Welcome to the Externship Program

Mission Statement:
The Externship Program at Texas Southern University – Thurgood Marshall School of Law (“TMSL”) offers our students the opportunity to earn academic credit for performing legal and law-related work outside of the classroom in approved legal settings, such as governmental agencies, civil and criminal law firms, nonprofit organizations, civil and criminal judges (state and federal), and corporate in-house legal departments. The goal is to provide TMSL students with practice-based legal experience that will enhance their appreciation and understanding of the practice of law as they pursue legal degrees. By working with their seminar instructors and field placement supervisors, TMSL students will further develop the skills needed to be successful in the practice of law.

Students can choose to participate in the:
Civil Law Externship Placement (4 credits) + Civil Trial Practice Seminar (2 credits)

• This experience allows students to gain practical training with governmental agencies, civil law firms, civil nonprofit organizations, and corporate in-house legal departments. Students can work on legal and law-related assignments to contribute to the work of these offices while learning under the mentorship of the supervising attorneys.

Students who accept a public interest placement must:

1. Complete fieldwork hours; and
   
2. Attend the Civil Trial Practice Seminar
   This seminar, taught by Professor Thalia Dubose, supports the students’ fieldwork experiences, and allows students to share experiences and discuss topics to foster their professional development. The seminar is not separately graded, and time spent in class is equivalent to a 2-credit course.

Organizations who have hosted students include:

1. Harris County Attorney’s Office
   
2. Private civil firms throughout Houston
   

Criminal Law Externship Placement (4 credits) + Criminal Trial Practice Seminar (2 credits)

• This experience allows students to gain practical training with prosecutor’s offices, public defender’s offices, criminal defense firms, and criminal law nonprofit organizations. Students can work on legal and law-related assignments to contribute to the work of these governmental agencies, offices, or organizations while learning under the mentorship of the supervising attorneys.

Students who accept a criminal law placement must:

1. Complete fieldwork hours; and
   
2. Attend the Criminal Trial Practice Seminar

This seminar, taught by Professor Lydia Johnson, supports the students’ fieldwork experience, and discusses the criminal law justice system and practical aspects of criminal law in practice. The seminar is not separately graded, and time spent in class is equivalent to a 2-credit course.

Organizations who have hosted students include:

1. Harris County District Attorney’s Office
   
2. Harris County Public Defender’s Office
   
3. Private criminal defense firms throughout Houston
   

Judicial Externship Placement (4 credits) + Judicial Trial Practice Seminar (2 credits)

This experience allows students to gain practical training with civil, criminal, probate, family law, or other types of judges on the federal, state, or local level. Students can work on legal and law-related assignments to contribute to the work of these judicial chambers while learning under the mentorship of the judge

Students who accept a criminal law placement must:

1. Complete fieldwork hours; and
   
2. Attend the Judicial Trial Practice Seminar
   

This seminar, taught by Judge Joy Thomas, supports the students’ fieldwork experience, and discusses the judicial system and practical aspects of serving as a judge. The seminar is not separately graded, and time spent in class is equivalent to a 2-credit course.

Organizations who have hosted students include:

1. Harris County Criminal and Civil District Courts
   
2. Harris County Criminal and Civil Courts at Law
   

The educational goals for this program are to have students

1. Improve their written, oral, and other lawyering skills;
   
2. Increase their understanding of the types of skills necessary to be the lawyers that their clients deserve;
   
3. Further their understanding of substantive law, as well as their understanding of the legal, ethical, and other issues they will face in practice;
   
4. Develop professional and productive working relationships; and
   
5. Engage in critical self-reflection to encourage continued success in the practice of law.
   

Placements

• Civil Externships
  
• Criminal Placements
  
• Federal and State Judicial Externships

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