Transcript Individual Externship Program

The Individual Externship Program
Experiential Learning
Tailored for You
March 24, 2016
What is an Individual Externship?
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Experiential learning opportunity in which the
student
 Performs volunteer legal work at a field placement
under supervision of an experienced attorney
 Reflects on that experience with guidance from a
member of the faculty, and
 Earns law school credit corresponding to the hours
of work performed
Differs from externship clinics in that there is no
classroom component (except when satisfying
PBLR)
Credits Correspond to Hours Worked
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Credits are earned at rate of 56 hours of
externship work per credit
Academic year externships are generally 2 or
3 credits, 1 under limited circumstances
PBLR-satisfying externships must be at least
3 credits
Summer externships may be up to 4 credits
Enrollment Restrictions
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1L’s may not enroll until June Term
Individual externship and SRP credits are
capped at a total of 8
Individual externship credits count toward the
maximum of 12 ungraded credits allowed
toward degree
Dual clinic/externship enrollment is permitted
only with approval of all supervisors
Satisfying the PBLR
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Individual externships will satisfy PBLR if:
 Student enrolls in externship of at least 3 credits;
 Student is concurrently enrolled in the one-credit,
graded Individual Externship Seminar (IES)
Seminar enrollment occurs during course selection,
but externship enrollment may occur later
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Student does not need to have externship secured when
enrolling in seminar
Seminar enrollment triggers counseling meeting with
Externship Director
Starting the Externship Selection
Process
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Consider how an externship fits into your
overall course of study, your interests, and/or
career plans
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Practice areas
Legal skills
Practice venues
Geographical considerations
Identifying a Suitable Field Placement
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Pursue field placements that meet your
educational and career goals
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Brainstorm plan of action with Externship
Director
Review list of approved externship placements
Review other volunteer legal opportunities posted
on Symplicity
Network at CPC and CBA events, and at Law
School symposia and conferences
Talk to faculty members and practicing attorneys
Types of Field Placements
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Public Sector
 State and federal court clerkships, administrative agencies
and departments, municipalities
Criminal Justice
 US and state’s attorneys, public defense
Public Interest Organizations
 General and specialized legal services
In-House Legal Departments
 General counsel for corporate and institutional clients
Law Firms
 General and specialized practices, mostly small
Securing a Field Placement
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Contact potential field placements/supervisors
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Explain your goals, interests, and availability
Provide any requested information: CV, writing sample,
cover letter, transcript
Follow selection procedures – interview, references
If offered an externship
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Understand the nature of work you will be doing
Set a schedule that maximizes your educational
experience
Ensure that placement meets program policies
Enrollment Process and Deadlines
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Enrollment requires two forms – application (signed by
student) and approval (signed by field supervisor and faculty
supervisor)
Enrollment forms must be submitted to the Externship
Director no later than the end of the first week of the semester
in which the student will enroll
Late applications may be accepted only for extenuating
circumstances
Students may not earn credit for hours worked prior to the
submission of a complete application
Summer deadlines are more flexible, but the restriction on
earning credit prior to submitting completed enrollment forms
still applies
Securing a Faculty Supervisor
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All individual externships must be supervised by a member of
the full-time faculty
For IES students only, the faculty supervisor is the Externship
Director.
Non-IES students must contact faculty members they know
through classes or other activities or organizations, or who
teach in the areas of law relevant to the field placement
The faculty supervisor must approve the student’s proposed
field placement and the type of work that the student will be
assigned
The faculty supervisor and student agree on the method by
and frequency with which the student will submit journals
and meet with the faculty supervisor during the externship
placement
Orientation Program
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All externs must attend an orientation
program before beginning work at the field
placement
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Review of:
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Enrollment process,
Record-keeping and reporting requirements
Ethical and professional obligations of externs,
Student practice rules,
Policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment and
inappropriate romantic relationships, and
Workplace etiquette
Recordkeeping Requirements
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Weekly Work Logs
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TWEN submissions describing time spent and
nature of work done
Reflections or Journals
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IES and non-IES students must engage in guided
reflection
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IES students have periodic reflections built into
seminar
Non-IES students must submit quarterly journal
entries to faculty supervisor.
Completing the Externship
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Complete work hours correlating to credits
sought
Satisfy worklog and reflection requirements
Submit to Externship Director three
evaluations:
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Student
Placement Supervisor
Faculty Supervisor
Why do an Individual Externship?
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Provides practice-based learning in
substantive law, skills, and professional
values
Provides insight into career goals/preferences
Provides work references/letters of
recommendation
Provides networking opportunities
Provides potential employment opportunities
Many students rate externship as a highlight
of legal education
An Alternative: Partnership and
Externship Clinics
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Some field placements are also associated with a
Partnership or Externship Clinic
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Partnership Clinics include the Center for Children’s Advocacy,
Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative (CULI), Environmental Law
Clinic (at CT Fund for the Environment), US Attorney’s Externship
Clinic
Externship Clinics include the Center for Energy and Environmental
Law (CEEL), Legislative Clinic, Administrative Clinic, Judicial
Clerkship Clinic, State’s Attorney’s Clinic
Students may have option of working at these field placements
through the associated clinic or as individual externs
Partnership and externship clinics have a specialized classroom
component and satisfy PBLR, but may be offered only once a year
and never in summer
Questions?
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Consult Individual Externships webpage
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Answers to FAQ’s
Contact Prof. Jennifer Mailly, Externship
Director
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[email protected]
860-570-5216