A Closer Look at the NBC Legal Internship
The purpose of the NBC Legal Internship is to provide aspiring legal professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the specific legal considerations and issues faced by a major television network. Its objectives include not only honing the interns’ research and writing abilities, but also providing practical experience in offering legal advice to engineering, programming, sports, and news teams . It is designed for law students who have an interest in the entertainment and media fields and want to gain first-hand knowledge of the legal processes that underlie the industry. The NBC Legal Internship is a full-time position and interns are expected to be available to work 3-5 weekday hours at the Peacock headquarters in New York City. In addition to core duties, interns often have the opportunity to sit in on the programs and internal meetings that the company holds and cover for absent attorneys.
The Application Process and What to Expect
To apply, a prospective intern must be enrolled in an accredited law school and must be in good standing. Successful candidates are those who have demonstrated excellence in their academic studies, relevant work experience, and outstanding personal characteristics and interests. The Legal Department considers all applications and accepts interns on a rolling basis, taking particular interest in students who will still be in law school in the following spring. Applications are managed through an online portal, where applicants can submit a letter of interest and their resume; two letters of recommendation and a transcript are required from all applicants. Interviews are granted on a merit basis, and interns are notified promptly of their application status. It is expected that interns will commit to a minimum of 15 hours per week; successful candidates who can provide more hours are preferred. While the NBC Legal Department does not consider work as a contract employee to be practical experience under the terms of the contract, it welcomes volunteers.
Responsibilities and Duties of Legal Interns
The composition and size of an internship program can vary widely among corporations. At NBC, interns in the legal department are generally recent law school graduates or rising 3Ls, and they generally work full-time at the company doing real work for three months. In exchange for their work, interns receive a nominal stipend while they participate in the program and are eligible to receive course credit. Most legal departments provide interns with a combination of transactional assignments and litigation assignments, and interns may also spend a day or two sitting in on depositions or hearings. Assignments are generally complex enough that interns are afforded responsibility and an opportunity to contribute while practicing their skills in a supportive environment. Finally, most legal departments take the time to meet with interns at key points in the summer to provide them with suggestions on how to move forward with their careers.
Benefits of the Legal Internship
The NBC Legal Internship presents an unparalleled opportunity for those aspiring to a career in intellectual property law. For students, the NBC experience opens the door to explore the inner workings of a major media company’s legal portfolio and firsthand experience evaluating raw network materials. As the lone student employer on base, the internship offers an experience that is not easily replicated elsewhere. We evaluate each NBC legal intern as "one of us," and they regularly have direct access to the full range of NBC executives and legal department attorneys.
In addition to day-to-day exposure to the legal function, NBC interns benefit from a wide range of skills development and professional networking. Our internship program routinely includes periodic work-in-progress project presentations to NBC executive management, occasional "brown bag" lunch discussions with senior in-house attorneys and extension of the corporate business focus of the program through attendance at internal and public seminars , conferences, and events.
NBC legal interns are also able to develop critical networking skills, as we routinely encourage them to take advantage of related opportunities to connect with other in-house corporate counsel and raise their visibility in the legal community.
Finally, the NBC legal internship offers an outstanding resume-building experience for intellectual property candidates in particular, as it provides unparalleled access to the kind of evaluative experience that is critical for a successful application to an academic IP program or to a career as an IP attorney. The level of originality and creativity required during the internship, combined with our rigorous summer project parameters, mimics and parallels the kind of evaluative experiences required in a formal IP program and ultimately replicates the work of an entry-level IP associate in a law firm environment.
Profiles of Success: Sharing Internship Experiences
One of the most compelling sources of insight into the evolution of the NBC Legal Internship program is the past interns themselves. These individuals have gone on to have successful careers in the legal field, and they all credit their time at NBC with helping to shape their careers in one way or another. Mary Connelly, a former intern, said, "My experience as a legal intern at NBC was invaluable. It was a unique opportunity where I was able to work with a variety of teams and on many projects, teaching me the importance of flexibility and critical thinking skills." Mark Spencer, who interned with NBC universal several years ago, remarked, "The NBC Legal Internship program helped me hone in on my interests. I went in thinking I wanted to be a contract attorney, but I ended up working closely with the antitrust department. After I graduated, I pursued a career in antitrust law." Carol Zhou had a similarly transformative experience at the network. "I thought I wanted to practice in entertainment law when I entered law school, but after a summer of work at NBC I explored the IP field and have now found my place as an attorney in privacy law," she explained. These testimonials reinforce the idea that the NBC Legal Internship program is not just an opportunity to explore a specific area of the law, but also a chance to help shape your future career. Many past interns were able to pivot toward something new and more interesting through their work at the network.
Key Tips for a Winning Application
To enhance your chances of being selected for an internship at NBC, it is wise to keep in mind the following tips: First and foremost, and quite simply, be yourself. It is important that you remain true to who you are and maintain your own unique voice. This may sound cliché, but it remains true. The people who conduct the hiring process at NBC are continually on the look out for originality, personality, and authenticity. To that end, besides your great voice and impeccable writing skills, show them your passion for this work. Whether it be through a well-organized resume, or having your interview panel spellbound by your enthusiasm and genuine devotion to the industry, your love for and devotion to your work must be conveyed. With regard to your resume, ensure each item on yours is up-to-date and error-free. Consider avoiding items such as "References Available Upon Request" as this is assumed . Remember that when you list your work experience, for example as a freelancer, ensure you note the client as well. Additionally, use numbers where applicable. While jobs such as writing and production may be subjective, others such as average viewership are objective and allow you to tangibly convey your value. When preparing for your interview, research the company, its industry, and its recent projects and coverage. For example, if you are applying for an internship in Clip & Content Production, visit NBC.com to see which clips you find entertaining, and be prepared to speak about why they entertain you to your interview panel. Finally, find a way to establish a personal connection with at least one individual on your panel. Once you secure your interview, in addition to preparing for the interview itself, consider researching the backgrounds of those who will be assessing your performance based on their bios available online, and determine if you share any personal interests. If so, reference those interests.