Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceLists what a legal intern must have — law school certification, at least two semesters of legal studies, a dean's certification of character and ability, and introduction by an admitted attorney — and bars the intern from being paid directly by a client.
(a)In order to appear pursuant to these rules, the legal intern must:
(1)be certified by a law school approved by the American Bar Association or by the bar examining committee;
(2)have completed legal studies amounting to at least two semesters of credit in a three or four year course of legal studies, or the equivalent if the school is on some basis other than a semester basis except that the dean may certify a student under this section who has completed less than two semesters of credit or the equivalent to enable that student to participate in a faculty supervised law school clinical program;
(3)be certified by the dean of his or her law school as and being of good character and competent legal ability; and
(4)be introduced to the court in which he or she is appearing by an attorney admitted to practice in that court.
(b)A legal intern may not be employed or compensated directly by a client for services rendered. This section shall not prevent an attorney, legal aid bureau, law school, public defender agency or the state from compensating an eligible intern. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 70.)
Amendment History
(Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended June 22, 2009, to take effect Jan. 1, 2010; amended June 12, 2025, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.) HISTORY—2026: ‘‘And’’ was added to the end of subdivision (a) (3), and the semicolon at the end of subdivision (a) (4) was deleted and replaced with a period. Additionally, what had been subdivision (a) (5) was deleted.
Rules Committee Commentary
COMMENTARY—2026: The change to this section is required by the deletion of Section 3-21 in its entirety.
Plain-English Summary
To appear under these rules, a legal intern must meet four requirements. The intern must be certified by a law school approved by the American Bar Association or by the bar examining committee. The intern must have completed at least two semesters of credit in a three- or four-year law program (or the equivalent on a non-semester basis), though a dean may certify a student with less than two semesters to let that student take part in a faculty-supervised law school clinical program. The intern must be certified by the law school dean as being of good character and competent legal ability. And the intern must be introduced to the court by an attorney admitted to practice there.
The rule also draws a clear financial line: a legal intern cannot be employed or compensated directly by a client for services rendered. That restriction doesn't stop an attorney, legal aid bureau, law school, public defender agency, or the state from paying an eligible intern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much law school does a legal intern need to have completed?
At least two semesters of credit in a three- or four-year course of legal studies, or the equivalent, though a dean may certify a student with less to participate in a faculty-supervised clinical program.
Can a client pay a legal intern directly?
No. A legal intern may not be employed or compensated directly by a client, though an attorney, legal aid bureau, law school, public defender agency, or the state may compensate the intern.
Who certifies that an intern has good character and legal ability?
The dean of the intern’s law school must certify the intern as being of good character and competent legal ability.
Does an intern need someone to vouch for them in court?
Yes. The intern must be introduced to the court by an attorney who is admitted to practice in that court.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 3-16). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:legal intern eligibility requirements CTlaw student credit hours court practicecan a legal intern be paiddean certification legal internABA approved law school intern rule
COMMENTARY—2026: The change to this section is required by the deletion of Section 3-21 in its entirety.