Everyone tells interns to “do good work”, but almost nobody explains what good work product actually looks like from the other side of the desk. So you hand in your research or draft, unsure whether it’s genuinely useful or quietly disappointing. Let me fix that.
The interns who get remembered, re-invited and referred aren’t the ones who did the most tasks. They’re the ones whose work a senior could actually use without having to redo it. Here’s how to produce that kind of work.
Quick answer
Great internship work product is usable: you understood the task correctly, did it carefully and accurately, and delivered something clear that your senior can act on with minimal rework. That could be a tidy research note with the answer and authorities, a clean first draft, or a well-organised summary. The secret isn’t brilliance. It’s understanding the brief, being accurate and thorough, presenting clearly, and proofreading. Usable, reliable work is what makes a senior trust you and want you back.
The one idea: make it usable
Here’s the mindset that changes everything. When a senior gives you a task, they have a problem they need solved and limited time. Your job is to hand back something that reduces their work, not adds to it. A pile of ten unread judgements dumped on them adds work. A clear note saying “Here’s the position, here are the key authorities, here’s my reasoning” reduces it. Every time you produce work, ask: “Can my senior use this straight away, or will they have to redo it?” Aim relentlessly for the former.
How to produce usable work, step by step
- Understand the task first. Before diving in, confirm what’s actually being asked. “Here’s how I’ve understood this and how I’ll approach it. Is that right?” One minute here can prevent days of wrong-direction work.
- Do it carefully and accurately. Read what you find, understand it, and make sure it’s correct. Accuracy is non-negotiable in legal work. A confident wrong answer is worse than saying, “I’m not certain, but here’s what I found.”
- Be thorough but focused. Cover what matters without padding. Answer the actual question, not a vaguely related one.
- Present it clearly. A tidy, well-structured note or draft, with the answer up front, reasoning and authorities clearly laid out, and everything easy to follow. Presentation is part of usefulness.
- Proofread before submitting. Always. Errors undermine trust and make a senior double-check everything you do.
The research note that impresses
Since research is one of the most common intern tasks, here’s what a great one looks like: it opens with a clear answer to the question asked, gives the key authorities that support it, based on cases you’ve actually read and understood, notes any nuance or uncertainty honestly, and is laid out so the senior can scan it quickly. Compare that with “Here are some cases I found.” The difference in usefulness is enormous, and it’s entirely within your control. Nail the research note and you’ll stand out immediately.
YLCC ACTION STEP: Before you submit any task, run one test: “If I were the senior, could I use this as-is?” If not, fix what’s missing, whether that’s unclear structure, unread authorities, or an unanswered part of the question, before sending. That single habit, applied to everything you produce, is what turns an average intern into a trusted one.
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS: Please don’t hand over raw, unread research and leave the senior to do the actual thinking. That’s the opposite of usable, and it’s remembered. And please don’t guess when you’re unsure. Ask a specific question or flag the uncertainty. Confidently wrong work destroys trust faster than honestly saying, “I couldn’t fully resolve this part.”
FAQs
- What makes a good work product in a legal internship? Usability. It’s work your senior can act on with minimal rework: an accurate, clear, well-structured note or draft that answers the actual task. Understand the brief, be accurate, present clearly, and proofread.
- How do I do impressive legal research as an intern? Read and understand what you find, then deliver a clear note with the answer up front, key authorities, and honest nuance. Don’t simply hand over a pile of unread cases.
- What if I’m not sure my work is good enough? Test it: “Could my senior use this as-is?” Fix what’s missing before submitting. And ask clarifying questions early so you don’t spend hours going in the wrong direction.
- Is it bad to ask questions about a task? No. Confirming the brief before starting is a sign of a thoughtful intern. Guessing and going in the wrong direction is the real mistake.
- How do I get remembered as an intern? Produce usable, reliable work consistently. That’s what makes seniors trust you, re-invite you, and refer you.
Thank you for reading!
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