If you are interested in an internship or externship, please e-mail Colleen M. Quinn your resume and the period of time you are seeking.

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What Will You Learn?

During the length of your internship/externship, we try to expose you to:

• Court
• Client meetings
• Depositions
• Mediations & trials
• Drafting pleadings
• Research memos
• Interviewing witnesses
• Investigating cases
• Various marketing meetings and tasks
• Just as much of the private practice as possible!

The majority of the internship is observational and interactive. The purpose of the internship is to educate you and broaden your view of the private practice of law in a small law firm.

We try to give you exposure to whatever areas of the law that may be of interest to you – you just have to let us know! If you want to learn a little about every area of the law we practice, we can do that as well.

What Will You Do?

Colleen Quinn practices adoption, surrogacy, personal injury and employment law, including running an Adoption & Surrogacy Law Center and a Women’s Injury Law Center. 

Quinn’s partners practice personal injury and family law. 

Every week, one of Quinn’s paralegal’s sends out a list to all interns of the upcoming week’s activities that are anticipated and can be attended in the following week. These activities may include:

• Depositions
• Court hearings
• Client meetings
• Attorney phone conferences
• Seminars
• Board meetings 
• And more!

Either Colleen Quinn or another attorney or Quinn’s paralegals give out and closely supervise assignments. We typically have a list of available assignments and you can choose which ones you would like to work on. 

Occasionally, upon your request, remote tasks can be assigned that can be done without coming to the office if you would like.

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Why to Learn From Colleen M. Quinn

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLLEN M. QUINN

What Will Your Schedule Be?

Our internships are very flexible – interns can work full-time or part-time (either half days or part of a week) as well as the full summer or part of the summer.

At present, there are no paid intern positions available. Some students do; however, qualify for academic credit if available through their current school. This is typically characterized as an externship rather than an internship. Because the internship is unpaid, we are more than happy to have you structure your internship around any other paying employment or school classes.

Our goal is to educate and inform you about the private practice of law for as much time as you would like to be so educated and informed.

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What Students Are Eligible?

Ms. Quinn has served as an Externship Supervisor for both the Marshall Wythe Law School at the College of William & Mary and the Washington & Lee Law School. Both schools have offered externship opportunities for academic credit. Ms. Quinn also has served as an Internship Supervisor for the J. Sargeant Reynolds Paralegal Studies program, for the Maggie Walker Governor’s School and for VCU. Other schools also may permit the internship to qualify for academic credit and we will support any such application.

Students not only come from numerous different law schools and colleges but even select local high schools. You do not have to be in an externship or internship program to apply for an internship with Ms. Quinn and the Quinn Law Centers.

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More Details and Perks About Your Internship or Externship

Dress is business casual. Suits are not at all required. You can bring your lunch – we have a kitchen, microwave, etc. We will try to take you out to lunch and bring you lunch some as well! Parking is on the right side of the building directly in front of the entrance to our law office and is free. We are located in the very near west end of Richmond just north of the Libbie Mill Mid-Town area off Staples Mill Road in Wilton Park.

We do ask that you give us a general idea of your expected intern schedule so we know when to expect you and when to look for you to attend scheduled activities. If you are sick or have other appointments or vacation plans, we simply ask that you give us as much notice as possible.

Unfortunately, given our small size and limited hiring needs, except in very rare situations, we are not able to offer employment following the internship. We do; however, provide letters of recommendation (so long as the intern’s performance supports such a letter) and try to provide hiring advice and useful contact information.

We would love to have you come learn and spend some time with us!

EMAIL COLLEEN M. QUINN TO LEARN MORE

Legal Internship Reviews

Name: Abby Simon
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2024

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

I interned full-time for eight weeks, working on assignments in the adoption and surrogacy, personal injury, employment, and family and estate planning law centers. Through this internship, I gained exposure to several areas of law in a hands-on small firm environment.

(2) What was the highlight?

A highlight for me was seeing Colleen in action during a contested adoption trial. This was my first time experiencing a live trial, and I learned so much about court proceedings and legal etiquette by witnessing firsthand.

