Discovering the Paramount Legal Internship
The Paramount legal internship offers promising law students an opportunity to gain a glimpse into the inner workings of a high-profile media and entertainment company. While many internships and graduate jobs in the legal field centre around data entry, filing, and other menial tasks, the Paramount legal internship aims to provide aspiring lawyers with a true undertaking of what working in this fascinating sector entails.
In general, Paramount Interns will spend a short period of time studying the day-to-day activities of an employee within the company’s in-house legal department. This position is intended to be fully immersing, allowing interns from schools such as Harvard law, Yale law, and Columbia law to take part in important meetings, listen to conference calls, and assist with significant research and projects.
Over the course of their two-month internship, Paramount legal interns will develop a wide range of skills, from litigation and compliance to intellectual property and onscreen content . As well as extensive on-the-job training and support, interns will also have the chance to receive mentorship from some of the most experienced legal professionals in the industry, expanding their professional network considerably.
As with many law students, those who take part in an internship with Paramount will typically do so at no extra cost, although they will receive academic credits towards their degree. Although unpaid graduate positions are becoming less popular due to increased pressure from a more competitive job market, internships with Paramount can lead to permanent positions with exciting salaries. Many interns have gone on to work as attorneys, backend executives, and office administrators in some of the top legal firms and studios around the world. Those who are successful in securing a Paramount internship can feel confident that they have a lucrative and successful career ahead of them.
Process and Eligibility
Eligible candidates for the Paramount legal internship program must be current undergraduate students attending a four-year college or university, or first-year law students. Preference will be given to those students with a self-styled major in Political Science who have an interest in working in the legal field. Courses in Political Science and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged, but not required.
Students must submit a cover letter and resume by the application deadline of April 1. They may also include any relevant writing samples and additional materials outlining their qualifications. A letter of recommendation is highly encouraged, and applicants must submit evidence of good standing at their educational institution. All internship candidates must apply via an online application. No phone calls or personal visits are accepted. In addition to the application, selected candidates will be required to submit a copy of their transcript prior to beginning the internship.
Duties and Responsibilities
Paramount offers interns many varied opportunities to maximize their tenure. Interns have been assigned to the following areas: support of litigation such as civil, criminal, family law, habeas, criminal appeals, juvenile and immigration, office administration, workers compensation, real estate, consumer protection, community services, parenting classes, and public policy. Interns observe mediations and case conferences. Completion of internships has involved advocacy in court, filing motions and pleadings, observing depositions, witness interviews, discovery, research, case preparation, pro se filings, case closings, and service of court orders. Interns are regularly asked to draft opinions, write briefs, and advise litigants. The more pro-active the intern, the more opportunities may be available.
Interns gain many transferable skills regardless of area. These include the ability to read and comprehend case law, attend to detail, organize materials, gather, sort, and analyze information, communicate orally and in writing, interact professionally with attorneys, clients, judiciary, court clerks, court personnel, and other agencies. A common sense understanding of the practical applications of the law is critical. The skills learned at the internship transfer to the externship, and ultimately to success as a practicing attorney and a member of the bar.
Advantages of the Internship
In addition to offering a front-row seat to some of the industry’s biggest action, the Paramount legal internship program provides interns with a pathway to an exciting and meaningful career. The natural learning curve that occurs over the course of a semester offers interns the kind of on-the-job experience that employers look for in candidates. And Paramount’s emphasis on hands-on work helps students build the strong résumé they need to stand out in this highly competitive field.
Many of the firm’s former interns have gone on to prestigious positions at leading companies, including: Besides the potential for a solid resume-builder in the legal industry, the Paramount internship offers interns a chance to build a network of industry contacts in a wide range of sectors. For many aspiring young lawyers, the people they meet during the course of the internship can help them land jobs down the road . Interns are also encouraged to explore the firm’s diverse array of practice areas, another opportunity to gain valuable insights and connections.
