The Maryland Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators was an active supporter again this year of the Law Links Internship Program co-sponsored by the Maryland State Bar, the Baltimore City Public Schools and the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program (CLREP). The Chapter’s involvement includes promoting the Program at Chapter events and involving Chapter members with the process of interviewing potential program candidates. In addition, a Chapter member serves on the Law Links Committee. This member’s responsibility is to help give the Program visibility and credibility within the Chapter throughout the year and to encourage participation in the Program by Chapter members and their law firms. 

 

Seventeen law firms and legal agencies participated in the 2008 Law Links Student Internship Program. Since it’s inception in 1994, the Law Links program has provided summer employment for inner-city high school students. Their employment in law firms throughout the city provides the students an opportunity to learn more about the professional world, the legal system and personal interactions in a business environment. 

 

·         To provide paid summer employment for Baltimore City public high school students in law firms and law related agencies.

·         To provide an opportunity, to the students who participate, to learn more about the professional world, the legal system, law office operations and personal interactions through their work experience and the Law & Leadership Institute.

·         To encourage the students to pursue higher education as part of their future goals.

Students can apply for a chance to participate in the program through their Baltimore City school. The student applicants are interviewed at the Maryland Bar Center for the select few positions available in the program.

 

The students who are selected as interns for the summer program are issued professional attire that they are to wear daily to the firms or agencies to which they are assigned. Prior to starting their positions, the selected interns are given instructions at the Law & Leadership Institute to prepare them for their work assignments. They are told about the types of tasks they might be required to perform, and what is expected of them as employees.

Employers are encouraged to make the intern's employment with us as varied as possible to give them a good understanding of the legal environment and the job opportunities that may be available in a law firm. The intern becomes an employee of the firm for the duration of the 7 to 8 week summer program and they are paid by the firm for the term of their internship.