Name: Emily Woomer
Year of Internship: Summer 2023

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

Throughout my internship, I was able to sit in client meetings with Colleen and see how
she interacts with different clients in each specialty she works in. I was also able to work
on different tasks for both sides of the house. These tasks included working on medical
chronologies, filling in insurance information and copays for personal injury cases,
sending requests for records and bills, as well as many other tasks. I also had the ability
to go to various court hearings, which was a unique experience that interested me greatly.

(2) What was the highlight?

Specifically, for me, the entire summer was a highlight. I came into this internship with a
very minimal understanding of what goes on in the legal field, aside from a couple of
lawyers I have been able to speak with. This was my first experience in a firm with
someone as accomplished as Colleen helping all the interns grow and learn things
together. I loved being able to sit in client meetings since the interns got a unique
perspective in seeing how Colleen works with different clients based on their cases and
personalities. I also enjoyed being able to go to different court hearings that occurred
based on the cases this summer. That is something that was very eye-opening, as to how
the system works in the grand scheme of the court system.

Name: Ritvika Palani
Year of Internship: Summer 2023

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My intern experience was quite varied between helping with personal injury cases and
adoption/surrogacy cases. This allowed me to learn so much in both fields. I assisted with
drafting petitions, med chronos, motions, and so much more in both of these fields and I also was
able to help with investigative work including reviewing body cam footage. Additionally, I was
able to sit in on a wide variety of client meetings (in person and virtually) as well as on
depositions. I also had a great experience of going to court a few times and even getting to watch
a trial in person. Overall, I got to experience many different aspects of a legal job and all the
tasks that they are required to take care of.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight of my internship was definitely all the different tasks I was able to do from
drafting to researching, even to investigating. I was able to learn so much about the behind-the-scenes effort as well as the trial effort on the day. My favorite part had to be actually getting to go to court and watch a trial in real time.

Name: Maddie McDermott
Year of Internship: Summer 2023

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

This was my first hands-on experience in any legal setting, and I really enjoyed getting to see
first-hand what it’s like to work in the legal field. I was exposed to many aspects of legal
practice, including attending court proceedings, sitting in on a deposition, and drafting various
legal documents. I got to watch many client meetings ranging in topics from family and estate
planning to employment law to traffic accidents and beyond! Watching Colleen interact with her
clients was always exciting and interesting, and Colleen always took the time to answer all of my
questions afterward. This internship also gave me the opportunity to learn some of the ins-and-
outs of running and working in a small law firm, as well as a better understanding of the time
requirements and overall lifestyle that come with the profession.

In addition to providing a practical, hands-on introduction to legal work, my internship was also
a lot of fun! The office environment was very warm and welcoming, and everyone there was
helpful, friendly, and a lot of fun to be around. Overall, interning for Colleen was a great first
experience in the legal field and a really enjoyable way to spend my summer!

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight for me was that I got to attend several court proceedings throughout the summer!
Going to court was always a fun and exciting experience, and it also gave me a better
understanding of what goes into preparing for trial and what lawyers might be able to expect on
the day of.

Name: Shriya Chemudupati
Year of Internship: Summer 2023

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

Walking into this internship, I was looking to learn about the legal field and gain an insider look
into some of the inner workings of the justice system from vastly different perspectives. What I
walked out of this internship with is not only that but so much more. Each day was different,
whether it be working on a plethora of cases involving her different law centers or getting to
witness real change in the court itself. Colleen made this experience something that I will never
forget and I’m especially thankful to have been mentored by someone as talented,
knowledgeable, and dedicated as her.

She worked closely with the other interns and me and formed close bonds with each and every
intern. As we sat in her lectures and consultations, I felt like I was getting to see the legal field in
a different light, especially with how it intersects with almost every field of study, ranging from
neuroscience to international adoption policy. That’s something you really can’t get elsewhere,
especially as an undergraduate legal intern.

