Internship Program

Become an internship sponsor joining well-known law firms and companies and directly benefit from the skills of our students.

All MIPLC students may complete an optional four-week internship between their first and second semester (usually March to early April). In addition, many of them, especially if they are from abroad, are interested in rounding off their LL.M. studies with longer-term practical experience after the completion of the program.

To support our students in obtaining adequate internship positions, we are constantly looking for new internship sponsors to expand our network. Our existing network includes a variety of law firms and patent law firms, companies, IP offices/ organizations, and NGOs.

At the time of the internships, all students have acquired substantial theoretical IP knowledge in addition to their prior professional experience. Our students value the opportunity to apply their newly-acquired knowledge in a working context. Our internship sponsors value their contributions to everyday business and their excellent training. Most of our existing sponsors have been long-term partners who host one or more new students every year.

If you would like to offer internships to our students, please contact us. We are aware that needs differ with each sponsor. Therefore, sponsors are encouraged to specify their requirements (with regard to professional and language skills) and fields of specialization to optimize the matching process. We want both sponsors and interns to benefit from the internship.

Our students come from all over the world. For the academic year 2010/11, the MIPLC has enrolled 31 students from 20 countries. Their educational and professional backgrounds vary as widely as their nationalities: a typical MIPLC class generally consists of 50-70% law graduates, with scientists, engineers, and other graduates making up the remaining 30-50%.

While just one year of professional experience is required for admission to the MIPLC, most of our students have already worked as attorneys, judges, university lecturers, engineers, etc. for several years. They are coming to the MIPLC to increase the breadth and depth of their IP knowledge and skills, and to further their careers.

Most of our students are now from countries other than Germany. All speak English, including legal terminology. German and other language skills vary with personal background.

Our students receive a list of all internship sponsors (including, if applicable, profile specifications) from which they may select three sponsors that are of interest to them. The MIPLC coordinates the entire process and will forward you the CVs of interested students, from which you can make your selection. You are welcome to interview candidates by phone or personally, if you wish.

Any issues such as duration of the internship, working hours, remuneration (if any) are subject to agreement between you and the student.

The academic year at the MIPLC starts in October. Our students receive a list of internship sponsors when they take up their studies, and are asked to select three sponsors by early November. The allocation process thus starts in mid-November, with the MIPLC contacting the sponsors and forwarding the students' CVs. The internship itself takes place during the MIPLC's five-week spring break (generally March to early April). The exact dates should be agreed upon between the internship sponsor and the intern.

In addition, we offer support to students who would like to do a longer-term internship after the completion of their studies, i.e. usually from October or November on. Students usually submit their requests from about June.

We will be happy to forward your internship offers to our students at any time.