Externship Program-Information for Students
The Externship Program allows you to earn credit while gaining legal experience that will stand out on your resume. You will gain hands-on lawyering experience working with and as lawyers in real office settings. Placement areas can be in private firms, corporations, government offices, public interest/legal aid offices, judicial placements, and non-traditional placements. All work must be performed under the direct supervision of an attorney and are generally for one academic semester. Placements may be paid or unpaid and can be in person, remote or hybrid.
Requirements
Students cannot exceed 6 externship credits overall. Credits from the externship seminar are not included in the 6 credit maximum. Students who wish to exceed the 6 credit limit on externship placement credits must submit a petition seeking a waiver of the new rule. Any waiver granted must ensure compliance with the ABA Standard 311. Students who wish to seek a waiver under this process should review Article I, Rule C (iii) "Credit Limits for Non-Instructional Activities" here and submit a petition under "Article I: Exemption from non-instructional activities credit limit."
On-Campus J.D. (JDr)
Open to 2L and 3L students. 1L students are eligible for an externship the summer after their first year. Professional Responsibility is a pre/co-requisite class to any externship. Must be in good standing (2.5 GPA or higher). Participation in the accompanying, one credit externship seminar is required. A student signed Externship Agreement is required.
Hybrid/Online J.D. (JDinteractive)
Open to JDi students who have completed all their lower-level course requirements. Three (3) credits of externship (2 credits for placement and 1 credit seminar) are required as part of the JDi curriculum. Professional Responsibility is a pre/co-requisite class to any externship. Must be in good standing (2.5 GPA or higher). Participation in the accompanying, one credit externship seminar is required. A student signed Externship Agreement is required.
Externship Hours
Students select their externship credits based on their overall class schedule and in consultation with their placement supervisors. You must register for at least two credits of externship hours. Externship hours must be completed between the first day of the semester and the last day of the semester. Hours cannot be carried over from one semester to another. Hours are tracked on Orange CORE.
For enrollment of 2-6 credits, 1 credit equates to 50 hours: 2 credits-100 hours / 3 credits-150 hours / 4 credits-200 hours / 5 credits-250 hours / 6 credits-300 hours
For enrollment of more than 6 credits [waiver required], 1 credit equates to 45 hours: 7 credits-315 hours / 8 credits- 360 hours / 9 credits-405 hours / 10 credits-450 hours / 11 credits-495 hours Full time JDi: 10 credits-450 hours / Full time JDr: 12 credits-540 hours
Externship Process
- Once you have secured an externship placement, enter your externship information into Orange CORE for approval. Download and sign the Student Agreement Form, and upload it back in Orange CORE (Documents/Forms tab).
- Upon approval, your externship supervisor will receive an email requesting their confirmation and the return of a signed Memorandum of Agreement.
- Register for the one-credit externship seminar Law 901 (one credit) and externship placement Law 902 (2-6 credits).