15 Law Internships for Undergraduates in New Jersey
Internships allow college students to apply what they learn in the classroom while building skills that strengthen their résumés. Internships can improve your employability by helping you develop professional habits and subject-matter knowledge. If you’re interested in law, internships can introduce you to roles in the field beyond courtroom work.
What law internships are available for undergraduates in New Jersey?
Law internships in New Jersey span state and federal agencies, courts, advocacy offices, and regulatory bodies. These internships give you the chance to assist with case research, draft legal memos, organize evidence, and even observe trials or client consultations. They expose you to legal research, policy development, court operations, investigations, mediation, and public service work, giving you a clearer understanding of how different parts of the legal system function. By working alongside experienced attorneys, judges, and legal staff, you’ll gain valuable mentorship that can shape your future academic and career decisions.
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed down this list of 15 law internships for undergraduates in New Jersey that are focused on practical learning.
1. Samsung Electronics – Legal Intern
Location: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Stipend: $38/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Currently enrolled seniors, rising seniors, or recent graduates in a Bachelor's, Master's, or Law program who have U.S. work authorization
In this program, you will explore corporate law, contract review, litigation, and regulatory analysis spanning labor, environment, and fair trade. As an intern, you will review and draft legal agreements, conduct thorough case research, and participate in departmental meetings to track active corporate dockets. You will also collaborate with cross-functional teams to help organize responses to major disputes and government investigations. A unique feature of this opportunity is the distinct possibility of conversion to a regular full-time position next fiscal year, alongside participation in corporate culture events like the Day of Service. Through these daily activities, you will develop strong analytical skills, master legal document preparation, and learn effective negotiation tactics.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25% acceptance; 70–100 students per session
Dates: Several cohorts year-round, including Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: University or gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, 8-week virtual program that pairs college students with high-growth startups and nonprofits. It follows a project-based model rather than a traditional office placement. You’ll be matched to a real startup project and work through clearly defined deliverables over several weeks, meeting regularly with a company coach. Each stage builds on the last, moving from project definition to draft development and final presentation. For undergraduates interested in law-adjacent skills, the structure highlights communication, problem-solving, and applied research. Apply now!
3. NJ Courts Mercer Vicinage (Civil Courthouse) Internships
Location: Mercer County Civil Courthouse, NJ
Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 10–20 interns
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students with at least thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university
This internship at the Mercer Vicinage Civil Courthouse is a professional development role designed to expose you to the operations of the state's civil legal system. Through this internship, you observe how civil court proceedings are supported behind the scenes. Your work may include clerical tasks, data handling, document management, and assisting with customer-facing court operations. You’ll also gain broad exposure to how the court system functions as an institution. You interact with court staff and the public, learning professional standards used in judicial environments. This law internship is well-suited for undergraduates seeking a practical introduction to court administration in New Jersey.
4. NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) – Legal Intern
Location: Trenton, NJ
Stipend: $19–$24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1–2 interns
Dates: June 1 – August 21
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduates studying Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Pre-Law, or Environmental Sciences; U.S. work authorization required.
As a legal intern with the NJDEP's Office of Legal Affairs, you will learn about the daily mechanics of state environmental regulation and administrative law. Your core topics of focus will cover regulatory matters, administrative procedures, tort claims, subpoenas, and government ethics. Throughout the summer, you will actively engage in hands-on activities like conducting detailed legal research, assisting with complex administrative hearing requests, drafting legal documents, and supporting specialized ethics projects. The program allows you to help facilitate actual state departmental rulemaking and prepare agency final decisions. Ultimately, you develop skills in legal writing, statutory interpretation, and professional communication that will strongly anchor your future career.
5. NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) – Administrative Hearings & Dispute Resolution Intern
Location: Trenton, NJ
Stipend: $19–$24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1 intern
Dates: June 1 – August 21
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Enrolled undergraduate studying Law, Pre-Law, Criminal Justice, or Political Science; U.S. work authorization required.
In this program, you will learn about the state's administrative hearing and alternative dispute resolution processes, covering key legal topics like environmental permit appeals and enforcement decisions. Throughout the summer, you will review first-party hearing requests, manage the backlog of open cases, and assist with various alternative dispute resolution projects. The program allows you to directly witness how state environmental regulators negotiate and settle complex legal conflicts outside of a traditional courtroom. Ultimately, you will walk away with sharpened analytical abilities and a deep understanding of public environmental law.
6. U.S. Pretrial Services Agency Internship Program
Location: Newark, Trenton, and Camden, NJ
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 3–6 interns per session
Dates: Year-round, including Summer, Fall, and Spring sessions
Application Deadline: Summer: Mid-March; Fall: Mid-July; Spring: Mid-October
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors, seniors, or graduate students majoring in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or any other social science
The U.S. Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) internship is a highly structured federal program within the judicial branch focusing on the investigation and supervision of defendants before trial. You learn how background investigations, interviews, and written reports inform judicial decisions related to bail and pretrial release. The role includes observing court hearings, assisting with reports, and supporting supervision-related tasks under staff oversight. You also interact with professionals from multiple federal agencies, gaining insight into how they coordinate within the judicial system. For undergraduates, this internship offers a structured look at federal court operations and criminal justice decision-making.
7. NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) – Legislative Intern
Location: Trenton, NJ
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 2 interns
Dates: Early June – Late August
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: Undergraduates enrolled in Pre-Law, Law, Political Science, Public Policy, or Environmental Sciences who are authorized to work in the U.S.
As a legislative intern, you will support the NJDEP by bridging the gap between environmental science and state law. You will explore topics at the intersection of energy, environmental conservation, and active legislation, like statewide plastic bag policies. Your daily activities will include attending legislative hearings, researching specific bills to prepare memos, and drafting official letters to state lawmakers. The program gives you direct access to the department's internal technical experts and specialized tools like GovNet and Lexis Advance. By translating complex scientific data into plain language, you will develop skills in legal research, policy analysis, and professional workplace communication.
