The Lowdown on NBCUniversal Legal Internships
NBCUniversal is a leading media and entertainment company. Within this organization, the NBCUniversal Law Department, an in-house legal department, handles a wide array of legal matters. NBCUniversal’s in-house legal department employs a large group of attorneys, paralegals, and other legal professionals. The interns who are fortunate enough to be selected for these opportunities work closely with these legal professionals to learn the ins and outs of operating as part of an in-house law department. NBCUniversal offers summer, fall, and spring legal internships for various positions . Summer law interns in the NBCU Law Department will be immersed in the day-to-day operations of the department and will be given significant responsibilities to practice their lawyering skills. Interns will participate in informational meetings, educational brown-bag lunches with attorneys, trials and depositions when available, as well as have the opportunity to network with attorneys across different NBCU departments. Law students who have or are pursuing master’s degrees in business and/or communications, have strong research and writing skills, and demonstrated interest in media and entertainment law should apply for this opportunity.
Who Can Apply and What’s the Process
To be considered for a position with NBCUniversal, candidates must be preferably attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and in good standing. Strong academic performance (B+ or higher in classes) is sought by the individual managers and coordinators recruiting interns, as well as leadership experience, advocacy participation, extracurricular involvement, and work experience. The preferences provide a guideline only and are not hard requirements. The applicant should ensure that their interest in broadly related fields such as media and entertainment is coupled with applicable prior experience, not appending a blanket statement on the resume. We prefer candidates to have taken at least one IP class in law school and are particularly interested in candidates with media/entertainment experience and knowledge of intellectual property issues. We are open to second and third year J.D. candidates as well as LL.M. candidates. Candidates seeking 3L summer internships with unit counsel in Los Angeles should have the following qualifications: (i) strong preference given to candidates with job offers from a firm in Los Angeles or San Francisco (or other California city where unit counsel is located), (ii) no offers from D.C. firms, (iii) having at least three law school employment experiences in the media/entertainment industry, and (iv) securing an offer from a firm where the firm has agreed to pay for a minimum of one month of the housing expenses and candidate will be required to stay less than seven weeks from the start to end of the internship (longer internships based on the availability of the candidate and business needs). To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to the local contact for the office(s) you are seeking employment with. San Francisco positions are overseen by Susan Gennessey and Jennifer Brann. Los Angeles positions are overseen by Steve Phillips, Jane Lee, Jennifer Brann, and Jennifer Mastorides. New York jobs are overseen by Mark Heller and Francesca De Puelles. European jobs are overseen by Neil Barnet and Carol Apagyi.
Duties and Areas of Focus for Interns
The legal interns at NBCUniversal can expect a variety of responsibilities that will allow them to experience the life of in-house counsel. The majority of the internship will be spent working closely with corporate attorneys on a variety of matters. Legal interns are expected to draft a wide range of documents, which can include detailed memos, contract clauses, and policy recommendations. Interns might research foreign and domestic laws related to specific issues, analyze the practical considerations behind content and intellectual property deals, advise clients on policy implementation, and even draft executive reports providing solutions to problems and their potential economic impact. While interns may not engage in significant legal work for the company on a day-to-day basis, they will receive detailed feedback on their assignments and the opportunity to serve as "junior attorneys" on select matters. Interns are treated as full participants in the department’s daily life, with access to all meetings and documents and the chance to meet lawyers from all departments. This interaction provides interns with the opportunity for professional development and networking that will be very important in their careers after graduation. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to participate in any pro bono initiatives the company is undertaking, allowing them to give back to the community.
What You’ll Gain from a NBCUniversal Legal Internship
The "NBCU: Law and Media" legal internship provides law students with a unique opportunity to learn more about the intersection of law and media. An internship with NBCU can serve as a valuable stepping stone towards a successful career in the entertainment, media, and technology industries.
The advantages of participating in the NBCU legal internship program extend far beyond the summer months and can play an essential role in enhancing a law student’s career. Many past interns have gone on to secure full-time positions at NBCU or other prominent companies in the fields of entertainment, media, and technology.
Interns also experience professional advancement by gaining valuable practical experience in the legal profession. Learning from experienced legal professionals is a great way to hone valuable legal skills and competencies. The NBCU internship program is an especially rewarding opportunity for those interested in pursuing biglaw positions or other full-time legal careers, as participants may even enjoy an offer of employment at the conclusion of their internship.
Beyond the potential career boost, the NBCU legal internship program also provides a great opportunity for networking. Interns will work exclusively with the NBCU legal team and gain extensive exposure to both NBCU and universal law. This environment presents interns with numerous networking opportunities and allows them to interact with experienced legal professionals who may help guide them along their career paths.
