The Louisville Bar Association’s Summer Internship Program is back after a 2-year hiatus! The LBA is proud to continue its 20+ year partnership with Central High School through which students in the law magnet program are hired by participating local law firms or are sponsored to work in community organizations and the public sector.  

While there are many reasons to consider hiring or sponsoring an intern, a few include: 

• Lessen the workload for support staff for other projects 
• Invest and develop in future leaders 
• Provide aspiring attorneys with real-life work experience 
• Show a commitment to diversity initiatives 

Through the Summer Internship Program, you will find a diverse and talented group of high school students who are interested in a career in the legal profession. Attorneys and firms, like yours, can provide tangible opportunities to impact the life of a future lawyer. 

All applicants are students in Central High School’s Law and Government program, which is run by LBA member and attorney Joe Gutmann. The applicants are ensured to have a strong academic record, good attendance, leadership skills, positive attitude and excellent communication skills. Additionally, Summer Internship Program committee members meet with students prior to the application process to discuss professional resumes and interview techniques and meet with the selected applicants prior to the first day of work to discuss office decorum. 

The program lasts 8 weeks, beginning as early as June 6 and concluding prior to the start of school on August 10. We ask that interns are paid at minimum $8.25 an hour (less than $3,000 for full-time intern or $1,500 for part-time intern). If your firm is unable to hire an intern, but would like to sponsor a student, selected students will be placed in community and public sector offices, such as Legal Aid Society, the Public Defender’s office, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office or the ACLU. Many of these offices are in desperate need of the services of an intern but do not have the necessary funding. 

Our goal is to place 15 interns from Central High School in 2022. We cannot do this without the support of attorneys and firms in the community. If you would like to hire or sponsor an intern, please contact Marisa Motley at mmotley@loubar.org. 

If you have any questions for our Summer Internship Program committee, many who have sponsored or are working with interns from Central High School, please feel free to reach out to them directly. Attached is their contact information.  If you are interested in participating as a member of the committee, please contact Marisa Motley at mmotley@loubar.org or sarah.mckenna@dinsmore.com  

Thank you for considering an investment in a future lawyer.