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Externships

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The Externship Program enables students to receive academic credit for gaining legal experience beyond that available in the classroom setting, by working under the supervision of a licensed attorney in a governmental or non-profit setting.

The amount of credit awarded for the field placement component of a student’s externship is based on the number of hours that the student works during the semester in the externship placement, with 1 credit awarded for every 50 hours of work, and a minimum of two credits per placement (totaling about one day per week). Travel time to and from the externship placement does not count towards the 50 hour per credit requirement. Students must work in the externship placement over the course of the entire semester unless they obtain special permission from the Externship Director.   

In addition to the hours spent working in the externship placement, first-time externs are required to take a 1-credit companion class on topics such as career planning, professionalism, and learning from supervision. Credit for work in the externship placement will be awarded on a Credit/No Credit basis, while the companion class is graded in accordance with a High Pass / Pass / Low Pass / Fail grading policy.

Please see our FAQs and a link to the Fall 2022 information session here.

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Eleni Bakst '17
Testimonial

I had the opportunity to draft the statement for one of (the United Nations) Special Rapporteurs. Not only did this assignment offer me the chance to practice a new form of writing and research an area I find very interesting, but it will also be amazing to hear the words I wrote spoken before the (U.N) General Assembly in New York.
 

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Eleni Bakst '17, who externed at the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights

A student participating in an externship must have completed or be currently enrolled in a course designated as satisfying the Ethics and Professionalism Requirement for graduation. This requirement may be waived, with permission, in order to enroll in an externship. A student who has earned 6 credits in externships and wishes to enroll in additional externship credits must obtain the prior approval of the faculty Curriculum Committee. A student participating in an externship may not earn a salary or receive other compensation for the work performed in the placement, except for reimbursement for travel and other work-related expenses required by the placement entity.

The following types of externships are available: Individual Externships, Advanced Individual Externships, Integrated Externships, and Faculty-Mentored Externships.

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Interested in an externship?
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Book an appointment with Professor Anne Gordon, Director of Externships. Externships must be confirmed by the last day of drop/add, and first-time externs must attend the first day of the Externship Seminar. For-profit externships, and any placement requiring faculty approval, will not be considered after the first day of classes.