Each summer for the last 20 summers, the ACC Chicago Diversity Summer Internship Program (the “Program”) has placed a select group of first year law students from Illinois law schools in internships with Chicagoland corporate legal departments. The ACC Chicago Chapter is looking for first-year law students who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion for an immersive summer internship experience with a Chicagoland corporate legal department.
As part of the Program, each intern will be assigned to work in the legal department of a Chicagoland company, where they will perform a variety of tasks, including legal research, memo writing, contract drafting, attending internal and external meetings, and generally experiencing what in-house attorneys do on a day-to-day basis.
The Program consists of four primary components: (1) the corporate in-house internship, (2) robust mentorship through interactive programming, (3) network building, and (4) volunteering. In addition, students are provided a $12,000 stipend to work for a minimum of ten (10) weeks during the summer.
The programming portion of the internship includes mandatory attendance at a handful of evening group events which will be attended by all interns, mentors, corporate hosts, and other in-house lawyers. Programming includes a Resume Writing Workshop, Interview Workshop, a Networking Workshop, a volunteer charity event, and other social and educational networking events. In addition, each intern will be assigned two mentors – a lawyer within their host legal department and a lawyer from the ACC Chicago Chapter.
The Program offers its interns the opportunity to meet and network with their future peers, including current in-house counsel, ACC - Chicago Chapter members, and attorneys from various law firms throughout the Chicagoland area. Social outings and other substantive programs provide ample time and a unique opportunity for interns, hosts, and mentors to get to know each other. As such, mandatory attendance is required for each event.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITY
Requirements (no exceptions):
1. Currently enrolled in an Illinois law school
2. Only open to first year law students (1Ls) (expected graduation date of May 2026)
Stipend: $12,000.00
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 5, 2024.
To apply you must fill out and complete an application. You may download the application with instructions at this link.
CORPORATE HOST OPPORTUNITY
The Chapter will send an invitation to Chapter members, via several emails, inviting their company to participate as an intern host in the Diversity Summer Internship Program. If companies are interested in participating in this popular program, we ask that they submit a commitment letter to ACC Chicago. Commitment letters for consideration are typically due by the end of January (information coming soon). Please know that every effort will be made to accommodate all applicants. Internship spaces are limited and ACC Chicago reserves the right to limit participation in its discretion.
All interested students are required to submit an application, resume and essays as well as undergo extensive interviews with members of the ACC Chicago Chapter.
We are very proud of this program and the success it has brought to many students who would otherwise have had no opportunity to work in the in-house community and gain valuable hands-on experience in addition to receiving invaluable career advice from seasoned veterans.
DIVERSITY SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM STUDENT ALUMNI
Alumni please be sure to join our LinkedIn alumni group. Stay connected with our network!
