As a student seeking to gain experience in law and politics, you may first find that several "law internships or clerk roles" are reserved for law students. Here are a few resources that I wanted to share with UC students seeking to gain experience as an undergraduate student. You may not end up going to law school and this is OKAY. Gaining experience in the field often helps guide us into the career and professional path that we didn't know exist. And we find out what we like just as much as we find out what is not a good fit or what we don't like.

First step. Sign-up to attend the Pre-Professional Advising Center’s Introduction to Pre-Law Workshop and then meet with a Pre-Law advisor. Your advisor will guide you in planning for undergraduate experiences to help you build a robust portfolio for a competitive law school application. Explore the information on the Pre-Law FAQ and Resources page. The Pre-Law newsletter will help you stay "in the know" about networking and involvement opportunities. Before students sign up for the newsletter, the PPAC team asks that they attend the Introduction to Pre-Law Workshop at https://www.uc.edu/preproadvising/meet-with-us/ppac-workshops/beginning-workshops/pre-law-introduction-workshop.html.

Ideas of where to go next. As you may have discovered in your initial search, most judicial and summer clerkships are reserved for law students. Pre-law school opportunities that could be an early professional opportunity for students interested in law and/or public policy include the following:

• Government and Non for Profits. Idealist and the GreatNonforProfits sites are good starting points for finding opportunities at non for profits. In addition to these sites and UC Handhshake, USA Jobs posts federal and state government roles. Chegg Internships is a great board to use to view openings in public policy, government relations, and direct government type internships. If you are considering Federal Government type roles, outside of the Pathways program each organization has its own site here are a few highlighted below.

Another program open to UofCincy students is the Washington Center Internship Program where students spend a semester in the D.C. area, work full-time in an agency in the D.C. area, and earn college credit. Check out the site and contact Professor Brodie Theis (brodie.theis@uc.edu) for more information.

• Small Law Firms. Most larger firms reserve their internships for law students. By networking with smaller firms, you may find an experience that did not exist or be able to shadow lawyers and find out more about the day to day work. Google search small law firms in your area to start. Note that you may at first assist with clerical functions. Remember, these types of experiences help provide direction and give you the chance to "feel out" the profession to determine if it is a "good fit".

• Consider experience outside of law. According to the legal professional advice site, Law Crossing, developing skills in demand in the profession such as writing skills, technology skills (see Lawyer Monthly's tech skills suggestions), business development acumen, and working on a team can be just as helpful to prepare you for law school as a legal internship. Consider an internship outside of law or law adjacent such s working in public policy, local politics, or in local or federal government. Submit an application for a peer leadership or tutor role. Gain experience as a student leader in your organization to gain useful skills that will apply to your future. Also, participate in community service as it demonstrates your commitment to serving others as attorneys are public servants (get started early). It’s best to get involved with something over a long period of time, as opposed to several one-time projects. Check out the Center for Community Engagement to find service opportunities.

• Legal Aid and Innocence Projects. The following are non for profits and organizations focused on legal help and aid that potentially could use undergraduate student help in the Cincinnati Area. Check out their websites and reach out. See table below.

While the above experiences are just a percentage of the opportunities and options out there for you, remember expanding your network and being around professionals and students with similar interests to you are some of the ways to learn more about what experience would be the best next step for you. Check out other pages for tips on informational interviewing and networking.

This blog was created as a collaborative effort with UC's Pre-Professional Advising Center.