My offer is nothing
By Last week a Boston law firm got a lot of publicity when it advertised an associate position with a $10,000 salary. A lot of people emailed me about it, which indicates the word hasn’t gotten around that lots of legal jobs these days pay approximately $10,000 less than $10,000 per year. Like this one for example:
Date: 2012-06-08, 4:59PM EDT
Reply to: [email protected]
NY Competitive Internship Program: Admitted Attorneys, Foreign Attorney, Law Graduates, ParalegalsSmall NY Law Firm with offices in Maspeth, Queens & Westchester County, White Plains. Boutique immigration and criminal defense law firm hosting a 3-month regimented internship program. We seek 2 (two) interns to learn and assist in law firm responsibilities. A friendly, fast-paced international environment to gain experience and learn while working with supportive colleagues. Spanish, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, a plus.
The Office is located in White Plains, NY in Westchester County. Partner is an ex-criminal prosecutor, a former assistant district attorney in NY City and attorneys are experienced immigration and criminal defense attorneys with a track record of success in complex criminal & immigration cases.
Excellent training for a newly admitted attorney looking to jump start their resume with immediate and intense law firm and court experience. Excellent training for a law student or graduate needing to obtain crucial experience in immigration or criminal defense work in a competitive market or needing experience to apply to district attorney’s offices, public defender’s offices or the department of homeland security. Several of our interns and staff have gone on to become prosecutors, public defenders, judicial law clerks, successful private practitioners, an immigration prosecutor and an administrative law judge.
Also perfect for a foreign attorney seeking to get experience in an American law firm. Foreign attorney will, of course, receive legal training and assignments commensurate with their background and position. The work will be on par with similarly complex legal work of a law graduate intern awaiting admission to the bar.
Intern will gain experience in all aspects of defense practice, and will work under supervision of partner, and other experienced attorneys. Intern will receive training in
1) initially evaluating all type of immigration, criminal and some civil cases,
2) writing correspondence and legal motions,
3) completing immigration and other legal applications,
4) interviewing clients, going to court accompanied by a lawyer, visiting clients in prison,
5) working with investigators and forensic experts and
6) assisting in analyzing & investigating criminal and immigration cases in preparation for trial.
Intern will be provided with own desk space, use of high speed Internet, telephone. An extensive book of training materials on immigration and criminal defense will also be provided.
A strong letter of recommendation will be provided upon successful completion of internship. An evaluation and exit interview will be conducted.
All foreign languages, especially Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Arabic a plus. Law firm can provide academic credit under school program as internship or externship. Please note that this is an internship position to gain valuable experience only. Only serious candidates able and willing to make a minimum 3-month commitment should apply. Please email resume and cover letter with possible starting dates and schedule to hiring partner at above address.
Location: Queens/ White Plains, Westchester County
Compensation: Internship
Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
Speaking of trying to get something for free, can some law talking guy (or gal) explain whether there’s a respectable legal argument that this isn’t illegal?