Colleen, Peg, Merry, and Rachel make this experience feel like you’re going to your second
home, teaching you not only about the law but even guiding interns through life with advice and
fun stories.

(2) What was the highlight?

Getting to watch Colleen deliver lectures surrounding Adoption and Surrogacy Law was a real
treat. The way she presented the facts in a simple, meaningful, and fun way (especially with her
cartoons) was something that really helped me understand the field of Adoption and Surrogacy
law better. After getting to sit with her in multiple lectures, it was interesting to see how I could
take what I’ve learned from her lectures and her explaining information to clients and apply it to
the tasks that were assigned to me.

Name: Hala Al-Mustafa
Year of Internship: Summer 2023

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

It was a pleasant experience that really allowed me to learn about various legal areas. Going in, I
had no idea what to expect. I had no previous legal experience and this internship really provided
me with a general idea of what personal injury law entailed. I had the opportunity to choose the
tasks I wanted to complete and therefore, be exposed to the various stages involved in personal
injury cases.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight was working with all of the staff. Every person was so helpful and eager to answer
any questions I had on the specific tasks I was completing and questions in general about the law
field. I am so grateful to have worked with such a welcoming and friendly which made the entire
experience better.

Name: Tristan Ingersoll
Year of Internship: Summer 2022

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My internship was a great break from the grind that is Law School. First, I liked actually being able to assist in legal work that helped people in the real world as opposed to reading some ancient contract case from the 1600s. Also, interns were allowed to pick whatever interested us for which assignments we completed. The flexibility and freedom were amazing. Most importantly, the people. Peg and Colleen were beyond helpful and kind to all of us along the way whether it be answering a silly question or teaching us how to draft a legal form. Colleen is very smart, and you can see just by watching her how successful she has been for many years. Peg is probably one of the kindest people you will ever encounter. She is very good at speaking to you as a peer rather than a grunt intern just doing whatever the attorney can’t be bothered with. She does a great job making you feel at home and important as an intern, an experience many other places cannot offer.

(2) What was the highlight?

Observing a week-long trial. Watching Colleen and the other lawyers interact was very cool and a great learning experience.

Name: Alexis Bartee
Year of Internship/Externship: 2021-2022

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My intern experience was amazing. I started my mentorship program with Colleen Quinn with the goal of learning about the legal profession and some of the requirements of being a lawyer. I feel like I was exposed to not only cases and different client types, but also the lifestyle of a lawyer, the time requirements, the effort that goes into drafting, and many other activities. Talking with Colleen, Peg, Kim, and Fran all exposed me to various types of law. Whether it was estate or medical malpractice, each individual explained the legal field and some of the work I should expect to complete.

(2) What was the highlight?

I think the highlight of mentorship was either getting to attend actual trials or getting to sit in on client meetings. The trials were fascinating because I was able to witness actual court proceedings, but they also unveiled the overdramatized façade of court created by tv. There is a major amount of preparation and case research that comes with trial proceedings. It was interesting to watch Colleen and the other attorney each attempt to solidify their case point. It was also interesting seeing the jury members that we had researched ahead of the case because the demographics of a jury can be critical to the outcome of a case. I also enjoyed sitting in on client meetings because I was able to watch how Colleen conducted herself with every client in a formal, professional, yet friendly manner because client attitudes can vary anywhere from friendly to slightly aggressive. They were great informative opportunities for me.

Name: Rachel Sowder
Year of Internship/Externship: 2021-2022 Academic Year

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My externship experience with the Quinn Law Centers was by far the most practical, hands-on learning component of my entire law school education and it was more than I could have hoped for. Colleen has gone above and beyond to foster an environment that exposes you to all areas of her practice and the day-to-day responsibilities of a private practitioner.

The externship was tailored to my interests, and I was given the opportunity to choose assignments that explored areas of the law I thought I might be interested in practicing. Colleen always made sure to provide feedback on my work product in a positive and constructive format and went out of her way to tell me when I had done a good job.

