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Externships: Grades, Exams, Credits
Just the FAQs, please
How are externships graded?
Pass or Fail
How many hours must I work to earn credit?
Each hour of externship credit requires 40 hours of unpaid work.
How many externship credits may I earn for each type of externship?
You can qualify for a range of credits, depending on how many hours you work and the semester in which you work.
| Externship Type | Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Summer Semester |
| Criminal Litigation | 1 - 3 | 1 -3 | 1 - 6 |
| Federal Government | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| Judiciary | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| Non-profit Organization | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| Private Practice or In-house | 1 - 2 | 1 - 2 | 1 - 4 |
| State and Local Government | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| Therapeutic Courts | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| U.S. Attorney | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 6 |
| Virginia Attorney General | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 | 1 - 3 |
| Virginia Court of Appeals Staff Attorney | 3 | 3 | N.A. |
| Virginia General Assembly | N.A. | 1 - 3 | N.A. |
Is there a limit on the total externship credits I may earn in a single semester or during my law school studies?
There is a no credit limit for multiple externships during fall or spring semesters, but there is a 6-credit limit during the summer. Subject to the Law School’s policy on pass-fail credits, there is no limit on the total externship credits you may earn during your law school studies (except for externships with private practice firms or in-house corporate counsel, for which there is a 4-credit limit during your law school studies).
May I enroll for more than one type of externship per semester?
Yes, but you might have to wait until the add-drop period to do so.
