The Legal Internship Program (POLI 438) serves students interested in working for judges, attorneys, and other positions in the legal field. Examples of previous internships include positions with Circuit and District Court judges, law firms, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the Attorney General’s Office, and legal advocacy groups. Other internship opportunities with a clear focus on law and justice issues can also be considered and are approved at the discretion of Dr. Mileah Kromer (mkromer@umbc.edu), Associate Professor of Political Science, and the Legal Internship Coordinator.
Students learn professional skills in their fieldwork, including legal case research, interviewing, drafting, negotiation, mediation, and advocacy. The Legal Internship Program also gives students insight into the role of courts, the legal profession, and the law in American society.
To earn the 4 credits associated with POLI 438, students enrolled in the Legal Internship Program must commit to working 160 hours during the spring semester. The weekly hours and schedule are determined by the internship site. Students must also complete the academic work outlined in the POLI 438 syllabus and co-enroll in the 0-credit UMBC Career Center’s Intern Success Practicum.
It is strongly suggested that students considering participation in POLI 438 work with their academic advisor to select a spring semester course schedule that allows for blocks of time to be spent at the internship site during normal business hours.
The Department of Political Science strongly recommends that students take POLI 438 during the spring semester of their Junior or Senior years. Freshmen and Sophomores who demonstrate the necessary academic or career skills are also eligible to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
We typically require students to earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher to enroll in POLI 438. Any exceptions will require additional evidence of competency and academic skills.
Students who would like to enroll in POLI 438 must do the following:
1. Email Dr. Mileah Kromer (mkromer@umbc.edu) with your resume, information regarding your interest in the internship program, the type of internship you hope to obtain, and an outline of the skills, qualities or experiences that you would bring to your internship site. This email should also include your GPA and an overview of any relevant college-level coursework.
2. Obtain one faculty recommendation submitted via the POLI 438/448 Faculty Recommendation Form. Students should send this form directly to the faculty member via email.
3. Schedule a meeting with Dr. Mileah Kromer either in-person or via WebEx to discuss your career interests, placement preferences, and qualifications for participation in the Legal Internship Program.
4. Apply to selected internship sites by their application deadlines. Please note that application deadlines for internship opportunities will vary depending on the internship site. Therefore, we strongly encourage students to begin looking for a spring internship by early October and complete the outlined steps above by late November.
5. If the internship opportunity is not already registered with the UMBC Career Center, students must work with the internship site and Career Center to have their internship cleared and approved.
While some exceptions can be made, we strongly encourage all students interested in taking POLI 438 during the spring semester to have their internship placement secured and approved by Dr. Mileah Kromer and the Career Center by mid-December.
While we make our best efforts to assist and guide students in the process, the Department of Political Science and the Career Center cannot guarantee an internship placement. Ultimately, hiring a student intern rests with the internship site supervisor.
Students are expected to be active participants in finding and securing their internships. Students should utilize the resources offered by the UMBC Career Center to assist with preparing their resumes, cover letters, and other application materials requested by the internship site.