In the first year of a master’s in law (M1), you apply with little experience, for short internships, often in the summer, and you find yourself competing with M2 students and trainee lawyers who already have a track record. That is no reason to give up: many organisations take on M1 students, provided you look in the right place at the right time.
This article explains why this first real internship matters, which organisations host M1 students (law firms, courts, legal departments, notarial offices, public bodies), the application calendar, the CV that suits this level, then how to follow up and succeed at the interview.
Why the M1 internship matters for getting into M2
Since selection mainly takes place on entry to the first year of the master’s, the M1 internship is no longer always a formal criterion for moving into M2. It nevertheless remains decisive for three reasons.
Choosing your track. In many programmes, the second-year track is chosen at the end of M1, and some very popular tracks decide between candidates on the basis of their file. An internship in the target area then carries weight.
Later internships. The M2 internship, then the PPI and the final placement at law school, are much easier to obtain with a first experience on your CV. The M1 internship is often the one that opens the others.
Orientation. A first internship in a law firm, a court or a company tells you, better than any course, whether the job suits you. Better to find out in M1 than after the CRFPA.
Law firms, courts, companies: who takes M1 students
Law firms
Large business law firms mainly recruit M2 students and trainee lawyers, with campaigns organised well in advance. M1 students have a better chance with:
- small and medium-sized firms, which take interns for short periods, especially in the summer;
- general practices and firms outside Paris, which often offer more varied experience: client meetings, hearings, drafting letters;
- niche firms, in a specific area of law, which appreciate a genuine interest in their field.
Courts
Judicial courts, courts of appeal, administrative courts and some employment tribunals take interns, under an agreement with the university. The internship lets you attend hearings, prepare notes for judges and understand procedure from the inside. Ask the internship department of the court concerned, and allow time: requests often go through several approvals.
In-house legal departments
Mid-sized companies and large groups take M1 interns, particularly in the summer. The internship often involves contract review, research, updating templates and support on cross-functional projects. SMEs with a single in-house lawyer take interns less often, but the experience there is very formative.
Notarial offices
Notarial offices take students considering the notarial profession, often through speculative applications. A summer internship in an office lets you prepare sale or estate files and check your interest in the job before applying for a master’s in notarial law.
Public bodies and institutions
Local authorities, prefectures, independent administrative authorities, professional organisations and access-to-justice associations also take interns, particularly students aiming for public law or the competitive civil service exams.
| Organisation | Main advantage for an M1 student | |---|---| | Small or medium-sized firm | varied experience, contact with clients and hearings | | Court | procedure seen from the inside, drafting notes | | Legal department | discovering law in a company, contracts | | Notarial office | first deeds, testing a notarial career plan | | Public body, institution | public law, preparing for civil service exams |
The application calendar
The calendar depends on the period you are aiming for.
- For a summer internship (June to August), the most common in M1: apply from January to March. Large firms and courts often close their recruitment early; small organisations sometimes recruit until May.
- For an internship during the year, if your master’s includes an internship period in the second semester: apply in the autumn.
- For a court internship, plan further ahead: agreements and approvals take time.
Bear in mind the rule on internship stipends 🔗: an internship of more than two months in the same organisation entitles the intern to a minimum stipend. This is one reason why many organisations offer summer internships of two months or less.
To stay organised, keep a tracking table: organisation, contact person, date sent, answer, planned follow-up. It is the best way not to miss an answer or a deadline.
The CV of an M1 student
At this level, the CV is mainly an academic CV enriched with what you have done outside classes. It fits on one page.
The header: name, contact details and a precise objective line: “M1 student in business law, seeking a two-month internship in a law firm (June-July)”.
Education: the current M1, with the institution and any distinction, then the bachelor’s with the average if it is good and the key subjects. Flag an exchange year or a double degree.
Experience: any first internship, law clinic, student jobs. Describe them through concrete actions:
- Before: “Summer job at an estate agency.”
- After: “Summer job at an estate agency: preparing rental files, checking prospective tenants’ documents, welcoming the public.”
Activities: moot court competitions, student associations, tutoring, volunteering.
Languages and tools: certified level and use, legal databases you know.
The article first CV for a law student develops each section with a commented example. The pre-filled legal assistant CV shows how to describe concrete tasks at a junior level, and the pre-filled trainee lawyer CV what this path leads to. If you are applying to another master’s at the same time, the article applying for a master’s in law sets out what panels expect.
To produce this CV quickly, and adapt it to each type of organisation, the AvocatCV builder offers a sober layout suited to legal applications; the resulting PDF is read correctly by the application platforms of some firms and companies, which filter CVs before a human opens them.
Following up and succeeding at the interview
Following up
If there is no answer after about two weeks, a short, polite follow-up email is normal. Recall the date of your application, the internship period you are aiming for and your availability for a conversation. One follow-up is enough; beyond that, move on to other applications.
The interview
For an M1 internship, the interview is often short and conducted by an associate, an in-house lawyer or the notary themselves. They check your curiosity, rigour and motivation for the organisation. Typical questions and how to answer them are covered in our article internship interviews at law firms.
Three preparations are often enough:
- know how to present your path in two minutes;
- know the organisation: areas of law, size, type of clients or cases;
- revise the basics of the area, and read one or two recent decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an internship compulsory in M1?
It depends on the programme. Some make it compulsory, others leave it optional. Even when optional, it is strongly recommended for the rest of your studies.
Can you do an internship without an agreement?
No. A student internship requires an agreement signed by the student, the host organisation and the university. Without an agreement, it is not an internship in the legal sense.
Should you aim for a large firm from M1?
It is not necessary. An internship in a small organisation, where you will have more responsibility, is often more formative and easier to showcase afterwards.
Is a court internship well regarded by law firms?
Yes, especially by litigation firms: it shows practical knowledge of procedure and of how judges read written submissions.