My Summer Internship at ESW
I’m Jessica Moodley, a third-year Economics, Politics and Law student at Dublin City University. I always had a strong interest in law from a young age, but like many students, I was unsure how to gain meaningful experience and build professional connections within the industry.
This summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to work as a Legal Intern at ESW. Being part of the team has allowed me to gain first-hand experience of working within an in-house legal team and to see how legal principles are applied in a fast-paced global business environment.
Why I Applied for an Internship at ESW
As a student of such a broad degree with a wide range of potential career paths, I was eager to apply what I had learned in the classroom to real world legal and commercial matters.
Studying at DCU has given me access to fantastic opportunities to bridge the gap between university and the workplace and I was fortunate to take part in DCU’s Access to the Workplace programme, which helps students gain practical industry experience before graduating.
What It's Like Working with the Team and Experiencing ESW's Culture
What surprised me most was how quickly I felt included at ESW. From the beginning, I was invited to team meetings, introduced to colleagues across different departments and encouraged to get involved in conversations and projects.
The culture at ESW is very social and welcoming. No matter who I reached out to, people were generous with their time and happy to share their knowledge. That openness created an environment where it was easy to ask questions, learn from others, and make the most of the experience.
Skills and Experiences I Gained During My Time Here
One of the most valuable aspects of my internship has been the level of responsibility and trust given to me from day one. Throughout the internship, I gained a handful of experience of reviewing countless agreements with reviewing commercial agreements, working with NDAs, supporting document execution processes, managing legal records, and even getting a flavour of how legal risk is assessed in a business environment while collaborating with other teams.
Beyond my own daily responsibilities, ESW also invested heavily into my own development. Through LinkedIn Learning, training sessions, workshops and learning initiatives, I had access to endless amounts of resources-such as sessions to assist with legal terminology- that helped me to develop and build both technical and professional skills during my time at ESW, which I can now take forward with me into the future.
Considering an Internship at ESW? Here's My Advice
Be curious, ask questions and connect. The more involved you become, the more you will gain from the experience. Take advantage of the training opportunities available, learn from the people around you and be open to the challenges.
For me, this internship has been far more than just gaining work experience. It has allowed me to grow professional, build confidence in my skills, develop practical legal skills and gain a much clearer understanding of what a future career in law could look like. The experience has been incredibly rewarding, and it has given me lessons and skills that I will carry forward throughout my career.
See yourself at ESW? Explore our open roles today.
