As part of the City of Austin Law Department's Internship Program, paralegal interns are enrolled full-time in an accredited school of paralegal studies and hired to develop job skills, clarify career direction, or gain specific skills while completing degree requirements. Under the general supervision of attorney, secretarial, and paralegal staff, paralegal interns perform a wide variety of paralegal activities.
The paralegal intern position is an unpaid position. Unpaid interns are not available for City employment benefits. For additional information, please contact paralegalinternship@austintexas.gov.
Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities:
The intern’s duties and responsibilities will increase over time as mastery of skills and knowledge is attained. Duties will generally progress as follows:
- Filing – physical paper files and electronic files
- Scanning and copying
- Courthouse runs and deliveries
- E-filing court documents
- Scheduling appointments and depositions
- Mail—incoming, outgoing, and certified
- Calendaring
- Pleadings
- Open records
- Summarize records
- Discovery – draft answers, collect documents from clients, document production
- Bates labeling and redactions
- Exhibit preparation
- Witness contacts and coordination
- Set and announce for hearings
- Legal research
- Uncontested docket
- Assist attorney at trial, deposition or other court appearance
Minimum Qualifications:
High School diploma or GED. Must have graduated from or be currently enrolled in an accredited school of paralegal studies. If currently enrolled, must have completed at least 50% of the required course curriculum. Interns can work throughout their degree program as long as they are actively pursuing a degree and up to six months after earning their degree. Interns are expected to work a minimum of ten hours per week for a minimum of 12 continuous weeks. Additional terms of commitment to specific internships may be determined at time of hire.