280: Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies Internship (5 credits) PA 493: Paralegal Internship (6 credits) LS 493: Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies Internship (6 credits) EM 693: Environmental Policy and Management Internship (5 credits) LS 693: Master of Science in Legal Studies Internship (5 credits) The student must complete the application below and then schedule a conversation with a member of his or her Education Advising team, who will direct the application to the Internship Coordinator for approval. The student will then communicate via with the Internship Coordinator regarding the internship requirements and his/her placement. Because Kaplan University students reside in regions throughout the United States and abroad, it is the student s responsibility to identify an organization where he or she would like to complete the internship. The student must provide the necessary contact information for the identified organization. Once the student has identified a placement, received approval from that placement, and provided the necessary contact information, the placement must be approved by the Internship Coordinator. The Internship Coordinator must approve the placement prior to registration. For both PA 280 and PA 493, the placement must be in a law-related setting, and the student must be supervised by an attorney. At least 15 hours per week must be devoted to tasks that apply academic content and theory in a professional setting for a minimum of 150 hours during the 10-week term. The application must be submitted one term (10 weeks) in advance of the term in which the student begins the internship. Applying For Term: Year: Anticipated Graduation Date: Name: address: Kaplan University User Name: Date of Birth: Student ID: Driver s License Number: State Issued: Any Convictions: Felony: Yes No misdemeanor: Yes No If yes, explain below (please include dates and jurisdictions): U.S. Citizen: Yes No Address: Apt.: City: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) Select your school of legal studies program: Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies (PA 280) Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies (PA 493) Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies (LS 493) Bachelor of Science in Political Science (LS 493) Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy and Management (LS 493) Master of Science in Legal Studies (LS 693) Master of Science in Environmental Policy (EM 693) Cumulative GPA (Student Must Have a Minimum 3.0 GPA) : Total Credits Earned: 1 of 2

8 Fill out the agency s information below. Name of organization: Name of Contact Person: Address: SUite: City: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) FAX: ( ) Internship Terms I, the student, understand that the internship course is graded. Receiving a failing grade could result in one or more of the following: Termination of the internship by the host organization Violation of professional ethics Failure to meet academic deadlines and requirements I understand that I must submit all assignments electronically to the appropriate dropbox by the deadlines set in the course. I understand that if I terminate placement after processing has begun, further applications may not be accepted. I give permission for the above information to be released to approved internship organizations. Some organizations require a character and criminal record check prior to accepting an intern. Submission of this application gives the organization my express consent to a background check if the organization deems this necessary or appropriate. I understand there is no obligation on the part of any organization to accept a student for internship, or to maintain the student if deemed unsuitable for the internship by the organization. I further understand that the course professor may temporarily suspend or permanently terminate a student internship at any time during the semester if it is established that the continuance of the internship is not in the best interest of the student, the University, or the participating organization. I also understand that failure to meet internship requirements may result in the professor dropping the student from the applicable course. I further affirm and hereby declare that all the information provided above is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge. Neither Kaplan University nor the internship organization assumes liability for any injury I might sustain while participating in the internship program. I understand that if I currently work in a law office or other internship host setting, I may complete the internship course at my place of employment only if I serve in a different role and the internship hours are completed separately from my employment hours. I accept I do not accept Student Signature: Today s Date: For Internship Coordinator Use Only Initials: Date: Approved: Not Approved: Rev October of 2