Chapters
Chicago Chapter
Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program
ACC Chicago Chapter
Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program
What is the ACC?
The Association of Corporate Counsel is the preeminent bar association of in-house lawyers. The organization has been in existence for 25 years and has over 20,000 members. The Chicago Chapter is one of the largest and most active chapters of the ACC. Its membership consists of attorneys at the largest and most renowned corporations in the Chicago area.
What is the Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program?
The Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program places top minority law students from law schools in internships in corporate legal departments in the Chicagoland area. The internships expose the students to the in-house practice of law and career possibilities in corporate legal departments.
This program is vastly different from any other program available to Chicagoland law students. Most corporate legal departments do not have a summer internship program for law students. The Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program provides law students who have completed their first year of law school with a unique opportunity to view the life of an in-house attorney.
Selected law students work in the legal department of a Chicagoland corporation for a minimum of ten (10) weeks during the summer. The students are assigned a mentor in the corporation who is responsible for directing their workload and ensuring that the students have a positive learning experience. In addition to their day-to-day work, the interns attend seminars hosted by the Chicago Chapter and participating legal departments. These seminars highlight the complex legal issues corporate counsel face in a variety of different industries and offer the students helpful tips on topics such as networking and resume writing. All in all, this program offers the student interns an opportunity to obtain unparalleled, first-hand experience with the practice of law for in-house attorneys.
What type of students will the Chapter select for the Program?
The Chicago Chapter looks for students from diverse backgrounds and from racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. Additionally, the Chapter wants exceptional students who are eager to learn and who are capable of thriving in a corporate environment. The students must have finished their first year of law school. Students who have finished their second year of law school will not be considered.
From which schools will the students be selected?
In 2009, the Chicago Chapter invited applications from students at the following law schools: Chicago-Kent, DePaul, John Marshall, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, and the University of Illinois.
What corporations have participated in the program in past years?
In 2009, the following corporations hosted students from this program: Accenture, Career Education, Excelon, Kraft, McDonald’s Corporation, Navistar, Square D, Verizon Wireless, Videojet and Walgreens.
What is the application process?
Students’ applications were due to the Chapter by January 30, 2009. A committee comprised of Chicago Chapter board members reviewed the applications and recommended finalists who were invited to interview with the committee. Finalist interviews were conducted in March. The committee then selected the members of the final 2009 summer class and issued offers soon thereafter. Writing skills, professionalism, career interests, G.P.A. and interviews are considered in the selection process. Click here for a copy of the application form.
When should the internship begin and how long should it last?
Students and corporations are allowed to mutually agree on a specific start date. However, the internship must last a minimum of ten (10) weeks.
Is this a paid internship?
Yes. In 2009, students were paid $6,000 for the summer.
Who can be contacted for further information?
Jason Brown, Director of Legal, PepsiAmericas Inc.
Immediate Past President, Chicago Chapter, ACC
(847) 598-2951