Colleen is a truly generous person, and I could tell she truly cares about her externs. Colleen’s paralegal, Peg, is extremely kind and also has a wealth of knowledge regarding Colleen’s practice. Both Colleen and Peg go above and beyond to provide a positive, constructive, and educational experience.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight of my externship was attending several Women’s Bar Association luncheons with Colleen. Colleen has been very active in the Richmond Women’s Bar Association and introduced me to other influential female attorneys at the luncheons. Additionally, members from several different organizations spoke about the community’s legal needs and ways that we could volunteer our time to better serve the area. As I will be practicing in Richmond after the Bar, I really enjoyed learning about how I could serve the community I will soon be joining.

Name: Ashley Spencer
Year of Internship/Externship: Fall 2021

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My intern experience was terrific. I enjoyed learning different aspects of the law, such as Personal Injury, adoption, surrogacy & employment law. In addition, seeing and applying what I learned in school to other cases was a great experience.

During my internship I did a lot of personal injury cases in which I learned so much about; drafting medical chronological, drafting request medical records, pharmacy records, and billing. In addition to understanding the advantages of settlements and disadvantages of not settling.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight of my internship was talking to Peg every day. She is an insightful person. It’s always a pleasure talking with her; she gave me an insight into what it would be like working as a litigation paralegal. As well as gave me some insight into life in general.

Another highlight was being able to sit on consults. It was interesting hearing some of the client’s stories as well as being able to see how Colleen interacts with clients. Watching Colleen interact with clients gave me an insight into how lawyers should balance their professional duty to the client while still being sensitive to their concerns.

Name: Mary Kardos
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2021

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My experience this past summer was everything I could have hoped for! Every day was new and different – filled with unique combinations of client meetings of all different varieties, going to court, and drafting all sorts of documents. I truly learned so much about employment, estate, personal injury, adoption, and surrogacy law. I dove deep into an expansive variety of different cases and drafted everything from petitions and complaints, wills and trusts, to medical chronologies, letters, and pleadings. Colleen fosters an environment steeped in trust and curiosity, and she encourages the interns to try their hand at anything that may interest us. Colleen and her staff always provided me with feedback, answered questions, and encouraged me along the way. There was always something to do and contribute to, which I loved and found great value in. I was also able to learn from Colleen and her amazingly incredible staff on a distinctly personal level. The one-on-one and group conversations regarding the complexities of distinct cases or the nature of the legal practice were some of the most insightful moments of my experience. I was also exceedingly touched by clients’ openness in discussing their situations and life stories with interns. I was genuinely excited to come into the office every single day to observe and learn from Colleen.

(2) What was the highlight?

I would say there are numerous highlights! I definitely loved attending court proceedings. I was lucky enough to go quite a few times, and every experience was unique and interesting. In those moments, I was able to spend long amounts of time with Colleen and her clients. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about legal challenges and complications from the client’s point of view, and it was incredibly insightful to meet and speak with so many individuals, each with their own story. Colleen’s empathy for her clients is unmatched, and witnessing these interactions, which took place during either some of the best or more difficult moments of a client’s life, was very touching. On a daily basis, I loved drafting for and working on the longer-term projects for personal injury and adoption cases. This internship truly opened my eyes to so many types of law, and there was truly never a dull moment.

Name: Elizabeth Vanassec
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2021

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

I could not have asked for a better experience this summer. I was able to sit in on virtually all client meetings/consults, observe court proceedings, assist with trial prep, draft contracts and other documents, and generally experience the day-to-day of a law firm. Colleen and Peg were wonderful mentors, especially when it came to drafting documents—they struck a perfect balance of giving guidance and making me feel capable and prepared in my tasks, while also allowing me space to independently problem-solve. Also, the sheer number of different documents I was able to work on was invaluable—from Gestational Carrier Agreements to Warrants in Debt—was incredibly helpful!

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight for me was going to the Richmond Circuit Court with Colleen to observe her arguments during a hearing. It is amazing how much your perspective changes when you have done the research, drafting, or due diligence work for the case at issue.

