Clinics & Externships: Externship Clinics

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The last day to apply for Spring 2023 externships, the Cannabis Law Clinic, and the Immigration Clinic has been extended to December 15, 2023.  

Students should apply by the deadline even if they do not have a placement.  

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EXTERNSHIPS:  

Students must be registered in an externship class to earn credit for their work. To register, students must submit the externship application packet with their current resume. All documents are due by the deadline above and must be sent via email.  

Submission of the application packet is required to register in the class but does not guarantee approval of the placement or space in the class. Students will be notified once their applications are approved. Please read the short FAQ below to learn about our application process and requirements.  

Questions? Students can reach Professor Elowsky via email: externships@ggu.edu.  

Important Information 

  • Placements for pay and credit must be approved by the Externship Coordinator before the start of the semester. 
  • Attendance is mandatory for all six meetings of the civil, judicial, and criminal externship classes, and for the externship clinics. Please check the course catalog to be sure you can attend each class. 
  • Externship placements are subject to ABA attendance requirements. Students must work a minimum of 12 weeks of the fall and spring semesters.
  • Students may not earn federal work study and credit in the same semester. 
  • Externships are open to international JD students, SJD, and LLM students. Please see FAQ for additional registration information for international students. 

More Information 

EXTERNSHIP

ABOUT

In externship clinics, students work under faculty supervision and the supervision of judges and attorneys in government agencies, law offices, counsel offices, and judges' chambers. Students also attend a seminar to share experiences and insights and to focus on the substantive nature of their work. The Externship Supervisor and Extern Agreement form may be downloaded (see below). For assistance with securing a placement for academic credit, please book an appointment with the Career Center. To register for the course, email your application packet along with your updated resume to externships@ggu.edu. Find the application packet here. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

Updated policies for the externship hours:

CONTACT

For further Questions or to discuss the program, please email: externships@ggu.edu.

EXTERNSHIP

LAW 896A Externship: Civil Field Placement

This course involves both classroom and field work components. In class, students work toward effectiveness in the field by developing skills, engaging in discussion, and reflecting on goals and performance. In the field, students practice civil litigation or transactional work at private or nonprofit law offices, government agencies, or in the legal departments of businesses. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Application required by deadline to enroll. See deadlines above and find the application here.

LAW 896B Externship: Advanced

This course involves both classroom and field-work components. In class, students work toward effectiveness in the field by developing skills, engaging in discussion, and reflecting on goals and performance. In the field, students practice civil litigation or transactional work at private or nonprofit law offices, government agencies, or in the legal departments of businesses. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Application required by deadline to enroll. See deadlines above and find the application here.

Prerequisite: completion of an externship course for credit in the same discipline.

 LAW 896C Externship: Judicial Externships

This course involves both classroom and field-work components. In class, students work toward effectiveness in the field by developing skills, engaging in discussion, and reflecting on goals and performance. In the field, students practice the research, writing and other skills needed to work under the supervision of a judge or court staff attorney. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Application required by deadline to enroll. See deadlines above and find the application here.

Prerequisite: cumulative GPA of 2.5 for state trial court and 2.75 for appellate and federal court.

Pre- or co-requisite: Evidence

LAW 896F Externship: Criminal Litigation

This course involves both classroom and field-work components. In class, students work toward effectiveness in the field by developing skills, engaging in discussion, and reflecting on goals and performance. In the field, students practice criminal litigation with prosecutors, public defenders or private defense attorneys. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Application required by deadline to enroll. See deadlines above and find the application here.

Pre- or co-requisite: Evidence

LAW 896I Externship: Immigration Clinic

This course includes both classroom and field work components. The clinic will be 100% online for Fall 2020. In class, students learn the intricacies of immigration law practice. In the field, students engage in a clinical experience with attorney supervision as they work with clients who are seeking relief in the form of asylum, U-visas, and other types of humanitarian relief. The classes and clinics are held on Thursday evenings. This course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Students must submit the required Application by the deadline to enroll and all Applications are subject to approval by the Externship Director. See deadlines above and find the application here. Part-time students receive priority registration. Prerequisite: LAW 842A or LAW 842D or LAW 706A, or receive approval from the Externship Director.

LAW 896M Externship: Cannabis Law Clinic

This course includes both classroom and field work components. The clinic will be 100% online for Spring 2020. In class, students learn the fundamentals of cannabis law practice. In the field, students engage in a clinical experience with attorney supervision as they advise clients on how to obtain cannabis operator licenses through the Equity Program. Students also will advise clients on all aspects of the cannabis industry, including regulatory, tax, contract, and intellectual property issues. The classes and clinics are held on Thursday evenings. The course counts toward completion of the Experiential Learning Requirement and is graded on a Credit/No Credit. Basis. Students must submit the required Application by the deadline to enroll and all Applications are subject to approval by the Externship Director.

