Externships – “A Life Experience.”

“I learned more about practicing law and how to conduct myself as a lawyer working (as an extern) for four months than I learned in two years of law school and in numerous legal jobs”— Meredith Boyden ‘01

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Summer 2013 Externships:  May 17, 2013

Fall 2013 14-Credit & 10-Credit Externships: March 29, 2013

Fall 2013 5-Credit Externships:  August 16, 2013

Spring 2014 14-Credit, 10-Credit & 5-Credit Externships:  November 1, 2013

 

WHAT IS AN EXTERNSHIP?

Lewis & Clark Law School offers students the opportunity to earn academic credits for a carefully supervised, well-crafted work experience through the Externship Program.  The expectation is that students will be given a meaningful work experience, with a focus on student learning, in a field of law or work that enhances and builds on their classroom experience.

 WHERE CAN A STUDENT EXTERN?

While the Law School’s Career & Professional Development Center advertises numerous externship opportunities, students are also encouraged to develop their own externship placements.  Ideally, the placements are with public interest organizations, governmental agencies, courts, or in corporate settings.  Under special circumstances, private law firm placements may be approved. 

In all cases, an extern must be supervised by an attorney (or the equivalent) authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction in which the externship will be done.

We maintain a comprehensive list of all the Externship placements to date, which is a good place to start.  In addition, some employers post Externship positions and you can find those in our job postings.  We have also assembled a list of some possible placements from a variety of sources. 

During the past several years, the Global Law Program has developed Externship opportunities in China and India, although students interested in an International Externship are in no way limited to those countries.

THE EXTERNSHIP MODELS

During the academic year, students have the 3 externship models to choose between:  a 14-credit model, a 10-credit model, and a 5-credit model.  During the summer, externships earn 3 credits.  For more information on the models, please review this chart.

ELIGIBILITY

Each model has specific requirements, please refer to the  to review them.  Please note:  Transfer students must complete two (2) semesters of residency at Lewis & Clark Law School before commencing an externship placement.  

For more information or to ask specific questions, please contact Libby Davis, Associate Dean for Career & Professional Development and Alumni Relations, who oversees the Externship Program, at eadavis@lclark.edu or (503) 768-6610.

 

Students

Students considering an externship must:

(1) Review the chart and consider when they are interested in externing and what the requirements are.

(2) Schedule an appointment with Libby Davis, Associate Dean for Career & Professional Development and Alumni Relations, who oversees the Externship Program,  eadavis@lclark.edu or (503) 768-6610. 

(3) Apply for and secure a placement.

(4)  Complete the required paperwork needed to gain approval to extern (access to the paperwork will be provided by Associate Dean Libby Davis)

(5) Attend the mandatory pre-class session:

• Spring 2013 Part-Time Externs - webcast (link will be sent after approval)
• Spring 2013 Full-Time Externs - Wednesday, November 14, 12:00-1:30 pm, Room 8
• Summer 2013 - Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:00-2:00 pm; Room 1
• Fall 2013 Full-Time Externs - Thursday, April 11, 2013, 12:05-2:00 pm; Room 7

Employers

Employers interested in securing a Lewis & Clark Law School extern should contact the Career & Professional Development Center, lscs@lclark.edu or (503) 768-6608

U.S. Dept. of Labor Wage & Hour Fact Sheet

Important Documents

For Students:

• Access to documents required to apply for approval of an externship placement should be requested by email to Associate Dean Libby Davis, eadavis@lclark.edu
• Student Externship Handbook
• Overview of Individual Research Papers

For Employers/On-Site Mentors:

• Memorandum of Agreement (part 1 of application)
• On-Site Mentor Questionnaire (part 2 of application)

• On-Site Mentor Handbook
• Judicial Extern On-Site Mentor Handbook
• Mid-semester Evaluation form
• Final Evaluation form

For Faculty Advisors:

• Faculty Externship Handbook
• Site Visit Form