Business Practice Credit

The Business Practice Credit allows students who are taking a business law course to earn academic credit for a supervised internship in which they assist attorneys in handling matters involving business law.

Students are placed in legal externship positions that correspond to their current coursework in business law.
Students gain hands-on experience negotiating and drafting agreements, determining compliance, arbitrating disputes, and participating in litigation activities.
Typical placements include Liberty Mutual, RNK Telecommunication, Natural Microsystems, Inc., NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Program Details

Click this link for complete details on the Business Practice Credit [PDF]

An "Invaluable" Experience

Melinda Veloso Hoag ’13

During spring 2013, I interned for the Office of Ethics & Corporate Compliance at Fresenius Medical Care in North America (FMCNA), which is the largest dialysis provider in the world. Given that FMCNA is a vertically integrated company, I gained experience and exposure to every aspect of FMCNA businesses, including clinical services, pharmacy, and products research.

I primarily worked under the supervision of Jonathan Glazier, senior director of Corporate Compliance & FMCNA Privacy Officer, who provided a substantial amount of support and guidance throughout the semester. I received candid feedback and advice regarding my work, which allowed me to gain a workable understanding of the compliance industry within a short period of time. I was included in all general meetings and I was encouraged to ask questions.

I was trained on the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. I prepared research on Medicare and Medicaid regulations and their effect on compliance operations, particularly recent Corporate Integrity Agreements with the Office of the Inspector General. In addition, I redrafted the Vendor Relations Policy after careful research into similarly situated companies and input from my supervisors.

I was introduced to all levels of FMCNA operations, including general counsel, government affairs, the business department, and pharmacies. I was also permitted to do a drive-along with FMCNA drivers to deliver dialysis equipment to patient’s homes and clinics, in order to gain perspective on dialysis treatment. Overall, the FMCNA team was incredibly welcoming and I sincerely enjoyed my experience both on a professional and personal level. — Melinda Veloso Hoag ’13

Sarah Kmieciak ’13

I was a law clerk in the in-house legal department of PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports/lifestyle companies that designs and develops footwear, apparel, and accessories. My responsibilities included researching case law for issues pertaining to legal exposure to PUMA; assisting lawyers with implementation and execution of legal training programs for all non-legal sides of PUMA's business; reviewing, editing, and working alongside PUMA's lawyers on general contract matters; and monitoring PUMA’s online assets, among other duties.

Working with the PUMA legal team was an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience. It was a fast-paced environment with new challenges every day. I was able to work on a variety of projects that affected PUMA's day to day operations. I was also able to draft agreements for exciting future projects. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of the position of in-house counsel and allowed me to strengthen my contract drafting skills. — Sarah Kmieciak '13

Nina Mathur ’14

During the summer of 2012 I was an intern in the enforcement section of the Massachusetts Securities Division. My work included IPO and REIT investigations, and research on Fifth Amendment privilege, the role of investment advisors in hedge funds, and on pooled investment vehicles. I also drafted inquiry letters and subpoenas and did citation checks for administrative complaints.

I was able to see investigations start from the ground up and take part in on-going investigations. The attorneys created a learning environment for me, assigning me tasks and research, but allowing me to ask any questions along the way. It was very much an open door policy. The attorneys also reviewed my work and provided suggestions for improvement on my writing and research skills. — Nina Mathur '14

Nidhi Anand ’12

Through New England Law | Boston’s Business Practice Credit, I had the opportunity, once again, to work with a team of attorneys in the legal group at State Street Corporation in Boston, which handles all technology-related legal matters. The mission of the Legal IT team is to limit the company’s risk exposure as it relates to technology, and responsibilities include review and negotiation of technology agreements, oversight of all intellectual property matters and providing feedback on the IT profile of, and potential risks associated with, proposed acquisitions. The nature of this internship required diligent research, the ability to understand and communicate the impact of new laws to attorneys and business analysts and to engage in day-to-day teamwork and assignments. The internship also allowed me to strengthen my ability to pay attention to details when revising and drafting various types of contracts. This invaluable experience has equipped me with the skills necessary to face the challenges which may arise in a corporate setting, and my supervisors have given me the confidence I need to begin my legal career. I believe I can carry the knowledge I gained working with State Street to any new endeavor I wish to pursue in the future. — Nidhi Anand '12

