Public service externs learn about the roles and responsibilities of public service attorneys, and strategic and ethical issues in public interest law. Externs develop skills in advocacy, legal drafting and law practice management, the ability to recognize and resolve strategic and ethical dilemmas, and the ability to learn from experience.

Combining externs at both criminal justice and public interest placements, the public service placement utilizes a classroom component to supplement the experience students receive working at approved placements such as a prosecutor's office or a legal aid office.

The deadline to apply for an externship is the first day of registration or when the class becomes full. You are encouraged to apply as soon as you have accepted a placement at an approved externship site as the class is capped. 

Externship requirements 

Students must complete 150 hours of fieldwork at an approved placement site. Students must also enroll in the Public Service Externship Colloquium and Public Service Externship Practicum.  Professional Responsibility and the Legal Profession is a prerequisite/co-requisite to enrollment in this externship.  Please note: only credits earned for the Public Service Externship Colloquium (2 cr.) and Public Service Externship Practicum (2 cr.) count toward the Law School's Experiential Learning Requirement. For a more complete description of these courses, students are advised to consult the course listings page.  

How to apply 

Information on how to apply to this externship can be found here.