Externships
Externships provide students the opportunity to learn the law outside of the classroom by participating in and observing the legal system in action while earning course credits. Students work in settings where, under close supervision of an attorney or judge, they contribute to the ongoing work of the office. Students have the chance to learn the law by being active participants in the legal process. Externs also get to observe legal proceedings—e.g., depositions, settlement conferences, trials—so that they receive broad exposure to the legal system. A key aspect of every externship is close supervision by an attorney or judge who will review and comment on the student’s work throughout the term so that the student hones professional skills and expands one’s understanding of professional responsibilities.
Externships are with judicial and governmental offices and other organizations that serve the public interest. See Externship Placements. Student work depends on the office. When working in a judge’s chambers a student may research and write bench memos in preparation for hearings on cases or draft orders and opinions. In other offices they may conduct client or witness interviews, engage in discovery and document review, or other types of fact investigation.
Credits: For every externship, you must commit to work a certain number of hours and participate in the Externship Seminar.
The number of credits you may receive depends on the semester and the externship placement. In the fall or spring 14-week term, you must commit to work 16 hours/week to receive 4 credits and 24 hours/week to receive 6 credits. In the 7-week summer term, you must commit 24 hours/week to receive 3 credits and 40 hours/week to receive 5 credits. Some externships do not provide a choice in the number of credits that you may earn: please see the specific terms and number of credits available under the listing for each externship. You may enroll in more than one externship, subject to the restrictions listed under Prerequisities.
Prerequisites: For any externship, you must have substantially completed the Required Core Curriculum (RCC), completed 29 credits, and have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or better. Some externships have additional prerequisites, such as course requirements, GPA requirements, or background checks. You must fill out an application and release of information in order for us to find an appropriate placement for you.
Externships are subject to certain restrictions:
- You may not receive compensation for your work as an Extern;
- You cannot participate in an Externship and a Clinic during the same semester. See Academic Regulation 4.8.
- You may not enroll in the same externship more than once. This includes Judicial Externships (LAW 815).
- Of the 90 credit required for graduation, at least 73 must be in courses other than clinics or externships. Also, at least 68 of the 90 credits must be in non-800 level courses (e.g., clinics, externships, independent legal research, Moot Court, Law Review and Journal). See Academic Regulation 4.3.
The Externship Seminar is taught by a full-time faculty member at the law school. Students submit weekly written journals and make a presentation about their externship experience. The course is graded Pass/Fail. This grade is based on four factors: completion of the required number of hours and assignments given by the site supervisor, the site supervisor's written evaluation of the extern's work, timely and thoughtful journal entries, and attendance and participation in the externship seminar including a presentation on the extern’s experience.
Third year full-time and fourth year part-time students may be eligible to represent clients in court. Effective August 1, 2009, the Supreme Court has amended Rule II of the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio to allow legal interns to represent felons. Previously, interns could only provide representation for civil, administrative or misdemeanor cases. See our web pages on Ohio Supreme Court Legal Intern Certificate (for state court eligibility) and Federal Internship Rule (for federal court eligibility).
Interested students must contact Inga Laurent, Manager of Student Services, at inga.laurent@law.csuohio.edu or 216-687-4596.