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Internship Insecurities: The Struggles of Law Students in Gaining Practical Experience

Internships serve as springboards for aspiring legal minds. They are sources of necessary skills for law students to survive and thrive in the legal sphere. It is a fact that not all academically superior students have the equally important practical skills that allow legal practitioners to make a name for themselves in the legal sphere.

It is undeniable that internships are fundamental for the careers of law students, however, internship opportunities in Ethiopia are very rare and inadequate to prepare law students for the coming hurdles in their legal careers. The aim of this article is to create awareness regarding the importance of internships and the struggles of law students in Ethiopia in gaining practical experience.

Developing practical experience is crucial for law students it allows them to apply the theoretical knowledge that they gained in the classroom to real-life legal scenarios. This helps them develop essential skills such as client interaction, legal writing, legal research and legal procedure. It also allows them to have networking opportunities.

The people that law students meet through internships might be the most important figures in their careers. These networking opportunities can lead to valuable mentorships and future job prospects. Developing practical experience also enhances the confidence, employability and competence of law students. Last but not least it allows them to explore career paths and discover which areas of legal practice are their strong suits and pique their interests.

Law students in Ethiopia are faced with several hurdles in securing internships. Firstly, there is a limited number of available internship opportunities. The lack of established programs in legal institutions and firms makes it incredibly rare to find internships. This coupled with inadequate institutional support makes the problem worse. Limited to no partnerships between universities and legal institutions is also another characteristic of the prevailing internship scarcity. Secondly, there is high and intense competition between law students to secure the limited available internship opportunities.

This makes it incredibly difficult for students to find and reap practical experience from internships. Additionally, there are geographical limitations to finding internships. It is well known that law schools in Ethiopia are filled with students from diverse backgrounds and different sections of the country, it is especially troublesome for these students to find internship opportunities as most of the available and decent internships are found in major cities.

Furthermore, financial constraints are a limitation to students finding and undertaking internships. Many internships, even those required for graduation, are unpaid. Dedicating to an internship involves various costs including commuting to and from internship sites. These hurdles are only the tip of the iceberg as there are many more hurdles in securing internships.

After completing three years of study at Addis Ababa University School of Law, I have gained valuable insights from my peers regarding the challenging nature of securing internships, especially in the areas of their interest. The fact that there is a limited amount of law firms in Ethiopia( just over 20) makes it challenging for them to find internships in law firms. Most students find internships in government institutions such as courts, prosecutors office and EHRC.

While these institutions provide valuable experience they are insufficient to satisfy the various interest areas of law students. It isn’t uncommon for students to pursue internships as mere formalities instead of pursuing them to satisfy their insatiable hunger for knowledge and experience in their specific field of interest.

Article by Same Author: Breaking the Silence: The Critical Need for Mental Health Awareness in Law Students

Some students manage to secure coveted internship positions through sheer determination and networking, gaining invaluable experience and professional connections. However, many others face ongoing struggles such as high competition and limited opportunities, leading to significant emotional and mental stress. The pressure to secure an internship can result in anxiety, self-doubt, and a feeling of inadequacy, impacting their overall well-being and academic performance.

The Center for Human Rights also offers internship opportunities every year, but the presence of affirmative action creates an additional barrier for male law students to secure these positions. This policyis aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion but it inevitably makes it harder for male students to access these valuable opportunities which worsens the already intense competition for internships.

In light of these challenges, it is important that the responsible institutions and parties address these issues urgently. Universities must strengthen their partnerships with legal firms and institutions to create more internship opportunities. Law firms and legal institutions should establish structured internship programs to accommodate the growing number of law students. By working together, we can ensure that law students in Ethiopia gain the practical experience they need to succeed in their future careers.

Source

Author: Yishak Baraki Desta, School of Law, Addis Ababa University (AAU)

About the Author: Yishak B. Desta is a dedicated law student at Addis Ababa University (AAU) with a passion for Corporate Law. Yishak is a Fellow in the Young Lawyers Initiative (YLI). He is also serving as the leadership Board member of YLI. With an eagerness to embrace new experiences and connect with diverse individuals, Yishak is poised to make a meaningful contribution to the legal profession. He can be reached at: yishakdesta495@gmail.com