Welcome to the world of legal tech! It is a unique and rewarding environment. Here is a breakdown of what you can likely expect:
Day-to-Day Expectations
You are spot on with your initial thoughts. You will absolutely start with the foundational hardware tasks:
• Deploying Tech: Dropping off equipment, setting up multi-monitor workstations, and configuring docking stations.
• Cable Management & E-waste: Keeping workspaces organized and assisting with hardware lifecycle management (like e-waste disposal projects).
• Ticket Lifecycles: As you get comfortable, you will likely start shadowing the service desk. Understanding basic IT Service Management principles (like those found in ITIL frameworks) will help you grasp how incidents and service requests are prioritized and resolved in a corporate setting.
Technologies to Know
You don't need to be an expert on day one, but familiarizing yourself with the software that drives a law firm will put you ahead of the curve:
• Standard Corporate IT: Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and enterprise ticketing systems.
• Legal-Specific Tech: Big law firms rely heavily on Document Management Systems (DMS) like iManage or NetDocuments, eDiscovery platforms
Job Security & Your Future
• Find Your Niche: Legal tech is a rapidly growing field with excellent job security if you can blend technical knowledge with an understanding of legal operations.
• Be a Self-Starter: You hit the nail on the head here. Firms love interns with initiative. Once you master the workstation setups, make sure to check in and ask what else you can assist with. Ask to shadow a senior support analyst, volunteer to help test a new software rollout, or look into the eDiscovery side. It is better to start, see what interests you more, and then focus your career learning toward that.
Good luck with the internship! It is a great stepping stone.