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BA in Law and MLS Internships

Internships are a great way to build on the knowledge you have learned in the classroom with practical application in a professional setting.  They allow you to gain valuable, real-world experience and improve your marketability in your chosen career field.  There are also many networking opportunities and the chance to be mentored by working professionals who can provide advice and guidance.  Internships build your resume and your professionalism and give you information about what you like (or don't like!) about potential job paths.

Internship Information (for both BA in Law and MLS students)

For general questions, contact Dr. Linus Kafka.

Important to Know:

  • It is the student’s responsibility to find an applicable, law-related internship. If you need ideas or help with locating an internship, a good starting place is with the list of law related internships on the SGPP website.  If you want an internship with another organization, please be sure it meets BA/MLS in Law criteria, posted here.
  • You may be paid for an internship, however you cannot take an internship with an organization where you already are employed, unless it is with a different division of that organization, with different work duties, and a different supervisor.
  • In order to receive credit for the internship, you must fill out the internship work plan (linked below) and submit it to Dr. Linus Kafka before the deadline (defined below).
  • 45 hours of work as an intern is equal to 1 credit of internship. 
  • A student may take a maximum of 6 credits of internship.  It is highly recommended that a student enroll in only 3 credits (or less) of internship per semester. 
  • Enrollment is by permission.  You will be enrolled in the internship after you submit an approved internship work plan.
  • There is a classroom component for each internship.  The class is LAW 493 (593 for MLS students).  This class will show up in your D2L site when the semester starts.  There are assignments due which must be submitted to D2L, not by email to the instructor.  Students who do not complete the assignments for the D2L class will not receive credit for the internship.

Internship Work Plan

The internship work plan as a fillable pdf can be found here.  It should be completed with help from your host organization supervisor and submitted to Dr. Linus Kafka

Deadline

The deadline for filing the internship work plan is one week prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which you are applying to enroll in the internship.

Step-by-Step Details of the Internship Application Process

  1. Talk with your academic advisor about how an internship may meet your major requirements.
  2. Research internship opportunities. You can find on this website a list of just some of the internship opportunities that might be available. You can also seek out your own opportunities with law firms, non-profits, government agencies, etc. However, just be sure the work that you are going to do as an intern will be related to the Law Major.  Some examples of such work include: working with lawyers on legal research and writing projects, assisting clients at a non-profit with navigating legal processes, working for a government agency on regulatory matters, working for an elected official researching legislative proposals. Examples of work that would not be related to your Law Major include: working with a political candidate on canvassing for an election or doing menial office tasks such as copying documents. You may need to provide information about the work you are expected to do in the internship.
  3. Apply for the internship with the “host” organization. The internship you get is usually not offered through the university. It is with a “host”organization outside the university who is providing you with a work experience that will allow you to learn by doing and to receive mentoring and networking opportunities in a professional environment. Each “host” has different criteria for accepting interns –different application forms, dates, contact info, prior work and educational experience requirements –so you should research these carefully. If you apply to the host for an internship and are accepted, you can move on to the next step.
  4. Fill out the University of Arizona forms to get your internship approved and to get enrolled in the internship class. Once you have been accepted by the host, you will need to coordinate with a representative from that organization who can help you fill out the University of Arizona internship work plan. Currently, for in-person internships, there is also a COVID assessment form that needs to be filled out. Be clear on your form how many credits of internship you are applying for. You can earn 1 credit of internship credit for every 45 hours of law-related work you do for your host organization. You can earn a maximum of 6 credits of internship towards your Law major. It is recommended that you do not enroll in more than 3 credits of internship per semester. 
  5. Confirm your enrollment in Law 493. Once you submit your work plan and other necessary forms, and you are approved, you should confirm that you are enrolled in the appropriate Law 493/593 section (this may take up to 72 hours). When the semester begins, go to your D2L page and check the syllabus for Law 493/593. You will have several assignments related to your internship to turn in over the course of the semester, but there are no in-person classroom requirements.

Internship Opportunities

With prior approval, students may earn academic credit for internships in governmental agencies and other public institutions, where they will receive hands-on training in law-related fields. Up to six units of law-related internship units may be used to fulfill Law elective requirements. 

These organizations typically host internships that qualify for academic credit for the BA in Law major.

  • Pima County Attorney’s Office
  • Tucson City Attorney's Office
  • City of Tucson Intergovernmental Relations
  • U.S. Marshal’s Office
  • CIA
  • FBI
  • U.S. Postal Inspector
  • Pima County Sheriff’s Department
  • Oro Valley and Tucson Police Departments
  • Public Defender’s Office
  • Victim Witness Program
  • International Rescue Committee
  • U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and abroad
  • Congressional Offices (excluding campaign activities)
  • The White House

For a complete list of pre-approved law-related internships, please visit the Law Internship page.

If you would like an internship with an organization that is not pre-approved, please see the BA in Law Policy on Recognizing Internships for Credit (PDF) and inquire with BA in Law Career Strategies Officer Linus Kafka at lkafka@email.arizona.edu.