Externships

At William & Mary, students train to be citizen lawyers both in and out of the classroom.  Legal externships offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining valuable legal skills and insights about the practice of law in real-world settings.

Each semester, our students extern with a wide range of organizations, including state and federal courts, government agencies, prosecutors’ and public defenders’ offices, non-profits, and private law firms.  These organizations provide meaningful, substantive assignments that help students become practice ready.

Externship students are supported by both a field supervisor and a law school professor.  Each work closely with students throughout the semester to further develop their lawyering skills, substantive legal knowledge, and professional identities. 

Whether an externship is used to explore an unfamiliar area of law or to gain additional experience in a chosen field, many of our students find their experience to be a highlight of their legal education. 

Cecelia Tate - Private Practice Externship                         

One thing I learned about the practice of law from this externship is that people are going through some of the hardest times in their lives when they come to see an attorney.  One of the most important things my field supervisor did was to reassure her clients and make them feel confident not only in their case but also in themselves. I think this is important because, often in law school, I tend to focus on the end rather than the journey that leads to it.  Through the externship, I realized how important it is to help your clients feel heard.   

Cordelia Clark - Judicial Externship

This externship confirmed that I am capable of performing in a demanding legal environment requiring sustained intellectual effort and professional accountability. Being trusted with real legal work — drafting, researching, and analyzing — reinforced my confidence that I can meet the standards a judicial chamber demands.

Dana Lauchner - Nonprofit Externship

My field supervisor was a cornerstone of the externship, fostering my professional growth by balancing meaningful autonomy with direct, transparent feedback. I also had the opportunity to work under several other attorneys which created fascinating comparators. Exposure to their diverse approaches and supervisory styles, ranging from meticulous detail to fast-paced, big-picture thinking, broadened my adaptability and underscored how diverse this practice can be. 

Sam Cornette - Prosecutor Externship

Externing has offered me an unparalleled opportunity to put classroom knowledge into use. I have been able to develop and hone my practical legal skills by interviewing witnesses and victims, anticipating legal issues, conducting trials, and modeling the experienced attorneys I have been privileged to work with.  I am also grateful to have discovered my passion for being a prosecutor during my externships, and I am proud to be returning to work for the same office that helped me find that passion after graduation.