The internship program was developed in collaboration with leading subject area experts in their fields to ensure interns could sample real-world experiences, according to CLI executive director Terri Mottershead.

“We believe this is a world first — the first virtual internship in NewLaw careers. The program recognises the increased interest in, and the growing number of NewLaw roles emerging/expanding in law firms, legal departments, and law companies globally,” she said.

Interns will be able to undertake a task in one or more of the listed careers and, in return, receive a model answer and a certificate for each completed task. The tasks have been designed to deliver practical insights into what NewLaw professionals do day-to-day, as well as provide career options for law students, law graduates and lawyers looking to change careers, as well as professionals from other industries looking to work in the legal sphere.

The internship includes contributions from a number of subject matter experts from BigLaw firms, family law firms, NewLaw firms, legal technology companies and more.

“The role of the CLI is to identify change in the profession and then connect people with those emerging careers if that is of interest to them,” Ms Mottershead added.

“The collaboration with our friends at Forage to create a world-leading virtual internship program is an extension of this approach — to provide a multiplicity of options, particularly in new and emerging areas of law.”

According to Angie Zandstra, chief commercial officer for the College of Law, being at the forefront of change is essential.

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“We want to allow law students and practitioners to expand their career horizons in whatever way and direction they choose throughout their career — particularly in these NewLaw paths that are growing across the profession,” she said.