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JD Externship Program


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Externships offer students the opportunity to gain perspective on the legal system, integrate theory with practice, and become more self-directed in their learning. They enable students to explore their professional goals, gain a deeper understanding of a practice area, and engage in public/community service.

Students will be able to take externships pursuant to either one of two options: (1) a 3 credit option; and (2) a 2 credit option. Both options are graded on a pass/fail basis. Externship credits are counted toward the seven-credit limit on pass/fail courses. PLEASE NOTE: The pass/fail limit was increased from six to seven credits effective Spring 2010 (see (http://www.law.georgetown.edu/registrar/passFail.html).

Placement Requirements ibility

Externships are permitted in government, judicial, public interest and non-profit entities. Supervision must be provided by an attorney. Students may not receive payment from an externship nor may students work on pro bono matters at a for profit entity.

In addition to field work, students must attend a series of five seminars throughout the semester to receive course credit for the externship. Students are required to submit reflective journals totaling 12 to 15 pages. Seminar dates and assignments are posted on the Externship Courseware site. Please register on the Courseware externship site once you have been confirmed as an extern student and emailed a site password. If you have questions about Courseware, please email jdexternships@law.georgetown.edu.

A student must submit an Externship Regisration Form and a Supervision Agreement Form in order to enroll. During the academic year, all externships should be in the Washington, DC area. Please refer to the Application Process below for more information.

Eligibility

The following are prerequisites for the externship program:

  • Student Standing
    Students must have completed one year of study as a fulltime or part time student.
  • Externships and Clinics
    Students may not concurrently enroll in an externship and a clinic, except Street Law.
  • Externships and Practicum Courses (previously Experiential Learning Courses)
    Students may not concurrently enroll in an externship and a practicum course unless granted special permission by both the instructor and the Assistant Dean of Clinical Programs.

Students in the 3 credit seminar must work at their placements at least 15 hours per week for 11 weeks, for a total of 165 hours. Students in the 2 credit seminar must work at their placements at least 10 hours per week for 11 weeks for a total of 110 hours.

You are eligible to receive Pro Bono Pledge credit for any hours worked in excess of your 110 or 165 required externship hours. Please direct any questions to Kim Matthews in the OPICS Office at x9655

Eligibility for Second Externship

To be eligible for a second externship, the student must submit a memo to Deborah Epstein, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs and Experiential Learning, explaining: (1) what his/her learning objectives are, and how they differ from those for the first externship; and (2) why these learning objectives cannot be met by existing clinical or experiential learning course opportunities.

Application Process

We are now acepting applications for Spring 2012.

To register for the externship seminar after you have secured your placement, you must fill out and submit the online Externship Registration Form and the Supervision Agreement Form. Continue to check MyAccess to confirm that you have been approved for the externship seminar. After your approval, please enroll in the Externship Courseware site (you will receive an email with a password and instructions). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Leslie de Leon at jdexternships@law.georgetown.edu.

Important deadlines and dates for the Summer 2012 externship seminar will be posted later this academic year.

Securing Your Placement

Students are responsible for finding their own placements. The OPICS office and the Program Director have many resources and can be very helpful in identifying potential opportunities.

Deadlines & Important Dates for Spring 2012 (last updated: 1/3/12)

  • January 24, 2012: Last day that Registration Forms will be accepted.
  • January 21, 2012 Mandatory Orientation at 9:00AM, Room: McD 205
  • January 25, 2012 Make-up Orientation at 3:30PM Room: Hotung 1000
  • January 30-Feburary 27, 2012: Individual meetings with Professor Caesar. Extern students will need to sign up through the externship Courseware site. The specific meeting times and dates will be posted under the "Links" tab. Students will have access to the Courseware site after their registration has been approved and processed.
  • March 12 and March 14, 2012: Reflection Sessions with Professors from 3:30PM to 4:30PM or 5:45PM to 6:45PM:. Extern students will need to sign up through the externship Courseware site for a specific session/classroom. Evening sessions on March 12 and 15, 2012 from 5:45PM-6:45PM. Evening students should sign up via Courseware as well.
  •  March 26-April 4 2012: Practitioner Sessions with guest lecturers from 5:45PM to 6:45PM, unless otherwise noted. Exten students will need to sign up through the externship courseware site for a specific session/classroom.
  • April 23-27, 2012 - Final Presentations. Times will vary from day to day. Extern students will need to sign up through the externship Courseware site for a specific session/classroom. Sessions on April 24 and April 26 will only be in the afternoon.

Deadlines & Important Dates for Summer 2012 (last updated: 2/8/12)

  • May 23, 2012: May 23, 2012 at 5PM is last day to turn in registration form.
  • May 16, 2012: Mandatory orientation will be held on Wednesday May 16, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Hotung 1000
  • Week of May 24th: A make-up orientation will be scheduled during the week of May 24th, the first week of the 2012 summer session. Location TBA.
  • Friday, June 15, 2012: Mid-term meeting is Friday, June 15, 2012, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location TBA.
  • Friday, July 13, 2012 and July 20, 2012: Depending on the length of the externship, students have the option of attending a final class session on Friday, July 13, 2012, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. or on Friday, July 20, 2012 from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Locations are TBA.

Contact Us

Carmia N. Caesar
Adjunct Profressor
Director of Extenship Programs & Public Interest Law Scholars
McD 346
(202) 661-6677
carmia.caesar@law.georgetown.edu

Leslie de Leon
Program Coordinator of Clinical Programs
McD 352
(202) 662-9862
jdexternships@law.georgetown.edu


Revised Feb 8, 2012 (LdL)