(Another random highlight was going to court in Hanover with Colleen and Mary and getting a victory lunch at Cava afterward!)

Name: Karel Mazanec
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2013

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

I could not have asked for a better experience this summer. I was able to sit in on virtually all client meetings/consults, observe court proceedings, assist with trial prep, draft contracts and other documents, and generally experience the day-to-day of a law firm. Colleen and Peg were wonderful mentors, especially when it came to drafting documents—they struck a perfect balance of giving guidance and making me feel capable and prepared in my tasks, while also allowing me space to independently problem-solve. Also, the sheer number of different documents I was able to work on was invaluable—from Gestational Carrier Agreements to Warrants in Debt—was incredibly helpful!

(2) What was the highlight?

My personal highlight was drafting a settlement memorandum for a conference between the parties and a judge. Peg tasked me with this project, and it seemed super daunting at first: I had to look through all the pleadings and try to distill the entire case down to a few pages. This was my last big project of the summer, and I ended up spending a few days on it. I felt confident in my work product by the time I turned it in, and I think it was a great indicator of how much I learned throughout my summer here.

(Another random highlight was going to court in Hanover with Colleen and Mary and getting a victory lunch at Cava afterward!)

Name: Michelle Shuler
Year of Internship/Externship: 2013

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My experience working with Colleen Quinn was terrific. I was able to get real life experience with the law and apply things that I had previously only learned about in class or read about in case books. This internship gave me the opportunity to do things like draft documents just so that I would be given the chance to try it and learn from that opportunity. I really appreciated that I was able to try doing different things, even if I had never done them before, in order to gain experience. I was able to go on site visits, attended a pre-deposition and the deposition that followed, as well as numerous client meetings. I learned so much about the law in the six weeks that I was there and never once did I have to do menial tasks. This was a really great learning experience.

(2) What was the highlight?

I think that some of the highlights for me were hearing about or doing research on some of the more interesting cases. It was fun to see some of the crazy things that people do or the weird situations that people find themselves in that require the help of a personal injury lawyer.

Name: Robert Jain
Year of Internship/Externship: June 2013-July 2013

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

As an extern for Attorney Quinn, I deepened my understanding of personal injury, employment, and adoption law and gained valuable insight into the practical considerations of private legal practice in a small firm. I had ample opportunity to practice and hone my legal writing skills through drafting claim packages, complaints, discovery requests, and child surrogacy agreements. Occasionally, when a case presented an interesting or unusual set of facts, I was able to use my research skills to find the applicable state decision or law.

I also had several opportunities to participate in client interviews, depositions, and trips to court. While most law schools do a pretty good job of teaching the professional skills required for these tasks, it is very difficult to teach the interpersonal skills that a successful attorney is expected to have. In this regard, Colleen served as an excellent mentor of how a lawyer should balance his or her professional duty to the client while still being sensitive to the client’s interests and concerns.

Overall, the internship was an excellent experience. Attorney Quinn made sure to give externs meaningful tasks and provided useful tips and constructive feedback on assignments. Furthermore, the office staff was friendly and made themselves available for any questions that the externs might have. I would highly recommend this program, especially to those students who want to learn more about private practice in a small firm or personal injury and employment law.

(2) What was the highlight?

In general, the best part about externing for Quinn was getting to work on cases at various stages in litigation ranging from initial client intake interviews to settlement negotiation. With that in mind, my favorite experience was getting to go to JDR to watch Attorney Quinn argue a motion to enjoin DSS from removing two foster care children from their foster mother, at least until the father’s parental rights had been decided.

Name: Stevi Frost
Year of Internship/Externship: 2013

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

I had a wonderful experience this summer working with the firm. I did not expect to have the opportunity to interact with clients, draft legal documents, and attend events such as the deposition, during my first summer in law school. I was exposed to many different areas of law including adoption, ART, medical malpractice, employment, personal injury, family law and several other broad areas. It is difficult to understand what a profession as a lawyer entails, and it was so helpful to be able to interact so closely with Colleen this summer.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight of the summer was being able to meet the clients. Having the opportunity to hear the client’s story directly from them made the cases very interesting. It was nice to recognize that you can have client interaction, as opposed to law school where you are just reading cases that you do not have a connection to. Additionally, I really enjoyed attending the deposition and other events that we were invited to.

