<p>I just started a internship with a successful attorney in my small town. He and his wife have a firm based on prosecuting housing discrimination. Do colleges and/or law schools take internships into account, or are they just another non-factor because type/intensity/credibility can vary a tremendous amount? I would think that colleges at least would appreciate some practical experience in an area of demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>How to answer...</p>
<p>Colleges might care about your internship - it is a type of extra-curricular, if you will. I imagine that it would matter if you wanted it to - i.e. if you wrote a supplemental essay about it and could say something thought-provoking. If you gained insight into the world or maturity from your internship and can communicate that, I imagine that many colleges would consider that. Some colleges (such as my alma mater) are very focused on community service and the global community - such an internship would make you more attractive to that type of school. </p>
<p>Law schools won't care about this particular internship. If the stellar credential on your law school application is something you did in high school (and not the intervening five or six or ten years), I can guarantee you that you won't be seeing many acceptances. It would be like listing a sixth-grade award on your college app.</p>
<p>Generally, if you interned in college (or worked after college), some law schools might give you a tip - although LSAT and GPA are far and away the most important factors. Mostly, internships in law and then something (cover letter, essay) that links that internship to "why law school" is helpful - they know that you are serious about getting a JD.</p>