Legal Intern
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Legal Intern to join our Legal Department. In this role, you will play a central part in building and standardizing our contracting infrastructure — from the ground up. You will work closely with the Chief Legal Officer and cross-functional stakeholders to design, document, and implement processes that govern how the organization enters into, manages, and renews commercial agreements.
This is a hands-on, project-heavy role ideal for a law student or undergraduate who wants substantive exposure to commercial contract law, vendor management, and legal operations in a fast-paced environment.
Department: Legal
Reports To: Chief Legal Officer
Duration: 7-8 weeks
Type: Full-Time Internship
Location: Remote
Eligibility: 2L, 3L law students or recent JD graduates preferred; undergraduate accepted
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Legal Intern will own and drive forward the following workstreams under the supervision of the CLO:
Contracting & Renewal Process Design
Develop end-to-end workflows for initiating, reviewing, executing, and renewing commercial contracts.
Map current-state processes, identify gaps, and propose streamlined future-state procedures.
Establish clear timelines, approval checkpoints, and ownership at each stage of the contract lifecycle.
Create renewal calendars and alert mechanisms to ensure no contracts lapse unnoticed.
Naming Conventions
Design a standardized naming convention framework for all contract documents, templates, and related files.
Ensure conventions are intuitive, scalable, and compatible with the organization's document management systems.
Draft a naming conventions guide and obtain sign-off from relevant stakeholders.
Contract Matrices
Build a "must-have" matrix identifying clauses and provisions required in all vendor agreements (e.g., indemnification, limitation of liability, confidentiality, data protection, termination rights).
Develop a "prohibited terms" matrix documenting provisions that cannot be included in agreements due to legal risk or commercial policy (e.g., uncapped liability, perpetual auto-renewal without notice, unilateral amendment rights, termination due to change in control).
Maintain matrices as living documents, updated as legal risk appetite or commercial policy evolves.
Escalation Procedure for Significant Commercial Term Changes
Draft a clear, tiered escalation procedure for handling material deviations from standard commercial terms.
Define what constitutes a "significant change" requiring escalation (e.g., payment terms beyond net-60, liability caps below a defined threshold, IP ownership shifts).
Map escalation paths by contract value, risk category, and business unit, including designated approvers at each tier.
Create a decision-tree or flowchart version for ease of use by non-legal staff.
Pre-Legal Review Intake Template
Design a standardized intake form for business teams to complete before submitting contracts for legal review.
Template to capture: contract background, counterparty details, key commercial terms, business justification, risk flags, and any pre-agreed deviations.
Ensure the template reduces back-and-forth and enables legal to conduct faster, more targeted reviews.
Amendment vs. Restatement Procedure
Develop clear guidelines for determining when to use a contract amendment versus when to start afresh with a new agreement.
Key considerations to address include:
Number and scope of changes being made
Age and fitness-for-purpose of the original agreement
Whether prior terms remain operative or create confusion
Risk of layered amendment fatigue
Whether original agreement is on vendor paper or CIBT paper
Create a practical decision guide (checklist or flowchart format) accessible to both legal and business teams.
Governing Law Standardization
Audit existing contract templates to identify inconsistent or suboptimal governing law and jurisdiction clauses.
Establish a preferred governing law position for domestic and international agreements.
Develop a governing law rubric that sets out:
Preferred jurisdiction(s) and why
Acceptable fallback jurisdictions, ranked by preference
Jurisdictions to avoid and the rationale
Guidance for counterparty push-back scenarios
Update all standard templates to reflect the approved governing law position.
Contract Update Rollout Strategy
Identify and evaluate appropriate channels for communicating and deploying contract template updates across the organization.
Develop a rollout plan that addresses:
Stakeholder communication and training
Version control and template repository management
Transition periods for in-flight negotiations
Feedback loops for continuous improvement
Propose governance mechanisms to ensure templates remain current and are not bypassed.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate or an accredited law school (JD program).
Strong academic record with demonstrated interest in commercial, transactional, or corporate law.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills — ability to draft clearly and precisely.
Strong analytical and organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple workstreams independently.
Preferred
Prior exposure to contract drafting, legal operations, or in-house legal environments (through coursework, clinic, or prior internship).
Familiarity with contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools or legal document management platforms.
Experience with or coursework in commercial law, vendor contracts, or procurement.
Comfort working cross-functionally with business, finance, and procurement teams.
What You Will Gain
Substantive, portfolio-worthy work product — everything you build will be deployed and used by the organization.
Deep exposure to in-house legal operations and commercial contract practice.
Direct mentorship from experienced legal counsel.
Experience working cross-functionally with business, finance, and procurement stakeholders.
A comprehensive understanding of the full contract lifecycle, from pre-signature through renewal or termination.
Compensation & Benefits:
Hourly Rate: $30 - $35 (depending on geographic region, internal equity, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors)
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account
Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Coverage
Company Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off
Paid Parental Leave
Pet Insurance
Travel Assistance Services
Legal and Identity Theft Protection Plans
Commuter Benefit Subsidy
Employee Recognition Programs
Referral Bonus Opportunities
About Us
CIBT is a leading global provider of immigration and visa services for corporations and individuals, operating in 25 countries worldwide. With more than 30 years of experience, CIBT is the trusted service provider to many of the world’s leading companies, including a majority of the Fortune 500.
CIBT delivers a comprehensive suite of services through two primary brands: Newland Chase, a wholly owned subsidiary specializing in global immigration strategy and advisory services for corporate clients worldwide, and CIBTvisas, a market leader in business and travel visa services for both corporate and individual clients.
Through its global expertise and extensive network, CIBT helps organizations and travelers navigate complex travel and immigration requirements in a fast, convenient, and secure manner.
Equal Employment Opportunity
CIBT is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical condition, marital or family status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local law.
CIBT is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment and employment process for individuals with disabilities or other accessibility needs. If you require assistance or an accommodation, please contact us at GlobalRecruiting@cibt.com .