"My practical experiences at the CTA helped to bolster my confidence as well as my resume." -CTA Legal Intern
The CTA’s Summer Legal Intern Program provides tangible skills and an opportunity to practice law under the supervision of a CTA attorney (after securing a 711 license). Interns will take depositions, represent the CTA in arbitrations, assist with trials, prepare and present motions in court, research/draft legal memoranda, review contracts, and participate in every element of the Law Department’s work. Interns will also gain an understanding of the diverse and complex legal issues addressed by the second largest transit agency in the country.
Interns can select their own projects and the areas of law they would like exposure to, including torts, employment/labor, corporate, appellate/policy, workers’ compensation, and subrogation. This provides Interns with a unique opportunity to explore a variety of practice areas and to develop expertise in those areas.
Each Intern will be assigned a mentor, who will meet with the Intern on a regular basis and provide informal guidance. Interns will receive regular feedback on their work, including performance evaluations. Interns also attend a series of seminars and tours of the CTA’s facilities so they can enhance their legal skills and knowledge of the CTA.
To qualify for the program, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Has completed his/her second year of law school (the CTA only hires rising 3L’s for the Summer Legal Intern Program)
- Is eligible to work in the United States;
- Is a student in good academic standing and has a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a scale of 4.0
Interns work 40 hours a week for ten weeks and they earn $22/hour. Please note that Interns who attend local law schools are eligible to continue working for the CTA during the fall and winter semesters for 15 hours/week.
Application Process
To apply for the Summer Legal Intern Program, please check the CTA Careers page for current Legal Intern openings. You will need to submit a cover letter, resume, and law school transcript through the CTA Careers job posting. If you have any questions about the CTA’s Legal Intern Program, you can contact Stephanie Grelewicz, Chief Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, at sgrelewicz@transitchicago.com.
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