Externship Program

The Externship Program is available to second and third year students who are in good academic standing. Students may participate in the Program during the academic year and/or during the summer. Interested students participate in an application and interview process with pre-established placement sites during the spring semester.

What to expect

The Externship consists of a 2 or 3 credit placement. Students spend 112 or 168 hours per semester at their placements, depending on the number of credits. The seminar is a 2 credit course. Professional Responsibility is a co- or pre-requisite. Placements are available to 2L and 3L students. Students need a minimum GPA of 2.2 to apply.

Students will:

• Identify legal problems and mechanisms for solving those problems.
• Prepare cases for presentation before judicial and administrative bodies.
• Identify and resolve ethical problems arising in cases.
• Negotiate, conduct legal research, and draft documents.
• Interview and counsel clients.
• Acquire knowledge in the substantive areas of law practiced at each placement.

In the classroom

The Externship Seminar provides an opportunity for reflective learning. The students are asked to consider what they do in their placements and how they can learn from those experiences.  We focus on how do get good supervision, how to learn from observation, how to obtain and use feedback, and how to make the transition from being a law student to being an attorney.