How do I apply for a Virtual Internship/PLT Placement?
Steps to Decide Whether to Apply ...
1️⃣ Understand What is Involved
We work differently at Blue Ocean Law Group and consequently if we decide to collaborate with you there is a fairly high chance that your time as a Virtual Intern will be nothing like what you currently imagine.
2️⃣ Conduct your Own Due Diligence
Before you spend anytime preparing an email/Cover Letter to apply for a Virtual Internship/PLT Placement we strongly recommend you first conduct an adequate amount of your own due diligence.
We recommend you spend some more time researching us and the work we have had our Virtual Interns complete.
You can view work completed by our Virtual Interns by searching for the term “intern” on our website.
One of our objectives is to provide our Virtual Interns with an opportunity to work on projects that interest them and allow them to showcase their projects on our website.
In one instance, this blog article which was written by one of our interns was of such quality we facilitated its publication in Legal Business World.
Here are some links to start:
FAQ: Volunteer Virtual Internship + PLT Placement Mentoring
Mentee Manual: Our Top 10 Ideas to Get Started!
3️⃣ Tomorrow's Lawyers: An Introduction to Your Future
Read Richard Susskind's book "Tomorrow's Lawyers: An Introduction to Your Future" now in it's 3rd edition.
"Tomorrow's Lawyers identifies new opportunities for lawyers, new ways of helping clients and the community.
It enjoins its readers to become involved in building the systems that will replace outmoded forms of legal work.
It argues that it is both a privilege and an obligation for tomorrow's lawyers to embrace and bring about change.
A must-read for legal undergraduates, aspiring and young lawyers, senior practitioners, leaders in law firms and legal businesses, law professors and law teachers."
4️⃣ Are you an Enterprising + Curious Self-Starter?
Over the last few years, we have worked with a select group of enterprising and curious young lawyers/law students on an unpaid volunteer virtual internship + mentoring basis.
Our Virtual Internships are unstructured.
You will only benefit to the extent that you are enterprising, curious to learn and capable of self-motivation + direction.
5️⃣ Your Preferences
Blue Ocean Law Group CANNOT accomodate any application for a Virtual Internship/PLT Placement that indicates a preference to just do what you are told to do to help us complete traditional legal tasks such as drafting legal documents and conducting legal research for our Clients.
Whilst we do complete traditional legal tasks (for our clients) that arise from time to time, our main focus is on the proactive automation of typical legal documents and the construction of resources including legal wizards, quizzes, FAQ etc. to support our Clients in using these.
What we do involves a much higher level of legal sophistication (a large number of potential variations in the final legal document) and a much broader perspective (multiple legal jurisdictions) than is typically the case for an individual client’s matter.
We embed lawyer logic into each process.
Doing this requires mammoth effort and represents a huge learning opportunity if you decide you would like to contribute.
6️⃣ Try Out What We Currently Offer Our Clients + Prospective Clients for FREE!
The best way to start to understand what is involved in the delivery of proactive legal services is to try out what we currently offer for free via our website.
⭐️ If we have not yet seen any evidence in our systems that you have created any FREE Legal Documents or tried any of our FREE Legal Wizard then your application will be automatically placed on hold. Once you have tried our FREE resources, please contact us to confirm that you still wish to proceed with your application and advise us of any amendments you would like to make to your application.
➲ Perhaps start by trying out our Free Legal Health Check, or our FREE Director ID Wizard.
7️⃣ Prepare + File your Application
If you would like to make an application for a Virtual Internship/PLT Placement to assist us with tasks that you find of interest, that is, "Your Preferences*" then:
➲ Please send an email to jdf@blueocean.law with your Cover Letter attached requesting a Virtual Internship/PLT Placement.
⭐️ Note: Include your C.V. + Academic Transcript.
* We don’t direct you to complete any tasks that you do not feel are of interest to your development as a legal professional.
8️⃣ Informal Interview
If your application is successful, we will contact you to arrange an informal interview.
🔥 BONUS ➲ Questions to Ask Prospective Employers
The following list of questions has been extracted from the 1st edition of "Tomorrow's Lawyer's" chapter entitled "Questions to Ask Prospective Employers". The author warns not to ask all these questions in the one sitting.
We advise that it would be best to pick and choose a few of the most appropriate questions given the results of your due diligence, any concerns you may have and the overall context of the situation.
Potential Questions to Ask a Prospective Employer
➲ Do you have a long-term strategy?
➲ What will legal service look like in 2035?
➲ Are you comforted by other law firms' lack of progress?
➲ What are you preferred approaches to Alternative Sourcing?
➲ What role will IT (Information Technology) play in Law Firms of the Future?
➲ Do you have a Research & Development Capability?
➲ If you could design a Law Firm from scratch, what would it look like?
Credits:
This FAQ was created by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.