Internship Program: Why Intern At HARLEM?

At HARLEM, we conduct regular experiential learning programs, internship and externship, in line with our Firm’s Pro Bono & CSR Initiatives. This is because we believe that the competition in the labour market is fierce. We also believe that every serious-minded student requires an experience to gain experience and that a practical work background carries a major significance when attempting to enter the already saturated labour market. Hence, our practice models have integrated the experiential learning programs via the paid internship and externship which doubtless have been ratified by great demonstrations of popular enthusiasm, as law graduates and undergraduates keen on learning continue to apply in droves, harnessing the ample opportunity we provide to them. 

Unlike conventional employment, our internship and externship have an emphasis on training and it is usually a period of practical experience valuable to law graduates waiting for the Law School as a means to allowing them experience how their studies are applied in the “real world”. Also, we receive law undergraduates from various universities who come to our firm for periods of internship or to make inquiries, receive enlightenment on the legal career and conduct research to further aspects of their studies.

All told, the inevitable result of our internship and externship programs has been one which helps the participants to gain exposure to real-world problems and issues, ease transition from being a student to entering the job market,  grow personally in the context of their career and personal goals as well as develop new skills and knowledge to enable them scale and measure better as Law undergrads and graduates, putting them on a better turf/podium and ensuring that they exceed far above their contemporaries. We make sure we entrust each intern with adequate responsibilities, opportunities and the leverage to grow. Our interns also have direct interface with the Principal Partner/CEO to build their confidence for potential full-time employment in the future.

We at HARLEM are enthused by the opportunity and platform we provide for these brilliant, young minds. That is the premise of the belief we nurture, and our justification for striving harder.

Please read more about our Virtual Internship HERE AND our Pro Bono & CSR Initiatives HERE.

You can also visit these links:

Regular Internship: CLICK HERE

Virtual Internship: CLICK HERE

Pictures/Comments of former Interns: CLICK HERE

HARLEM Internship Categories

Undergraduate Internship

The Undergraduate Internship program is for candidates currently running a university Law degree. However, the prospective intern must have completed at least 200Level (not below Second Class Upper division) in the University and must possess an outstanding interim academic record and a keen interest in our Firm’s practice areas, particularly Corporate/Commercial and Telecommunications Law. Competitive and attractive monthly stipend is paid to successful candidates. Considerations may also be given to smart, intelligent candidates BELOW Second Class Upper.

Pre-Law School/Pre-NYSC Internship

This Pre-Law School program is open to law graduates awaiting Law School and seeking work experience in the interim. We put emphasis on First Class or Second Class Upper, with an interest in our Firm’s practice areas, particularly Corporate/Commercial and Telecommunications Law. Considerations may also be given to smart, intelligent candidates below Second Class Upper.

The Pre-NYSC program is aimed at graduate level students, seeking an interim work experience, during the pendency of NYSC deployment. Again, only candidates on First Class or Second Class Upper are recruited, and they must also have an interest in our Firm’s practice areas, particularly  Telecommunications Law. 

HARLEM Internship Program Eligibility Criteria

Cutting across all forms of internship is the requirement that applicants must be organized, self-motivated and reliable with a razor-sharp ability to communicate. Applicants must also be cultural-fit into HARLEM’s practices and procedures, with a strong computer/web literacy.

Taken as a whole, applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for internship in HARLEM:

  • Be University students, aged between eighteen (18) to thirty (30) years;
  • Be willing to provide a consent/recommendation letter from either of the parents/guardian or Clergy or institution or a Senior Advocate of Nigeria;
  • Ability to use office-related software (MS Office), including e-mail outlook for official correspondence.
  • Be fluent in English Language (both written and spoken) and team-spirited.

Note that all eligible interns will be responsible for their transport fare to and from the office for the duration of their internship but they shall be paid competitive and attractive monthly stipends.

HARLEM Internship Program Application Procedure

Internship applicants are requested to send their applications to careers@harlemsolicitors.com or careers@harlemtelecomsacademy.com attaching:

  • A comprehensive CV (indicating your current CGPA) and a cover letter.
  • Copy of the latest Degree or equivalent (in case of Pre-Law School/NYSC) or any evidence showing completion of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme.
  • A consent/recommendation letter from either of the parents/guardian or Clergy or institution or a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, or head lecturer/Professor.
  • Soft copy of recent, professional passport photograph of the applicant. Note that only passports taken within the past 2 months, showing current appearance (which must be formal and professional) must be sent.

All applications, except for those that fail to comply with our conditions, are usually acknowleged in less than 24 hours. Please note that only shortlisted candidates are later contacted with entrance interview details.

HARLEM Internship Program: Terms and Conditions

The duration of HARLEM Internship Program shall not be less than one calendar month (5 weeks) and not more than three months with a possibility of extension for a further period and renewable at the instance of the Firm and subject to availability of space.

Before You Join HARLEM, Anything Else?

Yes, all prospective candidates are to note the following six (6) points about HARLEM Internship Program:

  • Successful completion of HARLEM Internship Program also guarantees CSR payment of monthly stipends during the first 3 months of the Intern’s Law School Programme  (to help the beneficiaries stabilize financially and have a ‘soft landing’ at Law School);
  • The following categories of award may be given: ‘Most Outstanding Intern’, ‘Best Video Lecturer’ and ‘Most Culture-Fit Intern’
  • Our Firm maintains a corporate/formal environment and all interns must also dress professionally, decently and in a business-like manner. Casual wears are, however, permitted on Fridays;
  • HARLEM‘s policies and procedures frown upon late arrival at work, poor time-management and lack of ability to meet deadlines;
  •  Interns are subject to all the practices, policies and procedures in force (including our Sexual Harassment Policies) as contained in HARLEM Employee Handbook, including our Firm’s email and internet policies;
  • HARLEM Internship Program provides an excellent, disciplined training ground only in our Firm’s areas of practice, with a strong emphasis on Telecommunications Law; and
  • HARLEM is a friendly but demanding work environment where all team members are on a first-name basis, regardless of age or position. We operate an open-door work ethics.

