Prepare to Practice Resources

Below is a list of several soft skills that you should pay attention to that will help you get along in your internships.

• Make sure when you go to meetings, bring along a paper and pen. Use these to take notes, not your phone
• Ask informed questions. This will show that you have done your research
• If you are left alone and don't have a project to work on, try and find something to read 
• Make sure you ask questions when you are assigned a project, such as when is the assignment due and what are they expecting from you
  • Do they want a memo? A research summary? A motion draft? etc.
• Make sure you are nice, polite, and respectful to everyone you work with
• Be punctual
• Make sure you dress in the manner they ask of you and that you are always in appropriate attire
• Accept constructive criticism
• Be flexible. You will have a lot thrown at you at once, try not to get overwhelmed
• Learn to prioritize your work

Below are several articles that you can look at that discuss soft skills in the legal field. You can also check out Westlaw's Write.Law for training modules on various soft skills.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. Remember to figure out as much as possible about your organization and position before starting
2. Check your summer access to legal databases offered through school

AFTER STARTING

3. Come up with a research plan that works for you before you begin researching
4. Don’t forget you can start your research with secondary sources if you’re given a research project that covers an area of law you’re unfamiliar with
5. Remember to check for controlling statutes or codes before moving on to case law
6. Utilize the “One Good Case” method
7. Make sure your information is up to date before submitting your work
8. Be careful using AI. If your supervisor gives the go ahead, use it but don’t rely on it
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Remember, you can always reach out to us here at Bounds Law Library!