PRESS RELEASES: 2009 Nigeria Legal Internship Program

The NLA's Nigeria Legal Internship Program, which was initiated in 2008, is intended to provide NLA members, as well as lawyers, law graduates and law students of Nigerian descent based in the United States with an opportunity to intern with participating law firms and other law-related organizations in Nigeria.

Apart from the exposure to Nigerian law and practice that interns will gain from the program, the program will also foster professional relationships between interns and legal practitioners in Nigeria. The program is in line with the NLA's mission of promoting legal education and professional development in the law. Details of the 2009 program are provided below.

NLA members, as well as law students, law graduates and attorneys of Nigerian descent based in the United States are eligible to participate in the program. Law students must be enrolled in a U.S. law school. Law graduates must be graduates of a U.S. law school.

Participating organizations currently include several law firms and public interest law organizations based in Nigeria. Detailed information about participating organizations and available internships may be accessed via our internship intranet portal upon registering for the program. See "Registering for the Internship Program" below.

To participate in the internship program, applicants must first register with the NLA. Registration is free. To register, applicants must complete our online internship registration form which is available at www.nigerianlawyers.org//programs-nigeria-legal-internship-intern-application.

After registering for the program, you will be able to access our internship intranet portal via www.nigerianlawyers.org/internship, using the username and password you provided in completing the online registration form.

To apply for an internship position, applicants must submit to the NLA, a resume and a cover letter addressed to the participating organization. Resumes and cover letters should be sent via email to internship@nigerianlawyers.org or via fax to (212) 571-4309. Applications must be received on or before the deadline (if applicable) specified by the participating organization for the internship position. Applicants must submit a separate cover letter for each participating organization applied to. Although certain participating organizations have indicated their preference for attorney, law graduate or law student applicants, unless otherwise indicated, such indications of preference do not preclude applications by other categories of applicants.

The NLA will forward applications to the relevant participating organizations. Participating organizations are expected to email applicants to acknowledge the receipt of their application. Participating organizations may contact applicants directly to request for any additional documents to facilitate their review of applications. Participating organizations may also arrange to interview applicants by phone or video conference. Participating organizations are expected to notify applicants of their decision as soon as practicable after the application deadline (if applicable) for an internship position.

If an application for an internship position is successful, the participating organization will negotiate any specific details and logistical matters directly with the applicant. With respect to contribution towards travel expenses to Nigeria, compensation, housing, transportation and any other form of support during the internship program, please note that the policies of participating organizations vary. Please review the information we have provided via our internship intranet portal regarding each participating organization's policy on these matters. Interns are solely responsible for reporting any income earned from the internship to all relevant tax authorities . Depending on the policy of the participating organization, applicants may be solely responsible for their travel expenses to Nigeria, as well as housing, transportation and living costs during the duration of their internship with a participating organization.

The NLA is an association of attorneys based in the United States. The NLA has been active in cultivating the science of jurisprudence and facilitating the administration of justice in the United States and Nigeria. In addition, the NLA serves the needs of members of the Nigerian legal community, as well as the Nigerian community as a whole, in their understanding of and access to the law. The NLA also promotes legal education and professional development in the law. Among other events and activities, the NLA holds periodic continuing legal education seminars for lawyers and conducts free legal clinics within the Nigerian community to assist individuals with various legal issues.