Externships - Career Services - Centers - Law School

Career Services

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

Spring 2012 Externships: 4 pm, October 28, 2011

Summer 2012 Externships: 4 pm, May 18, 2012

Fall 2012 Externships: 4 pm, March 30, 2012

WHAT IS AN EXTERNSHIP?

An Externship is an opportunity for students to earn credit by working full time, without pay, under the guidance of a practicing attorney at a carefully selected placement. This placement can be with a federal trial or appellate judge, state appellate judge, public interest agency, government agency, or corporate in-house counsel.

WHERE CAN A STUDENT EXTERN?

At Lewis & Clark, unlike many law schools, there are no “pre-selected” placements. Students are expected to research and choose their own placements using the resources available through the Career Services Office.

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.

Most government agencies and public interest organizations will take student Externs, even though they do not advertise for them.

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.

In addition, specific externship placements have been cultivated in Washington D.C. and Anchorage, Alaska. Students interested in either location should meet with Libby Davis, Associate Dean for Career Services.

ELIGIBILITY

Academic Semester: students must have (1) completed at least 3 semesters of law school by the time the externship commences, (2) have at least a 2.80 GPA at the time they apply, (3) satisfy the specific course pre-requisites for the type of externship they plan to do, and (4) have completed one of their graduation writing requirements by the time the externship placement commences. Students cannot extern during their final semester in law school.

Summer: students must have (1) completed their first year in law school by the time the externship commences, (2) have at least a 2.80 GPA, and (3) be earning at least a “credit” grade in L.A.W.

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

Students

Students considering an externship must:

(1) Read the What’s What section on Externships (pages 50-60)

(2) Schedule an appointment with Libby Davis, Associate Dean for Career Services & Alumni Relations, who oversees the Externship Program. eadavis@lclark.edu or (503) 768-6610. During the appointment, you will be provided with the application materials.

(3) Attend the mandatory class session: