New England Law Students Accelerate Legal Careers through Unique Summer Fellowship Program

BOSTON, Oct. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New England Law | Boston, the only independent ABA-accredited law school in Massachusetts, today announced its most recent cohort of 2018 Summer Fellows. The innovative 10-week Summer Fellowship Program at New England Law is the first and only one of its kind in Boston. The Summer Fellowship Program is designed to help students pursue legal careers by providing real-world experiences early in law school. Other law schools limit who is eligible to participate in their summer internship programs. At New England Law, hands-on learning is accessible to everyone early and often. All full-time students who have finished their first year and part-time students who have finished their first or second year are eligible to apply to the program. To make this possible for those who might otherwise need to take on non-legal jobs for financial reasons in the summer, the school provides each Summer Fellow with a $3,500 stipend to help cover expenses—a benefit unavailable at nearby law schools.

While New England Law provides a vast amount of hands-on learning experiences for its students throughout the academic year, the Summer Fellowship Program grants the opportunity for students to work full-time in the legal field during their time off from classes and other extracurricular activities. Depending on the firm or organization, students typically work from May until Labor Day, with stipends paid in two or three installments over the summer.

Students work with one of the law school's three academic centers—the Center for Business Law, the Center for Law and Social Responsibility, and the Center for International Law and Policy—and/or the Career Services Office to choose a fellowship placement that fits their goals, strengths, and passions. Many students also arrange their own positions to fit their unique legal interests or to explore a practice in another state or country. This year, 84 students took advantage of the program. Placements included positions at:

• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Land Court Department
• New York State Attorney General's Office
• New Hampshire Public Defender
• Law firms such as Murtha Cullina LLP and Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP
• Brockton Trial Court
• Maryland Office of the Public Defender
• Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Florida
• Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment
• Legal Aid Society of Rochester, New York
• Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
• Suffolk and Norfolk County District Attorneys' offices

In the past, students have fulfilled summer fellowship internationally, including at The Hague in the Netherlands.

"As a former law student myself, I understand that the only way to really learn the ins and outs of the law is to practice directly in the legal field alongside seasoned professionals," said Mandie LeBeau, director of career services. "My team works closely with our students to ensure they're choosing a Summer Fellowship that prepares them for their law career while helping to pay for their living expenses."

"My fellowship at the Land Court was an eye-opening experience," said Brittany Parziale '20. "I was able to assist in the research and drafting of decisions, working directly alongside the judges every day. I also learned firsthand about real estate and land use law, which has influenced the type of law I want to practice."

Fellowship responsibilities vary but may include things like drafting legal documents, managing case files, conducting research, and attending client meetings and court proceedings. Placements also include one or two performance reviews from a supervisor, which provide invaluable opportunities for professional growth.

For more information about the Summer Fellowship Program, contact the New England Law admissions office or register for a campus visit or information session.

SOURCE New England Law | Boston

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http://www.nesl.edu