Internship
Your career at CMS
A career doesn't start just anywhere
Your talent, knowledge and courage should find a home from the moment you take your first steps into professional life. Experience the exciting practice of an international commercial law firm and gain comprehensive insights into our work processes.
Internship for law students
If you join us, you won't just be watching. We will involve you in high-calibre mandates from day one. You will become part of our team and will be in direct contact with experienced lawyers and specialists.
We offer around 180 internships throughout Germany every year.
Our extensive programmes for interns in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main, Cologne and Stuttgart are particularly popular and allow you to get to know numerous other interns. We also offer individual internships at our Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart locations.
Prerequisites for an internship
You have a very good university entrance qualification (Abitur) and already have some basic knowledge of law. You are in at least your fourth semester and have ideally completed your basic studies or intermediate examination or have at least obtained the first German Civil Code (BGB) certificate (kleiner BGB-Schein) and one other certificate. We also value a good command of English and a special interest in commercial law.
During your internship at CMS, you will generally also get to know practice areas that were not previously part of your degree programme. We do not expect prior knowledge in these areas.
Internship opportunities by location
Depending on your location, you'll hear specialist presentations and reports from client work. Social interaction is also a priority: excursions and various social events round out the program. Learn more about the opportunities at our locations:
In Berlin we offer one internship program per year.
Our internships in Cologne and Dusseldorf are designed to last three weeks. If a longer mandatory internship is required, it can be extended upon request.
In Frankfurt we offer two internship programs per year.
We offer individual internships at our Hamburg location. This means we don't assign fixed internship periods; instead, we respond to your application individually and coordinate the possible timeframe together.
Our internships in Cologne and Düsseldorf are designed to last three weeks. If a longer mandatory internship is required, it can be extended upon request.
At our Munich location, we offer a four-week internship twice a year.
In Stuttgart we offer an internship program twice a year.
Behind the scenes
Find out first-hand what it's like to be part of our firm. In this report (German language), former interns share their impressions and report on their time with us. Take a look and discover what you can expect from us.
Legal Tech & Innovation Praktikum
Are you passionate about law – and at the same time have a feel for technology?
Once a year – in August – we welcome dedicated law students who want to think and shape the world of law and technology together.
During this four-week internship, you will work at the interface of law and digitalization – mobile and flexible. Your own computer with a camera and audio capability is required. If you wish, you can also support the Legal Tech team on-site at our Berlin office – a workstation will of course be available for you.
What you should bring:
- A current law degree with above-average academic performance
- Basic knowledge of a programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C/C++) or a scripting/markup language such as HTML – for example, through an online course, school lessons, or a private project
Our Legal Tech internship not only offers you insight into the digital future of legal work, but also an opportunity to further develop your skills in an innovative environment.
Please note:
The internship positions for 2025 have already been filled.
If you would like to express your interest in an internship in fall 2026, we welcome your unsolicited application with a brief cover letter and your CV.
Student Internship
We offer student internships at our locations only in exceptional cases.
However, we are happy to receive your unsolicited application ('Initiativbewerbung'). Please send us your complete documents (CV, cover letter including your preferred time period, school transcripts, and any other relevant certificates) via the application form on our website.
We will gladly review whether we can offer you an internship on an individual basis.
Lay the foundation for your future career.
Many of our interns continue their journey with us as a legal trainee or associate. Discover what’s possible for you!
We seek Courageous Minds to tacke the legal world's biggest challenges.
Local market knowledge. Global outlook
We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.
About CMS