Externship Questions

What are the Requirements for Externships?

For both the Judicial or Basic externships, a student must have completed the first year of academic study (here at JMLS that means 29 credits) in accordance with ABA requirements. Additionally, to participate in the Judicial externship program, a student must rank in the top 25% of the class, or be in the top 33% of the class and be involved with one of the school's honors programs. There are NO rank requirements for a basic externship placement.

How do I register for an externship?

For a judicial externship, complete the online Judicial Externship Application. Follow the instructions regarding the additional supporting documents that you will need to submit with your application. You will submit a copy of your resume, your transcript and a writing sample; a cover letter specifying your area of interest and whether you prefer federal, state supreme, appellate, or circuit court, and, if circuit court, whether your interest is in civil or criminal court.. Placements in the Judicial Externship Program are not guaranteed. Once your placement is secured, your application will be approved and forwarded by the Externship Program Director to the Registrar for registration.

For the Basic Externship program, pick up a copy of the Externship Program Student Handbook at the Center office, room 411, which contains a description of potential placement opportunites. After reviewing the available placements, contact the individual listed for the agency and set up an interview. Be sure to tell them that you would like to "extern" with their agency "for school credit." No compensation for your work will be allowed. When you have secured a placement, complete the online Basic Externship Application. Follow the instructions regarding how to submit a copy of your resume that is to accompany your application. Once your application has been approved by the Externship Program Director, it will be forwarded to the Registrar for registration.

I already work somewhere, may I use this as an externship and receive credit?

Only externships with selected, approved placements are eligible for school credit through this program. Absolutely no compensation is allowed per ABA regulations. Approved placements include government agencies and not-for-profits, and private firms specializing in the practice of Intellectual Property. Agencies that are not currently listed in the blue booklet may be presented to the director for approval. If you are currently volunteering at an approved agency, you may register for the externship program for credit.

What are the requirements for the externship course?

There is a mandatory classroom component to both of the externship programs. The Judicial course is taught by an appellate justice and is normally scheduled for 8 classes during the fall and spring semesters (4 times during the summer), from 12:05 pm to 1:00 pm. You may not be involved in any other form of law-related employment during the semester that you are serving as a JUDICIAL extern through the JMLS program. You must accept the first offer you receive. Once you apply for a Judicial Externship you may not remove your application if your materials have been sent to a chambers.

The Basic Externship Program is comprised of 5 clinics. Depending upon your placement, you will attend either the Prosecution Clinic (for placements with county state's attorneys offices, the U. S. Attorney's office and other enforcement agencies,); the Defender's Clinic (comprised of various county public defender offices, the appellate defender and federal defender panel attorneys); the Local Government clinic (the Corporation Counsel's Office, the Attorney General's office, Chicago Public Schools, the Board of Election Commissioners, etc.) the IP clinic, (composed of various private firms and government offices) or the the Immigration Clinic. All basic externship classes meet on the same 8 Tuesdays of the fall and spring semesters (4 Tuesdays during the summer), beginning with the first Tuesday of each semester, from 5 to 5:50 pm in various classrooms.

How many hours do I have to work?

The number of hours you will be required to work at your placement is dependent upon the number of credits for which you take the course. One or two credits will require 120 hours of work at the placement during the course of the semester. For every credit after that, up to 4 per semester, you must work another 60 hours at the placement. Weekly time sheets must be signed by your supervisor at the placement and turned in to the Center office, room 411, each week. All hours are to be completed within the start and end dates for the semester. Work hours performed before or after the semester do not count towards the hours required.

*Please note - only 6 hours of any externship credit is allowed over the course of your entire law school career.