ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE COUNSEL
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.

The program is vastly different from any other program available to Chicagoland law students. Most corporate legal departments do not have summer internship programs 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.

For more information, visit the ACC's website.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL INTERN OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (JIOP)
The Judicial Intern Opportunity Program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first- or second-year minority and/or financially disadvantaged law students who want to do legal research and writing for state or federal judges in participating cities. Participating judges are from Illinois; Texas; Miami, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA; and Washington DC. Students may indicate geographic location preferences on their applications. Interns will receive an award of $1,500.

JIOP Program Description (PDF)

JIOP Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) 

For more information, visit the ABA's JIOP website.

JUST THE BEGINNING FOUNDATION EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
For law students in the pipeline towards a legal profession, Just the Beginning Foundation offers resources and opportunities to assist students by exposing them to various legal opportunies (externships), helping to build resumes and assisting them in making the way through the job market and to the job that best suits them. 

JTBF matches law students with federal and state judges across the country. The program encourages judges to provide law students with assignments that will enhance their legal research, writing, and analytical skills, such as developing effective outlining techniques, drafting of memoranda of law, and briefing of judges about case-related issues. Students work with their judge for a minimum of ten hours per week for one semester for school year externships and a minimum of 35 hours per week for eight weeks for summer externships.

For more information, visit the Just the Beginning Foundation's website.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION BUSINESS LAW SECTION DIVERSITY CLERKSHIP PROGRAM
The Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program places up to 9 law students from diverse backgrounds in business court clerkships across the country. In evaluating a student's diversity, the Section will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student.

In addition to a placement in a business court clerkship, Diversity Clerkship participants will also receive a stipend of $6,000 to cover living expenses for the duration of the 8-week clerkship.

For more information, please visit http://ambar.org/blclerkship.

VERIZON'S LEGAL INTERN PROGRAM
Verizon's Legal Intern Program is a diversity pipeline program that hosts 1Ls for 8 weeks at the following Verizon locations: Arlington, VA; Basking Ridge, NJ; Chicago, IL; Irving, TX; and San Francisco, CA. Under the supervision of Verizon attorneys, selected interns will have the opportunity to: support negotiations with large enterprise customers by drafting contract amendments; participating in business, sales, marketing, and line of business meetings; and contributing to projects that relate to state and/or federal regulatory issues affecting the communications industry. See Verizon's website for further details and information on how to apply.

DRI LAW STUDENT DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
DRI's annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship Program is open to incoming second and third year African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pan Asian, Native American, and female law students. Two $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to applicants who best demonstrate:
-Academic excellence
-Service to the profession
-Service to the community, and
-Service to the cause of diversity

To apply, please complete the Scholarship Application. For more information, visit DRI's website. 

ASIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION LAW FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Each year, the AABA Law Foundation will award scholarships to law students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the needs of the Chicago-area Asian Pacific American community and who will continue to serve the needs of the Chicago-area Asian Pacific American communities through pro bono, public interest, and/or public service legal work. In 2011, the AABA Law Foundation will award two scholarships of $2,500 each to law students who have exemplified that commitment.

To apply, please complete the Scholarship Application. For more information, visit the AABA website. The application deadline for the 2011 scholarships is January 15, 2011.

TWIN CITIES DIVERSITY IN PRACTICE 1L SUMMER ROTATION CLERKSHIP
First-year law students now have a unique summer clerkship opportunity that combines a traditional law firm clerkship with experience working in an in-house corporate law department. Twin Cities Diversity in Practice is a collaboration of law firms and corporate law departments seeking to enhance the diversity of the legal profession. The organization's mission is to attract, recruit, advance, and retain diverse attorneys in the Minneapolis and St. Paul community.

This program connects top legal employers with talented diverse 1L students. Students will have the opportunity to work at one of the nation's best law firms. As part of the law firm clerkship, the students will spend one "rotation" (typically 3 to 4 weeks) working in the law department of a major corporation. Not only will the clerk get valuable legal training essential for success at most law firms, the clerk will gain "real world" insights into the fast-paced environment of a corporate law department.

Participating corporations include: 3M, XcelEnergy, Cargill, General Mills, Best Buy, Land O'Lakes, EcoLab, Travelers Insurance, United Health Group, and Target

Participating law firms include: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Briggs & Morgan PA, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Faegre & Benson LLP, Foley & Mansfield PLLP, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Larson King LLP, Leonard Street & Deinard, Lindquist & Vennum PLLP, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi LLP, and Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mazon LLP

For more information, visit the Diversity in Practice website. Twin Cities Diversity in Practice will begin accepting applications on December 1, 2010. The application deadline will be January 14, 2011.

MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION 1L DIVERSITY CLERKSHIP PROGRAM
This program is designed to match selected 1L students of color with participating Minnesota legal employers for a summer clerkship opportunity. The clerkship program gives employers and students a unique opportunity to establish contacts, obtain "real world" experience, and promote diversity in the legal profession.

Visit the Minnesota State Bar Association website for more information. The application deadline is January 21, 2011.

2011 CHARLOTTE LEGAL DIVERSITY CLERKSHIP PROGRAM
The Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program allows first-year law students to experience law practice by working for six weeks at a law firm and for six weeks in a corporate legal department. This highly competitive program is sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Bar.

Participating corporations include: Bank of America, Compass Group, Duke Energy, Goodrich, TIAA-CREF, and Wells Fargo

Participating law firms include: Alston & Bird LLP, Hunton & Williams LLP, K&L Gates LLP, Mayer Brown LLP, McGuireWoods LLP, Moore & VanAllen PLLC, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson PA, and Womble Carlyle  Sandridge & Rice, PLLC.

For more information, visit the Charlotte Legal Diversity website. Applications are due by noon (EST) on January 28, 2011.