Each summer for the last nineteen summers, the ACC Chicago Diversity Summer Internship Program (the “Program”) has placed a select group of diverse rising 2L students from Illinois law schools in internships with Chicagoland corporate legal departments.
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.
As part of the Program, each intern is assigned to work in the legal department of a Chicagoland company, where they 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 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 is 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
The ACC Chicago Chapter has chosen first-year law students from diverse backgrounds for an immersive summer internship experience with a Chicagoland corporate legal department.
Requirements (no exceptions):
1. Currently enrolled in an Illinois law school
2. Only open to first year law students (1Ls 2022-2023)
Students had to complete an application and submit following the instructions. Applications were due by 11:59 p.m. on January 6, 2023.
You may download the application with instructions at this link.
How will the COVID-19 Pandemic affect the Program?
The Program will abide by the guidance set forth by scientists and public health officials. Just as prior summers, the Program will be nimble and will pivot from an in-person program to a virtual program as necessary to comply with scientific and public health guidelines and rules.
The Program has once again made the decision to require that all interns and those participating are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as established by the CDC. In addition, the Committee will follow OSHA and CDC guidance as it comes to notification of a positive COVID-19 case and removing interns from any in-person events. Interns shall promptly notify the Committee and their corporate host when they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed healthcare provider.
CORPORATE HOST OPPORTUNITY
The Chapter sent 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 were interested in participating in this popular program, we asked that they submit a commitment letter to ACC Chicago. Commitment letters for consideration were due to the Chapter by Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Please know that every effort has been 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!
