General
What is the difference between clinical program, internship and externship?
How will I know if my clinical application has been accepted?

Applications
Can I apply for an in-house clinic and an externship?
How does my information get to an approved site?
What should my cover letter look like?
Why do I need a writing sample?
Why aren’t there any addresses on the approved placement database?
What is a waiver and how do I go about applying for one?
What if I complete a Summer Associate position?
I missed the application deadline, now what?

Externships
Am I guaranteed a placement in the firm I choose?
I want to set up my own externship, how much work does my field supervisor have to do?
Who pays for my travel expenses and room and board for moving or while I am at my externship?
Can I be paid and receive credit for an externship?
Who sets up my schedule for work and when I start?
Am I subject to the honor code while I am on my externship?
Can I choose my own faculty supervisor?
If I don’t have my externship approval letter by the time of registration, what should I do?

What is the difference between clinical program, internship and externship?

• A clinical program is an in-house clinic or an externship.
• An internship is 1) participation in an in-house clinic or a temporary paid position outside of the law school.
• An externship is an unpaid, for credit position, outside of the law school.

How will I know if my clinical application has been accepted?

For in-house clinics, a list will be posted the week before registration.

For externships, you will receive a letter the week before registration that you must take to the Registrar to register for your externship.

Can I apply for an in-house clinic and an externship?

Yes, you may apply for both, but you cannot complete more than one clinical program in the same term.

How does my information get to an approved site?

The Office of Planning, Programs, and Assessment compiles all applications for approved sites and mails the information directly to our contact at the site. Information is mailed the week of the application deadline.

What should my cover letter look like?

Please see Career and Professional Development or the cover letter section under 'Application Procedures'.

Why do I need a writing sample?

You must submit a writing sample because many placements would like to review the quality of your written work. Also, you must have a writing sample when you are job hunting, so you should begin preparing for the future.

Why aren’t there any addresses on the approved placement database?

The Office of Planning, Programs, and Assessment gathers all student information for each site and sends it directly to our contact at that site. Field supervisors are busy people and it is much easier for them to receive all potential students’ information at once to determine which students they would like to interview.

What is a waiver and how do I go about applying for one?

Students are required to complete a clinical program (in-house or an externship) before graduating. However, if a student has completed sufficient legal work outside of the curriculum, that student may waive the clinical requirement and take classes to fulfill the 90 credit hours required to graduate.

For a waiver students must have worked under a lawyer’s supervision, doing legal work, for at least 12 hours a week for 14 consecutive weeks.

To request a waiver, students must fill out a request form (available in the Office of Planning, Programs, and Assessment) and submit a resume, detailed description of your duties in legal employment, and your analysis of how you have achieved the goals of the externship program. Which are, developing 1) legal skills; 2) insight into various aspects of the legal system and profession; 3) sense of professional responsibility; and 4) the ability to reflect on and learn from that experience.

What if I complete a Summer Associate position?

You may qualify for a waiver.

I missed the application deadline, now what?

The deadline for clinical applications is set in stone, there are no exceptions. You must apply the following term.

Am I guaranteed a placement in the firm I choose?

No, placements are not guaranteed. You should always have a Plan B.

I want to set up my own externship, how much work does my field supervisor have to do?

Your field supervisor is responsible for overseeing all of your work. The other requirements are that they sign the externship agreement, have a meeting with a faculty member who will do a site visit and complete a mid-term evaluation and an end-of-term evaluation. Additionally, the Office of Planning, Programs, and Assessment can send a packet of information to the attorney or have the attorney contact the Clinical Coordinator.

Who pays for my travel expenses and room and board for moving or while I am at my externship?

The student pays for travel expenses and room and board. The student may request that the site pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with the work performed.

Can I be paid and receive credit for an externship?

No, students may not receive pay for the work that is used for credit.

Who sets up my schedule for work and when I start?

Prior to beginning your externship, you should work out your schedule with your site supervisor. Please be honest and forward about how much time you can spend at the site.

Am I subject to the honor code while I am on my externship?

YES!

Can I choose my own faculty supervisor?

If you are a local extern, you will be assigned to an externship class. You cannot choose a faculty supervisor. If you are a remote extern, you may request a faculty supervisor by submitting the signed Supervisor Request Form (available on the Portal). The deadline for requesting a faculty supervisor is by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday of Week 12 of the term before the externship begins.

If I don’t have my externship approval letter by the time of registration, what should I do?

Students can register for an externship anytime during open registration. A spot is held open for you, so it will not close like other classes. In this instance, you will have to register during open registration. You will not be charged any late registration fees. However, if you plan to take other classes while completing your externship, you should still register for those courses at the time you are assigned to register and add the externship later.