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Externships

Externs work in a legal or law-related setting for academic credit under the supervision of a licensed attorney, judge, legislator, or certified mediator (the "field supervisor"). The Externship Field Supervisor Handbook covers the externship program’s educational objectives, summarizes academic requirements, and outlines field supervisors’ responsibilities. The externship program is governed by both the American Bar Association’s Standards and Executive Committee Regulations of the Association of American Law Schools.

Types of Externships

All externships are offered during summer, fall, and spring semesters and are eligible for 1, 2, or 3 credits per semester, except as noted below. Each credit requires 40 hours of unpaid work. Externs also attend classes, submit journals, and prepare a final report.

Criminal Litigation Externships with state or federal public defenders and state or local prosecutors
Federal Government Externships with executive or legislative agencies of the U.S. government
Judicial Externships with judges, courts, and organizations that provide research, educational, and management services to judges and courts
Nonprofit Organization Externships with civil legal services and legal aid organizations and private nonprofit organizations
Private Practice and In-house Counsel Externships with solo practitioners, law firms, and in-house law departments of for-profit entities (1-3 credits summer; 1-2 credits fall/spring)
State and Local Government Externships with city or county attorneys, attorneys general, and executive or legislative agencies
U.S. Attorney Externships with civil or criminal divisions of U.S. Attorney offices
Virginia Attorney General Externships (2-3 credits summer/fall/spring)
Virginia General Assembly Externships with members of the Virginia Senate or House of Delegates (1-3 credits spring)

To arrange an externship

Please contact Robert E. Kaplan, Associate Dean and Director of Externships, at rekapl@wm.edu or 757-221-3804 if your organization is interested in arranging an externship.