EXTERNSHIP DOCUMENTS

 

HANDBOOKS

 

APPLICATIONS

EXTERNSHIP FAQ
What is an Externship Clinic?

Externship clinics offer students the opportunity to earn credit for supervised work with live clients in the areas of immigration and cannabis law. Externship clinics are taught by practicing attorneys, with academic oversight.

Opportunities to gain lawyering experience outside the traditional classroom include: Four Externship Courses, for which students attend seminars while gaining practical experience off campus:

  • Civil Litigation
  • Criminal Litigation
  • Judicial Externship
  • Advanced Externship (for repeating externships)

Two externship clinics:

  • Immigration Clinic (Asylum)
  • Cannabis Law Clinic
In addition to working in an approved placement, is there a classroom component to all externships?

Yes, students must attend a companion seminar that meets frequently, although not necessarily every week of the semester. Seminars are designed to develop professional competency and practice readiness. See individual course descriptions for more information about the seminar.

 
Where can I work as an extern?

You can work at approved placement in government agencies, non-profits, civil law firms, companies, and judicial chambers. You can extern locally or outside of the Bay Area. In some cases, you may also work in another country, or receive credit for another university’s summer program.

 
Can I receive academic credit while getting paid for my work?

Yes, according to new American Bar Association standards, you can receive academic credit while doing paid work. Placement for pay and credit must be approved by the Externship Director before the start of the semester. However, students cannot earn Federal Work Study and academic credit for an externship in the same semester.

 

What will I learn from participating in an externship while in law school?

The overarching goal is to help students become accomplished and reflective practitioners. In the seminar component of each externship class, students explore competencies relevant to their practice. This combination of hands-on, supervised work experience and classroom discussion helps students develop professional skills while enhancing their critical perspective of the issues confronting lawyers and legal institutions in modern society.

 

Who is eligible to enroll in an externship?

Students who have completed 28 units, are in good academic standing, and have completed any required pre-requisites for a course.

Enrollment in externship courses is limited and prior approval is mandatory. Check the specific course descriptions for additional prerequisites.

 
Can evening part-time (EPT) students participate in clinics and/or externship programs?

Yes. PT students are encouraged to consult with the Director of Externships to see if the particular clinic can accommodate the student’s schedule. Externships also offers two evening clinics – the Immigration Clinic and the Cannabis Law Clinic, which are designed to provide PT students with clinical opportunities.

 
Are LLM students eligible for clinics and/or externship programs?

Yes, as long as there is space available.

 

Are international students in the JD, SJD, or LLM programs eligible to enroll in externship programs?


Yes, as long as there is space is available, and certain additional requirements are met. International students should contact lawinternational@ggu.edu for more information about these requirements.  Students may also refer to this guide on the CPT requirements necessary to enroll in externships.

 
How many hours do I have to work for each field placement unit?

For each unit, students must work for 45 hours at an approved placement. Hours spent preparing for and/or in the accompanying seminar do not count toward the credits earned.

 

Can I take more than one clinic/externship at a time?

No. A student may enroll in only one clinic or externship course per term.

 
Are there limits on the number of clinic units I can earn during law school?
JD students are limited to no more than a total of 13 units during law school for any combination of externship. Courses that count toward this unit limitation include all externships & clinics.

How do I get started?
  • Work with Office of Career Services to identify an area in which you'd like to gain practical experience and get referrals to placements.
  • Visit GradLeaders for current listings, and review student evaluations of externship experiences.
  • Fill out an Externship Application and submit it, along with a current resume, to the Externship Program Coordinator through e-mail.
  • You must apply by the deadline even if you have not received an offer yet. Wait on approval and confirmed enrollment in the course. Remember to communicate with the Director of Externships if you have any problems securing a placement.
 
When should I start looking for a placement?

Only students who have successfully completed 28 credits are eligible to receive credit for an Externship experience. In most cases, students should begin seeking placements in the beginning of the semester PRIOR to the semester in which placement will be completed. (For example, begin applying for summer placements at the beginning of the spring semester.)

 

What about the Clinics? For more information on clinics
Four in-house "live-client" clinics that operate as law offices on campus:
Note: You do not receive externship credits working at the above mentioned in-house clinics.