Law internships in Asia and beyond
Legal research, drafting and compliance work with lawyers.
Overview
What the internship is about
Law interns support lawyers at international and local firms, in-house legal teams and legal NGOs. You research statutes and case law in databases such as LexisNexis or Westlaw, draft memos, letters and first versions of simple contracts, proofread documents before they are signed and help with compliance checks across different countries. Some firms let interns sit in on client calls or hearings.
A week usually centers on two or three research questions from a supervising lawyer, each written up as a short memo. Singapore and Hong Kong are our strongest destinations, followed by Malaysia and Thailand.
Why do it
What you'll get out of it
Research laws, regulations and past cases in different jurisdictions to support the legal team. You learn to find the right source fast and summarize it in plain language.
Help draft contracts, memos and other legal documents under supervision. Each draft comes back with a lawyer's edits, so your legal writing gets sharper every week.
Sit in on client meetings and calls, and learn how lawyers work out what clients need and advise them. You see how legal knowledge turns into practical answers for a business.
Your role
Review case files and summarize key points to help prepare for court, arbitration or mediation.
Help check that businesses follow local and international regulations.
Attend court sessions and legal meetings when possible, and learn by watching experienced lawyers.
Where to go
This is where we have the most host companies in this field, but you can do it in any of our destinations. See all destinations
Where you can do this
Prices
How much it costs
FAQ
Your questions, answered
What will I do on a law internship?
You'll help lawyers with legal research, drafting documents, reviewing contracts and preparing for meetings, at law firms, company legal teams or NGOs.
Do I need experience to get a law internship?
No. Most interns are law students, but business or international relations students can also be a good fit.
What skills and tools will I use?
You'll use legal research databases and document tools, and learn how companies follow the rules in different countries. Check with your law school if you need the hours to count toward a qualification.
Where can I do a law internship?
Popular destinations for law internships include Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Tell us where you'd like to go and we'll check what's possible.
Can I get university credit for my internship?
Yes, if your university accepts it: we provide the documents it needs (internship agreement, placement confirmation, supervisor evaluation and a host certificate of completion). Your university decides whether to give credit, and how much.
How much does it cost, and is it paid?
Programs start from $2,050 for 6 weeks on Explorer, depending on where you go. Most internships are unpaid.
In depth
- Research laws, regulations and past cases for the lawyers you support.
- Draft letters, memos and simple contracts for review.
- Review contracts and flag clauses that need a closer look.
- Prepare documents and notes for client meetings.
- Help check that a company follows the rules in each country it works in.
- Keep case files and trackers organized.
- Legal research with databases and primary sources.
- Clear, precise legal writing in English.
- How companies handle compliance across different countries.
- Handling confidential information with care.
- Working to the deadlines of a busy legal team.
- A clearer idea of where you fit: a law firm, an in-house legal team or an NGO.
- Singapore: regional offices, banks and startups in the CBD, Marina Bay and one-north.
- Hong Kong: finance, consulting and international trade are among our strongest fields there.
- Malaysia: placements in Kuala Lumpur, where daily life costs much less than in Singapore.
- Thailand: our team is based in Bangkok.
- Indonesia: interns work in Jakarta or Bali.
- Vietnam: our best-value destination, with placements in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Intern stories
Hear it from our interns
Applications open all year
Your field, somewhere new.
It's free to apply, and you only pay a deposit once you're accepted.