Thanks to the help of professors at New England Law | Boston, I was able to work in multiple internships that range from NASDAQ OMX/BOXR to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The faculty made themselves available for an exceptional amount of advice, discussion, and guidance when I decided to enter the field of business and corporate law. The Business Practice Credit allowed me to gather the necessary experience from these internships and garner enough knowledge to now have a great opportunity to work in compliance at a major financial institution following graduation. The professors and supervisors I worked for at these internships made this possible. The Business Practice Credit is where all opportunities began for me, and it is the best way to become involved and experienced in business law. — David Erickson '10

Spending a semester working in FINRA’s Enforcement Division was a challenging and gratifying experience. I was able to get a realistic and varied experience of what it is like to be a securities litigator through important assignments that were critical to the success of pending cases. Representative assignments throughout the internship included drafting settlement documents, preparing an appellate brief, drafting complaints, and taking investigative testimony. I worked closely with senior staff on every assignment and my suggestions and recommendations were always given due consideration. Feedback on assignments was thorough and incredibly helpful. The skills and law that I learned through practical experience at FINRA complemented my securities class work at New England Law | Boston perfectly. The collegial atmosphere made every minute spent at FINRA an enlightening, rewarding, and enjoyable experience. — Matthew Hranitz ’09

Keith Bae ’08

My experience at Sedo.com, LLC was invaluable. The Business Practice Credit gave me the opportunity to work as an in-house corporate legal intern at a rapidly growing Internet company. I felt that this position provided me with the opportunity to further explore the areas of law I was most interested in; more specifically, Corporate Law and Intellectual Property Law. I faced new challenges every day and dealt with matters I would not have dreamed of encountering as an intern, such as: drafting joint venture agreements, arbitrating trademark disputes, and interacting with attorneys that represent extremely high- profile clients. This opportunity served as the perfect practical component of my law school education. — Keith J. Bae '08

Dan Brunk ’07

My experience through the Business Practice Credit placement gave me perspective on the legal side of companies and business transactions. My placement was with the Enforcement Division of FINRA. I gained a great deal of insight into securities law, and the NASD [National Association of Securities Dealers] gave me the hands-on, practical experience with the regulation of the United States securities industry. I was directly involved with all areas of enforcement and was able to draft sanction agreements and complaints, assist in depositions, and plan and prepare hearing documents. I have previous experience in the banking industry, and my placement at the NASD helped solidify my plan to go into regulatory compliance when I graduate. — Dan Brunk '07

Willem Erwich '06

I have been spending time with Circor's General Counsel, Alan Glass, weekly since the first week in September. I was fortunate to have working knowledge of the company through my experiences as a commercial insurance broker for Marsh and McLennan handling Circor's Director's and Officer's insurance program. Alan has been introducing me to different contacts amongst Circor's operating divisions so that I may gather and analyze the different term and conditions being used by the operation divisions for purchase and sale.

The backdrop to this analysis is application of the terms and conditions within the context of Article 2. I am also spending time with Alan as he goes through litigation management and mergers and acquisition protocols. I have found these differing roles to be very interesting and is has confirmed my interest in corporate law and the desire to pursue the role of in-house after law school. — Willem Erwich '06

The Business Practice Credit was a wonderful opportunity for me to explore my interest in business transactional law. I chose a placement in the Boston Stock Exchange legal department to match my specific interests. My hands-on experience there not only supplemented my learning experience in law school, but it also allowed me to make contacts in the area of law that I intend to pursue as my career. The Business Practice Credit offers invaluable practical experience for anyone who wants to explore the practice of business law. — Stephanie Shirley '05

My placement at RNK Telecom through the Business Law Practice Credit gave me the opportunity to experience an in-house counsel work environment. During my internship, I worked on several research projects that allowed me to learn about the telecommunications industry and the impact the law has on it. I was interested in business law when I entered law school, and this placement offered me hands-on experience in a business setting. — James Thurman '03 spent a semester as a legal intern at RNK Inc. (RNK Telecom) in Dedham, MA, where Douglas S. Denny-Brown ('97) is general counsel and vice-president of regulatory affairs