Where Legal Theory Meets Real Life

Lewis & Clark Law School’s externship program dates back to the 1970s, making it one of the oldest in the country. Over the years, it has evolved to become one of the most flexible, providing students with the opportunity to gain paid work experience while earning academic credit—from as few as 3 credits to as many as 12 per semester—meaning law students and employers can set up the externship that works for them.

Libby Davis, associate dean of student affairs“The advantage of the externship model over the internship model is that students and employers are coordinating with the law school, and we work hard on our end to ensure that the experience is focused on practical skills,” says Libby Davis, associate dean of student affairs, who oversees externships at the law school. “With oversight, supervision, and consistent feedback, students are doing the work of attorneys. It’s an opportunity to learn through work in practice and figure out which area of law a student is best suited for.”

The flexible structure of the program means students can extern as early as their first summer in law school. Lewis & Clark has established relationships with an extensive list of law offices across all legal sectors, but students are also able to self-initiate contact with an organization that aligns with their professional interests and geographic preferences. Some work locally in Portland, while others work in other states or even overseas.

Over the years, students have been placed in externships at the ACLU, the EPA, the Humane Society, and NIKE, among numerous others. Here are a few of the externship paths students have taken this spring—from negotiating with vendors at multinational companies, to holding social media networks accountable for their harmful effects, to dismantling barriers to legal representation for immigrant families.

Jessica Bridges JD ’25

Certificate: Environmental Law Extracurriculars: Earthrise Clinic, Recipient and Committee Member of the Joyce Ann Harpole Memorial Scholarship, Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant, Licensed Realtor Externships: Port of Portland, Intel

In summer 2023, drawing on her early interest in water and land-use law, Jessica began an externship with the Port of Portland. The port is responsible for overseeing the Portland International Airport, general aviation, and marine activities. Jessica continued working at the port through her second year of law school, gaining experience in labor and employment issues, constitutional issues, environmental issues, and litigation. Feeling the desire to explore a new field, she joined tech leader Intel as an extern in summer 2024, where she has been able to deepen her legal skills in negotiation and contract drafting. She has accepted an offer to return to Intel after graduation.

“Before my externships, I wasn’t sure what my career path would look like. I love working, but I have two children who I love even more. The position at Intel strikes the right balance for me as it allows me the space to learn and grow in the legal profession without sacrificing my family time. This exploration would not have been possible without the externship—it’s a vital part of the law school experience.”

Kristina McVay JD ’25

Certificate: Litigation and Advocacy Skills Extracurriculars: President of the Lewis & Clark Plaintiffs’ Law Association, Student Bar Association (SBA) Representative to the Alumni Board, SBA Representative to the Academic Enhancement Program Committee, Member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and the Women’s Law Caucus Externships: Social Media Victims Law Center

The Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC) is a law firm working to hold social media companies—primarily Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube—legally accountable for the harm they cause children. Kristina joined SMVLC as an extern in January 2024. After providing significant support to SMVLC’s attorneys during the early discovery process, Kristina’s role evolved into a law clerk position, where she has worked on several bellwether cases. She has accepted an offer to return as an associate at the firm after earning her JD and passing the bar exam.

“As the mother of two teenage daughters, I felt especially called to this work. This externship has been an incredible learning experience. I plan to continue fighting for families injured by social media products, and I will stay with SMVLC as long as they will have me.”

Matt Bratek JD ’26

Extracurriculars: Vice President of the Immigration Student Group, Co-Community Outreach Coordinator for the Public Interest Law Project, Law Admissions Tour Guide Externships: CLEAR Clinic

After stumbling across the CLEAR Clinic’s table at a career fair as a first-year law student, Matt began volunteering with the organization. The CLEAR Clinic is a nonprofit collective of legal workers that provides free services to Oregonians in need, including pro bono immigration legal services. In fall 2024, he returned to the clinic as a paid extern, with plans to extend his role through the summer. Matt works on the Limited Scope Immigration Justice team, which handles referrals from the Equity Corps of Oregon, a statewide program that ensures immigrants facing deportation who cannot afford attorneys have access to legal representation.

“The opportunity to work hands-on with clients and the wider community helps to ground me and remind me why I’m here, especially during the weeks when I’m drowning in assignments and feeling the stress of law school. My externship experience, coupled with my law school curriculum, has made me a much more agile and creative advocate for my future clients.”

Externships