8. Law Office of Kelly Anderson Smith Internship
Location: Hamilton, New Jersey
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; Only 1 intern
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students with an interest in criminal law
This internship allows pre-law students to integrate into the daily operations of a criminal defense practice. It places you directly inside a criminal law practice, where you support case preparation from intake through trial-related work. Your tasks may include organizing legal files, researching case law, and assisting with appeal-related materials. You’ll also have opportunities to observe courtroom proceedings under attorney guidance, connecting legal theory to real cases. The experience emphasizes independence, organization, and professional communication. For undergraduates interested in criminal law, this internship offers hands-on exposure to how cases are built and managed.
9. New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Internship Opportunities
Location: Atlantic City or Trenton, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 5–10 interns per session
Dates: 12 weeks in Spring (January – May), Summer (May – August), and Fall (September – December) sessions
Application Deadline: Spring: October 1; Summer: March 1; Fall: June 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, or law students
This internship introduces you to how gaming regulation functions within the New Jersey state government. You rotate through or support work connected to multiple bureaus, such as licensing, regulatory enforcement, technical services, and legal operations. Rather than focusing on one task area, the experience emphasizes how different units contribute to oversight and compliance. You work under direct supervision from staff, learning how regulations are applied in real operational settings. This internship is structured to provide exposure to government regulatory systems rather than courtroom litigation.
10. New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD) Internships
Location: Statewide in NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies as per region
Dates: Flexible; Fall, Spring, and Summer cohorts available
Application Deadline: Fall: July 31; Spring: November 30; Summer: April 15
Eligibility: College juniors, seniors, and graduate students
The NJOPD internship is a public interest legal service role where students assist in the mandated legal representation of individuals who cannot afford an attorney. This law internship places undergraduates in New Jersey directly into the field as investigative interns to support the defense of in-need clients. You will assist staff investigators in locating and interviewing witnesses, serving subpoenas, and conducting field investigations such as photographing crime scenes. Interns also research and gather critical documents and attend court proceedings to observe the application of criminal defense strategies. It’s a role that focuses on the practical, boots-on-the-ground side of the legal system.
11. New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Internships
Location: Trenton, Atlantic City, Cherry Hill, Hamilton, Sea Girt, Whippany, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20–30 interns per session
Dates: Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions available
Application Deadline: Fall: May 31; Spring: October 31; Summer: March 10
Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, and law students
This law internship assigns students to specific bureaus such as Gangs & Organized Crime, Financial & Cyber Crimes, or Specialized Crimes. You will work alongside Detectives and Deputy Attorneys General to assist with investigative tasks and the interdiction of criminal law violations. You will be exposed to the substantive aspects of New Jersey criminal law through case preparation and participate in Brown Bag lunch training sessions, where you’ll learn about investigation and litigation techniques. The program also provides opportunities to observe courtroom proceedings in the Law and Appellate Divisions.
12. New Jersey Division on Civil Rights Investigations Internship
Location: Virtual/Division on Civil Rights, Newark, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 2–4 interns per session
Dates: June – August (Approximately 8–10 weeks); typically starts late May/early June
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students; basic computer literacy; proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR), a division of the Office of the Attorney General, offers an internship focused on the enforcement of the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and the Family Leave Act. You assist with reviewing documents, developing interview questions, and drafting written materials related to discrimination complaints, supporting active investigations under staff guidance. The experience highlights administrative law, evidence review, and structured fact-finding. For undergraduates interested in legal investigations, this internship offers direct exposure to how civil rights cases are examined in New Jersey.
13. Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) Internships
Location: Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, Trenton, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 2 interns
Dates: Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions available
Application Deadline: Fall: July 30; Spring: November 15; Summer: March 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a major in pre-law, criminal justice studies, political science, public policy, social work, sociology, and/or history
The Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance (VIVA) is a specialized division within the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), whose internships focus on how victim services are shaped within New Jersey’s criminal justice system. Depending on placement, you may research victims’ rights laws, policies, and procedures to support the development of statewide service protocols. Other work centers on trauma-informed and resiliency-based approaches, including researching evidence-based programs and contributing to training materials. You attend stakeholder meetings and use feedback to inform policy and program design. For undergraduates, this internship emphasizes research, policy development, and collaboration across government and community partners.
14. New Jersey Division on Civil Rights Housing Unit Internship
Location: Division on Civil Rights, Newark, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1–2 interns per session
Dates: 8–10 weeks starting in May
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least two semesters of college coursework; proficiency in Microsoft and Outlook scheduling
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) Housing Unit internship is a high-impact investigative role focused on enforcing the NJ Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and the Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA). It centers on housing discrimination investigations under New Jersey civil rights law. You will assist legal specialists and investigators by reviewing documents, organizing evidence, and supporting witness interviews. The work follows a structured investigative process focused on determining whether violations have occurred, contributing to active case development under supervision. This internship gives undergraduates exposure to how housing-related civil rights complaints are examined and enforced.
15. New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Internships
Location: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Newark, NJ
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; approximately 10–15 interns per session
Dates: Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions available
Application Deadline: Spring: November 11; Summer: March 8; Fall: July 8
Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, and law students currently enrolled in an accredited institution
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) internship places students within the various professional boards and units responsible for protecting the state's residents from fraud and ensuring the integrity of the marketplace. Your responsibilities vary by assignment but may include administrative support, research, and assisting with regulatory processes. The structure allows you to see how consumer-focused laws are applied across different subject areas. You work alongside public service professionals rather than in a classroom setting. This internship highlights how regulatory systems function within the New Jersey government.
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