Legal Clinics > Externship Program

Civil Externship Program

The Civil Law Externship serves as a vehicle by which 3L students gain understanding, insight and actively explore legal careers in governmental and public interest entities. The practicum component of this externship is served in a field placement that allows the student extern the opportunity to learn by emersion in the legal departments of federal agencies; state agencies; local government agencies; administrative agencies; and public policy organizations. The practicum component allows the students to observe in practice and participate in the actual application of federal, state and local policies and ordinances; the processes employed in drafting said policies and ordinances; legal research and writing of policy and drafted legislation; case file management from beginning to end; and the inner workings of the legislative process and the impact the legislation and the process has on individual community members.

This practicum provides four (4) credit hours for 240 hours of work per semester. In addition, the classroom component provides (2) hours of credit and employs the Socratic learning pedagogy combined with opportunities for students to learn by reflective sharing of their experiences in their respective placements.

The classroom component includes but is not limited to: the instruction of students on how to engage in effective client interviewing; motion practice; deposition practice; discovery drafting, effective pre-trial procedures; legislative and policy drafting; voire dire techniques and other related skills.  In addition, the classroom component supports and enhances the student’s educational development by and through “rounds”- peer discussion on issues within the field placements.