Finally, an internship with NBCU allows interns to develop invaluable skills that can help them become more competitive in today’s job market. In addition to in-house legal skills, interns can also take advantage of opportunities to improve their research, writing, and analytical skills. For law students who are currently pursuing clerkships for the following year, a successful NBCU legal internship program can significantly improve their chances of getting hired.
Feedback from Earlier Interns
Surrounded by like-minded peers and staff who aim to help them succeed, past NBCUniversal legal interns have found their experiences to be rewarding and eye-opening. "Not only did I actually gain insight into how the television industry operates on a massive scale (which I had previously only heard about in class), but I also learned more about myself in the process," says Hector Juge-Walter. "I was amazed by the complexity of the television business and the way that the various internal lawyers I spoke with work as a team to make sure everything runs smoothly." Juge-Walter continues: "I was particularly struck by the attention to detail and depth of analysis that most internal lawyers go to when formulating a response to legal issues. The internal lawyers are all amazing people, very bright, and just down-to-earth. I loved the diversity of the people I met. I loved the overall experience." For Miho Banno, working in the NBCUniversal Legal Department during her summer as a law student was, quite simply, "one of the best decisions I made during law school. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to intern in an in-house legal department of such a big company and experience life as a corporate attorney." Banno goes on: "What I found to be the most influential about the program is the interaction and camaraderie we had with each other. You get to bond with not only your fellow law interns , but also with all of the lawyers in the department, and see the best and worst as these lawyers go about their day-to-day. Because of all this, I would say that this internship was definitely an important turning point of my life and have not only made me grow as a person, but has also significantly impacted where I want to go in my legal career." For Veronica Krieger, her ten-week journey "was an unforgettable experience that went by way too fast. I created long-lasting relationships and friendships, and gained valuable experience that will set me apart from my peers. My ambitions for my future are greater than ever before." As it does with all its interns, NBCUniversal provided Krieger an opportunity to attend organized events and activities during her summer in Los Angeles to network with a variety of different professionals with backgrounds in various areas. One of these events was a visit to the set of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at NBC Studios in Burbank. Krieger also enjoyed the chance to help review and get a feel for her coworkers’ development deals. "It just comes to show how much I have learned from the people around me. Everyone was friendly and helpful," she adds, "and above all else, passionate and dedicated to their work."
Impressing the Screen on Your Application
How to Make Your Application Stand Out: Tips and Strategies for Success
Whether you are applying for an internship or a full-time position, it is important to demonstrate that you are passionate and knowledgeable about the role and the company. Regarding NBCU, make sure you can speak to an assortment of shows and recent entertainment news. NBCU Legal is comprised of several teams and it is important to have a good working knowledge of the work that they do. Make sure to pick at least two teams that interest you and explain why you would like to work with them.
In your application materials, and in person during the interview, be enthusiastic and explain why you are interested in joining the NBCU Legal Department. It is a demanding place to work, but both the work and the work environment are exciting and welcoming. Use your cover letter to explain your interest in joining the NBCU Legal team. And use your resume to demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for the media and entertainment industries. If you packed your resume with all of the summer jobs that are relevant to your law school coursework, but you really aren’t sure how you ended up at law school, then you should consider reworking your resume. Your resume should tell the story of who you are, even if who you are becomes clearer only after you make a few unexpected turns along the way.
During interviews, convey your personality and interests. Make sure that they see how easy and fun it will be to work with you, and show them the energy and enthusiasm you can offer the department. Finally, connect with them. There is a reason they are interviewing you. Show them they made the right choice by interviewing you. On the other hand, if you decide this is not the right place for you, then thank them for the opportunity and do not hesitate to move on, explore, and keep looking until you find the right fit!
Careers Ahead of You After the Internship
For interns who successfully complete the program, there are numerous potential career paths to backfill future NBCUniversal openings. Our interns are fortunate that we have consistently been able to bring in high performing interns into our ranks and have retained them as staff. To date we have had 13 interns join NBCUniversal as staff members. We currently have four returning interns from our inaugural class in 2000 working at NBCUniversal. Although not every intern earns an offer to return to NBCUniversal, we are grateful for the work our interns provide throughout the summer and should a space open , we would jump at the chance to bring them back to NBCUniversal. Many prior interns have gone on to work for or in-house with other major media companies.
Interns also go on to have very successful careers outside NBCUniversal. Some may wish to take their future careers in a different direction. For those who have their sights set on employment in the field, they are encouraged to consider applying for positions with us or other major media companies. Many right-shower interns go on to work for or in-house with other major media companies. Past interns have worked for 21st Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, Viacom, Lions Gate Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Discovery Communications, The Motion Picture Association, and Comedy Central, to name a few. Others have gone on to work at various law firms in a variety of practice areas.