Rarely does a day go by without some type of high-profile project at Paramount; likewise, the firm never lacks for opportunities to mold the next generation of industry talent. In fact, Paramount often expands its intern program as the demand for its services increases and the depth of its leadership and management team grows. As a result, thousands of law school grads in Los Angeles have spent the last 20-years landing enviable positions at Paramount’s legal and business departments. From hitting the ground running, to acquiring respected legal skills, to building an influential network of peer relationships, the Paramount orientation is uniquely designed to benefit the organization as well as each incoming intern.
Reviews and Experiences
The internship experience is at the very heart of any insight into an organization, and always is the case with Paramount senior counsels who have borne the tacit burden of guiding the interns through their experience while effectively relying on them for a workload that is not only ambitious but also exciting and challenging. Former internship coordinator and current Senior Counsel of Technology Law Group, Evan Schwartz, says, "Interns have played a role in everything I do. Something that you don’t get in classes is just how trusting people are with students when they’re in play at the company." He goes on to add, "There have been random things like helping support sales of products, working on submissions to law regulations that will be reviewed by federal communications commission and other regulatory groups. Those are not things that happen to students at other firms – it’s great learning experience." Not only has the internship benefited the management team that had a fair share of workload lifted off their shoulders, but also adds that, "The interns have added a lot in new ideas and new flavors of conversation – and above those that are purely positive, they encourage everyone involved to be repsonsible in conveying their thoughts and addressing concerns." Speaking about their similar experiences, former interns have something to say as well. Darnell Soumas, now an associate at a firm in D.C., shares that he "had the opportunity to work alongside intellectual property, finance, and labor attorneys on some really important and interesting matters." Soumas recalls a contract deal negotiation "to acquire a group of television shows," and being asked to "call and approach different rights owners and negotiate those deals." Soumas was impressed with the mentorship provided to him at the firm "if there was something in contracts that wasn’t immediately clear to [him]," as well as being "invited to meetings where [he] could just observe and learn." He referred to the experience as an "invaluable opportunity," with "the opportunity to meet and discuss some of the biggest legal issues facing the media, entertainment, and telecommunications" as an exciting experience. It was the excitement of the industry that even took him by surprise, he adds, "I never thought of myself as being interested in traditional motion picture and television production." Former intern Sarah Coleman, who is currently working as a Judicial Law Clerk, echoes Soumas. She observed that the professional experience was "valued just as highly as previous legal experience," and adds that research and writing assignments she worked on for a class were also given "just as much weight as other interns’ assignments." She was therefore able to gain "a good understanding of the legal issues" the company had to address, making her a valuable addition to the firm. She commends the overall "openness and collaborative nature provided to students."
Making the Most of Your Internship
To make the most of your time at Paramount, it is important to come in with a proactive mindset. During your internship, learn as much about your practice as you can – proactively reach out and schedule lunch with your co-workers, while also making sure try to meet with at least a few attorneys from other practices, even if it is just for a cup of coffee. Also keep close tabs on your calendar and check with your co-workers and manager on what is coming up. This way, you will have a good idea of what is going on in the Department and you will not miss an opportunity to help out on a project. There is also a period of time during the summer when there are a number of oral arguments scheduled before the Board of Directors. As an intern, you are welcome to attend hearings, meetings and other sessions normally reserved for full-time employees. These experiences provide terrific opportunities to observe how your colleagues think about and analyze work.
It is equally important to be eager and willing to improve upon your skills . Your team is here to support you and provide you with constructive guidance, and they will appreciate your efforts to develop as an intern and build off of the feedback they are giving you. In addition, try to look outside of your day-to-day projects for opportunities to join other groups on assignments. If you do this, you will be amazed at how much you will learn and grow from your experience.
As an intern at Paramount, you should always be present and focused, listen closely, and take lots of notes. The attorneys here are exceptionally bright and it is important to record all of your thoughts and ideas during any conversation so that you can fully internalize the information you are being given. Be accepting and receptive of constructive criticism and do not take it personally if you are asked to make revisions to your work.
It is also important to put yourself out there and build relationships during the program. Attend social or team-building events and get to know your co-workers personally. Networking outside of work is equally important, and it is nice to hear from other interns about how they are acclimating to the company and getting to know their departments.