A good legal intern is not the one who writes the longest note. A good intern makes a senior's work easier. That means clear research notes, accurate summaries, organized authorities, and drafts that can be reviewed quickly.
This guide shows law students how to use AI responsibly during internships.
Start With the Assignment
Before researching, clarify:
* what question is being asked; * the jurisdiction; * the forum; * whether the task is litigation, advisory, transaction, or compliance; * the expected output length; * the deadline; * whether confidential documents can be uploaded to any tool.
Never upload client documents to AI tools unless the office permits it.
Research Note Format
| Section | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Question | The exact legal question assigned. |
| Short answer | A concise answer in three to five lines. |
| Legal position | Statute, rule, case law, and current status. |
| Authorities | Cases with citation, court, date, paragraph, and relevance. |
| Application | How the law applies to the facts given. |
| Open points | Questions, missing documents, risks, or further research needed. |
Case Summary Format
When summarizing a case file, include parties, facts, procedural history, documents reviewed, current stage, key dates, issues, and next steps. If the file is large, create a timeline and document index.
JuniorLawyer can help interns prepare a first chronology, summarize documents, and organize notes. The intern must still check the source material.
Drafting Assignments
If asked to prepare a draft, start with a skeleton. Do not try to sound overly complex. Use headings, facts, grounds, and prayer in a clean structure. Mark uncertain points for senior review instead of hiding them.
AI can help create the skeleton. Your value is in verification, clarity, and careful editing.
Good Intern Habits
Keep your citations clean. Mention paragraph numbers where possible. Separate confirmed law from assumptions. Do not overstate. Flag contrary authorities. Keep file names organized. Deliver before the deadline when possible.
Using AI responsibly can make you faster, but accuracy is what makes you useful.