         Lastly, to get to know our former interns and what they have to say about HARLEM, see HERE.

Why HARLEM Virtual Internship?

Traditionally, HARLEM Internship Program offers students in-person opportunities to gain valuable work experience in ways that go beyond the theory taught in classrooms, affording them practical experience in a difficult job market and propagating the development, extension and expansion of their professional skills.

However, as our traditional internship program burgeons and, like a Virginia Creeper, blossoms with the passage of the day, gaining huge popularity and leading to applicants coming in droves with limited space, we developed innovative approach and adopt radically new and flexible internship methods by offering more flexible modality such as the ‘HARLEM Virtual Internship’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘HVI’), fostering more participation of graduates and undergraduates and other professionals who are desirous of enjoying the optimal benefits that HARLEM-style Internship program has to offer but are unable to make themselves physically present in our office due to financial, geographical, physical and time constraints.

What Benefits and Opportunities?

The HVI is a great way to demonstrate participants’ keen interest in the face-paced, collegial, friendly but ‘strict’ working conditions of HARLEM and in learning about corporate practice while developing new interest in the area of Telecommunications Law and Practice.

Our Virtual Internship program strengthens the link between education and employability, allowing for more students’ participation with a strong desire and passion for learning to enter into a situation in which they can develop their professional experience at a distance, and truly receive lectures and work intensely on authentic assignments that represent the actual work in the field under close scrutiny and a tighter regime of supervision. With a good internet connection and a computer/Android phone, then Bob’s your Uncle!

At HARLEM, we have also put in place a spread of new organisational and pedagogical concepts by which to ensure appropriate guidance of all virtual interns, made easier with the advancement of technology and our ICT Infrastructure. We believe that the HVI, like our traditional internship program, represents a good opportunity to turn the freshly acquired theoretical knowledge of participants into a practical experience through constant communication by E-mail, phone, Skype/Whatsapp/Telegram and Weekly Meetings.

Generally, implicit to the participation in the HVI program are the following take-aways:

  • practical experience in the field of study;
  • managing disparate viewpoints and competing interests;
  • turbo-charged knowledge of telecommunications law and practice;
  • communicating in a professional setting and gaining extra skills;
  • enhancing familiarity with digital tools, Email culture and tech-based work;
  • networking opportunities;
  • clear communication about tasks, problems, progress, reports, ideas, schedules;
  • learning working-methods of corporate practice;
  • augmenting learning goals and homework tasks;
  • getting participants’ mindset to something closer to their future needs;
  • acquirement of new soft skills, such as Punctuality, Meeting Deadlines and Time Management.

Structure of the HVI

HVI is an online work/training experience whose chief aim is to develop leadership traits in young undergraduates and graduates and assist them in realising their potentials. You should expect to be pushed beyond your limits as you work on assignments, prepare legal writings, video lectures on treated topics while you enjoy close interactions with our team members, copiously learning from them about HARLEM and how our  business of corporate practice works.

We at HARLEM are proud to say that, with the introduction of the HVI, first of its kind in Ibadan, Oyo State, a new and innovative pedagogical concept for gaining professional work experience has been awakened, making learning and training more accessible to students outside traditional cohorts.

HVI Categories

‘HVI Categories’ is similar to the criteria you find when you click HERE.

The HVI Eligibility Criteria

‘HVI Eligibility Criteria’ is similar to the criteria you find when you click HERE.

Additionally, any of HARLEM’s former Interns listed HERE is eligible to apply. We also encourage young lawyers or any other interested working professionals and graduates/undergraduates in related fields of study to apply, provided that they meet the other criteria.

The HVI Application Procedure

To apply, HVI candidates are to send their applications to  careers@harlemsolicitors.com or careers@harlemtelecomsacademy.com with the following documents attached:

  • A comprehensive CV (indicating your current CGPA) and a cover letter.
  • Copy of the latest Degree or equivalent (in case of Pre-Law School/NYSC) or any evidence, like Transcripts, showing completion of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or any other related programme.
  • Soft copy of recent, professional passport photograph of the applicant. Note that only passports taken within the past 2 months, showing current appearance (which must be formal and professional) must be sent.

All applications, except for those that fail to comply with our conditions, are usually acknowleged in less than 24 hours. Please note that only shortlisted candidates are later contacted with entrance online interview details.

Duration

There will be ONE (1) diet of HVI in a year. The diet shall run for maximum of 6 weekends (consisting of a 2-hour Zoom lecture). Prospective candidates are free to apply at any time and they shall be placed on the waiting list till applications are open for a particular year. It is advisable to keep glued to our social media platform, particularly Linkedin, where we publish activities concerning our internship platforms and so much more.

An Exit Test will be conducted towards the end of each diet and each participant will be required to submit a 5-minute-long video presentation before certificate of participation/merit can be awarded/sent to all successful candidates through the DHL courier.

All enquiries relating to the HVI are to be sent to either careers@harlemsolicitors.com or careers@harlemtelecomsacademy.com.

All the best!

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