In 1985, The Oklahoma Bar Association, through a cooperative effort with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, developed the Licensed Legal Intern program. Its purpose is to provide supervised practical training in trial advocacy and professional ethics to law students and recent law graduates thereby bridging the gap from the classroom to the courtroom. The prospective Intern qualifies by meeting the minimum criteria established in the Rules and works only under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney. Licensed Legal Interns (LLIs) learn essential lawyering skills through observation and practice.

Oklahoma’s Legal Intern program permits LLIs to appear in Court or before administrative agencies under certain circumstances, without the presence of the Supervising Attorney. This is unique as most other law student practice programs require the direct supervision of an experienced attorney. An LLI actually obtains a limited license to practice law, subject to the Rules and Regulations. Supervising attorneys are obligated to assure the maximum possible participation in court by the LLI, but must at the same time observe all the Rules and Regulations limiting what can be done without a Supervising Attorney present. The LLI and the Supervising Attorney share the same responsibility to observe all the Rules and Regulations defining this program. An LLI may not sign any pleading unless it is also signed by the supervising attorney (as defined in the Rules). The Supervising Attorney is always ultimately responsible for the quality of legal representation provided the client.

Oklahoma is somewhat more restrictive than many states regarding who may be an Intern. Applicants for an LLI license must go through the same background check and application procedure required to obtain the full license to practice law. If the LLI registers to take the bar in another state, there may be some duplication cost. The Legal Intern Committee of the OBA is aware of this and is working on possible solutions. The Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners continues to investigate the fitness of an Intern to practice with a limited legal license even though there may be possible inconvenience or additional cost to the student.