Name: Richard Spoor
Year of Internship/Externship: 2012

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

It was very informative, touching on a range of legal issues. Additionally, there was plenty of work to do which helped to make the experience even more rewarding. Further, the environment was conducive to learning. In short, it was an enjoyable and informative experience.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight for me was the Mediation. This was exactly the type of experience I was seeking out of an externship. Such an experience cannot be had in the confines of a class room.

Name: Sarah Jane Conner
Year of Internship/Externship: Fall 2012

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

My extern experience was extremely helpful. I learned a great deal about a wide range of issues in personal injury and adoption law through researching, drafting pleadings, and observing courtroom proceedings.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight was getting the chance to observe a negotiation. Although it did not end in an agreement, I gained invaluable insight into negotiation procedure and strategy.

Name: Christi Harsha
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2012

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

I interned over the past summer with the firm. I worked on several research assignments and memos for the personal injury, adoption/surrogacy, and ARTs practices. I drafted a brief, pleadings, and personal injury complaints. I think that I benefitted a great deal from this practical experience. I got to work on a variety of other tasks as well, such as helping to prepare presentations, calling clients and witnesses, and reviewing medical records. I enjoyed the exposure to a variety of practices areas as well as subspecialties of family law.

I also followed the attorneys to client meetings and court appearances, which I also very much enjoyed. I enjoyed being able to observe Ms. Quinn’s activities such as conference calls and presentations, and I appreciated her allowing all of us to tag along. I feel more prepared to practice after having seen a deposition, intake interview, etc. Ms. Quinn also often took the time to explain some of the issues surrounding marketing and running a firm, which was very helpful, as there are few opportunities for students to learn about the practicalities of operating and promoting a firm from a successful attorney. I also enjoyed working with everyone else in the office, as the other attorneys, paralegals, and staff were friendly and helpful.

(2) What was the highlight?

I really enjoyed being able to sit in on Ms. Quinn’s adoption consultations. I was grateful to learn how to communicate effectively with clients. I appreciated the opportunity to see how she interacted with the clients, addressed their concerns, and explained their options. I think that I have a better understanding of how to be professional yet sensitive to a client’s feelings and concerns after having been able to watch several of these. I think that the experiences and opportunities to gain interpersonal skills relevant to practicing law are rare in legal education, so I feel that this was a valuable learning experience.

Name: Nicholas Pylant
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2012

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

Last summer I spent six weeks working full-time with Colleen Quinn. Colleen provided me with a wonderful opportunity to build my legal skills by: allowing me to sit-in on attorney-client meetings; observing her in various court proceedings; and sharpening my legal writing and researching skills by examining recent precedent covering reproductive technology.

(2) What was the highlight?

The most memorable experience of the summer was when I joined Colleen for a court proceeding where a teenage mother put her infant up for adoption. This particular hearing was unique to me because the biological parent actually knew, and was friends with, the adoptive parents. Because of this long-established relationship, the biological parent was assured that she would be able to maintain regular contact with the infant child. The promise of a future relationship allowed all parties, even the biological mother, to leave the proceeding happy because the adoptive parents would be able to provide the child with more opportunities than were previously available to her.

Name: Karen Achilles
Year of Internship/Externship: Summer 2012

(1) Please summarize your intern/extern experience

In my extern experience, I was exposed to a variety of different legal areas including personal injury, ARTs, and general family law. I was able to get both an in-court experience with Attorney Quinn, and also do the preparatory paperwork for clients.

(2) What was the highlight?

The highlight of my externship was getting to create from start to (almost) finish a slideshow for a client’s wrongful death case to present to the insurance adjuster, as well as sitting in on the deposition involved in that case.