2 ways the new lawyer incubator program differs from an internship

On Behalf of | May 15, 2023 | Support For New Lawyers

Education alone won’t lead to a successful career, even if someone pursues an advanced degree. Those who have finished their graduate degrees and who want to develop a licensed profession may seek out an internship as a way of beginning their careers. In theory, an internship can give people hands-on experience while also helping them to build connections with other professionals in their industry. For new lawyers, in particular, learning from those with more experience and developing connections may be key to future success.

The incubator program here at Dean Standish Perkins & Associates, conducted in cooperation with the Seattle University School of Law, can help those who are hoping to start a law practice begin their careers with a different approach than a traditional internship. The two key differences below highlight how beneficial the incubator program can be for some individuals.

Access to professional spaces

An internship generally only gets someone unpaid or poorly-paid work at an outside company. The incubator program allows someone to start developing their own law practice shortly after graduation while still having access to professional facilities. The incubator program includes access to office space in downtown Seattle where recently graduated law students can hold meetings and maintain a professional mailing address. Participants will also be able to access the law library and borrow texts as necessary.

A focus on business support

Working hands-on with experienced, successful practicing lawyers can help those who are just starting out in the legal world. The inside perspective of a mentor can be invaluable during the startup stages of a new legal practice. Many new law firms fail, and often the reason that they do not succeed has to do with improper business management rather than a lack of understanding of the law itself or poor performance in the courtroom. Business advice and guidance can be as important as support from an established professional with the same area of specialization as someone handles their first few cases or clients.

Rather than simply trying to secure a job somewhere, many recently graduated law students may benefit from participating in the incubator program as a means of developing their own law firm and eventually becoming their own boss.

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