Seeing New York from a boat during a law internship abroad.

Law Internships in New York

More international contracts specify New York law as their governing law than any other jurisdiction on earth, often binding parties who have never set foot in the state and have no real connection to it beyond wanting a legal system both sides trust to be predictable.

That trust underpins an industry built around it. New York is headquarters to the world's largest law firms, the primary venue for US securities and capital markets work, and home to federal courts whose rulings on commercial disputes get cited well beyond America's borders. Add the United Nations' presence and a dense international arbitration community, and the city offers interns a legal market whose influence reaches almost everywhere, regardless of where a matter actually started.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, our law internship program in New York can help you build practical experience within the jurisdiction the world most often chooses to govern its own disputes.

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Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading New York law firms and legal organizations.

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Complete Overseas Support
 Visa assistance, New York housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

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Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references.

Example law host organizations in New York

We've previously placed interns with organizations across New York's corporate law, securities, arbitration and entertainment law sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do a law internship in New York?

Choosing a governing law for an international contract is really choosing a legal system, and New York's combination of well-developed commercial case law, judicial predictability and a deep bench of specialist lawyers has made it a default choice for parties with no connection to the state at all. Interns working inside that world see contracts drafted and disputes argued under rules written to satisfy counterparties anywhere.

New York's position as the headquarters city for the world's largest law firms means the scale of matters handled here routinely exceeds what's available in most other legal markets, from securities offerings to cross-border mergers. The Southern District of New York's federal court has built a reputation for complex commercial litigation that extends its influence well past the city limits, while the United Nations' presence and a growing international arbitration community give interns exposure to disputes that span jurisdictions by design. The city's entertainment and media industries add a further specialization rarely found at this scale elsewhere.

New York is particularly strong in areas such as corporate and securities law, international arbitration, banking and finance law and entertainment law, offering exposure to a legal market whose reach extends well beyond the state's own borders.

Experience law at the centre of global commerce

Default governing law
See why international contracts so often choose New York law, regardless of where the parties are based.

Deep specialization
Explore law across corporate practice, securities, arbitration and entertainment law.

Global networking
Build connections with lawyers working on matters that span jurisdictions as a matter of course.

Federal court influence
Learn how the Southern District of New York's commercial rulings shape practice well beyond the city.

Meeting other interns on the first day of a law internship in New York

Explore law internships in New York

New York's legal landscape spans the world's largest law firms, securities specialists, arbitration practices and entertainment law boutiques. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city handle matters that frequently cross state and national lines.

Corporate & Commercial Law

Advising on mergers, acquisitions and commercial agreements at the scale New York firms operate means working on deals with consequences well beyond the state. Your internship could involve supporting deal research, document review or due diligence support.

You could work on: Deal research support · Document review · Due diligence support · Client correspondence support

Intellectual Property Law

Protecting ideas for companies headquartered in New York requires lawyers who understand both domestic and international protections. You could support trademark research, filing support or infringement research.

You could work on: Trademark research support · Filing support · Infringement research · Portfolio documentation

Legal Research & Case Support

Every practice area depends on thorough legal research spanning state statute, federal law and the case precedent New York courts are known for generating. You could support case law research, precedent review or memo drafting support.

You could work on: Case law research · Precedent review · Memo drafting support · Citation checking

Banking & Finance Law

Advising lenders and financial institutions headquartered in New York means working within one of the most heavily regulated banking markets in the world. You could support regulatory research, transaction support or compliance documentation.

You could work on: Regulatory research support · Transaction support · Compliance documentation · Reporting

Looking for law internships beyond New York? Explore our international law internships to discover opportunities across a range of destinations. 

Example law internship roles in New York

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

  • Nonprofit Legal Innovation Intern
  • International Business Law Intern
  • Criminal Defense Intern
  • Private Client Legal Intern
  • Digital Business Law Intern
  • Employment Law Innovation Intern
  • Legal Research Intern
  • IP Innovation Research Intern

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example Law roles >

Seeing the Statue of Liberty during a law internship in New York

What can you gain from a law internship in New York?

A law internship in New York goes beyond a single line on your CV. It's a chance to see how a legal market became the world's default choice of governing law, developing practical skills through work with reach that spans the globe.

  • Build New York legal experience

    International legal experience on your CV shows future employers you've worked within the legal market international business most often chooses to govern its own disputes. 

  • Work on real legal projects

    Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve corporate law, securities, arbitration or entertainment law, depending on your placement. 

  • Grow your global legal network

    Connect with lawyers working on matters that span jurisdictions while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world. 

  • Understand law chosen by the rest of the world

    See why so many contracts with no connection to New York still choose its courts and its law to settle disputes. 

  • Experience New York's legal culture

    Gain insight into how corporate scale, securities regulation and international arbitration combine to shape how the city approaches legal work. 

Spending the day at Coney Island during a law internship in New York

What's included in the New York internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa support, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full New York internship program >

Hear from our New York interns

Audrey Shi
Audrey Shi
Watch their story
Cansu Mengene
Cansu Mengene
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Sonia Chen
Sonia Chen
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"I chose to intern in New York City because New York's mainly known for being an international hub for nonprofit organisations and humanitarian aid organisations, which was sort of the role that I wanted to take part in further down the track. So that is probably the main reason, as well as the fact that I wanted to come to New York ever since I was a little girl." - Audrey Shi, intern in New York

"The program itself is amazing, and I have recommended it to some of my friends at home as well. I'm applying for jobs right now, and the internship in New York stands out a lot. This just shows that, for me to come here, it's been worthwhile from the start to the end, and I'm just glad that I can take something back with me, which is what I was hoping for. Living by yourself, being away from home, adapting to different environments, these are all new things that I think everyone should learn in life. It's not just about coming here and gaining the business skills, it's everything." - Cansu Mengene, New York intern

Going to a museum during a law internship in New York

Is a New York law internship right for you?

A New York law internship could be a great fit if you're curious how one city's legal system became the default choice for contracts with no connection to it at all.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical legal skills while experiencing how organizations in New York handle matters that routinely cross state and national lines. It's an opportunity to build your CV, expand your professional network and discover where a career in law could take you.

What is it like to live as a law intern in New York?

Living as a law intern in New York means the courthouses ringing Foley Square become a familiar backdrop on the walk in each morning, their steps often crowded with lawyers reviewing notes before a hearing starts. A quiet dumpling spot a few blocks into Chinatown becomes the reliable lunch option when you need twenty minutes away from a desk piled with documents.

Takeout containers tend to multiply on a desk during the nights before a filing deadline, a shared ritual among associates and interns alike. Weekends often mean a ferry out to Governors Island or a train upstate for a change of scenery, both a welcome contrast to a week spent buried in case files.

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Sightseeing in New York with friends made during a law internship abroad.

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