Legal Intern Review

My role includes assisting legal counsel with contract negotiations for cloud and on-premise software contracts. Other responsibilities include: drafting NDAs, drafting novation agreements, answering legal queries and facilitating projects to improve efficiencies and working practices in the legal team. A normal day is varied and dynamic. A legal intern is required to compartmentalize and prioritize tasks on the fly, and adapt to any given situation to align with the interest of the business.

Not only have I developed skills which are specific to the legal profession such as drafting and negotiating contracts, but I have also developed vital soft-skills which are important for any job in a corporate environment. Such skills include: time-management, effective communication, concise and precise drafting of communications/email, collaborative teamwork and prioritizing.

I was given a lot of responsibility throughout my internship, however I had to chase these opportunities and ask my senior colleagues to get more involved with deals and legal work. There are responsibilities which are designated to interns, however to get involved in larger negotiations and transactions, interns must be proactive in seeking these opportunities out.

Support and guidance was readily available during my internship, but I had to actively seek it out. Members of the legal team are very busy, and are required to prioritize and manage their workloads continuously. So if I needed support, I had to be proactive, get on a call, and have questions ready to ask so I could get assistance when I needed it in good time. It is better to ask questions early than sit on something for a long period of time. Senior colleagues will make time for interns, but interns need to ask and be proactive.

The company culture is good for a very large corporation. Health and wellbeing are continuously prioritized on all-hands calls and we are encouraged to take time to focus on our professional development as inerns/new-starters. The atmosphere of the legal team is fantastic; it is a busy and dynamic team but everyone supports one another when times are very busy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship!

Yes

Do it. It's a great company where you are treated like a vital member and given a lot of responsibility from the get-go. Be proactive, and actively seek out opportunities to get involved in more complicated work and tasks. Learn to prioritize and manage your time early so that you are not overloaded during busy periods. And know when to say no! Having too much on your plate is a surefire way to sabotage yourself, so adjust your expectations for what work you can achieve and manage the expectations of others.