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Externships

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is an externship and how does it differ from an internship?  An externship is a course in which a student works in a legal placement outside of the law school for academic credit. An internship may be a paid or volunteer position with an employer in which there is no academic credit awarded to the student.
  • Is an externship a required course? No, externships are entirely elective and it is not required for graduation, although it is recommended as a practical skills training for second and third year students.
  • How do I apply for an externship?  Please check Symplicity for current openings and submit your application materials (resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample as requested) through Symplicity for the externships available each semester. Check the important dates for deadlines throughout the year.  Some employers will schedule on-campus interviews to choose future externs and others will collect resumes and conduct interviews at the placement site.
  • If selected, how do I enroll for the externship? You must complete an application (available online or from the Externship Director) and get the appropriate signatures, then take the form to the Registrar to add to your class schedule.
  • What is the deadline to enroll for an externship?  You must register for the externship prior to the drop/add deadline for the semester in which you plan to participate. Registration must be completed in person with the Registrar; you are not able to register on DataVU.
  • How many externship credits can I get per semester and how many hours are required per externship? You are limited to three credits per externship enrolled and can take no more than five hours of externship credit per semester (in two externship placements).  You must work 45 hours for each externship credit (1 = 45, 2 = 90, 3 = 135).  A two-credit externship requires approximately 6.5 hours each week at the site and a three-credit externship requires almost 10 hours of work each week, based on a 13 week semester.
  • What if my externship and class schedule overlaps?  You must schedule your extern hours so they do not conflict with your class schedule. Arrange your extern schedule with your field supervisor as soon as you have been chosen for an externship. It is ideal if you have one or two days each week with no classes or a period of 4-5 hours free a couple days each week.
  • In how many externships may I participate during my three years of law school?  A student may complete nine cumulative hours of extern credits and three different extern placements while enrolled at Valpo Law.  You must complete your first year (or a total of 30 hours) before you can enroll in an externship.
  • How many different extern sites are there to choose from? Presently, there are more than 60 discrete approved externships, but more than 120 sites available when you consider the number of state and federal judges that select Valpo Law externs. 
  • Are the externships only offered locally or available in other regions?  The externship sites are located all over the country, from California to New York, although the majority of sites are located in the Midwest to allow students to participate during the semester in addition to completing coursework at the law school.
  • Can I receive payment or a stipend for my externship? Are travel and accommodations reimbursed? You may not be compensated in any fashion for an externship. Your travel and parking costs are your responsibility and travel is not counted as part of your time logged.
  • Are there details I can receive from upper-class students who have participated in previous externships?  If you would like to talk with students who participated in a specific externship, please contact Lisa Cannon for names of students with previous experience at the site.  At orientation each semester, a list of previously-enrolled students will be provided.
  • Do the externships have specific pre- or co-requisites?  Many placements have course pre- or co-requisites, specifically the Federal Judge Program and the various prosecutors’ office externships. Please see the list of externships with descriptions in the Bulletin for further details.
  • Can I complete an externship in the summer?  Many extern supervisors select candidates for each of the three semesters, including summer. Often, the summer offers more opportunities as other students would prefer to work in a paid position during the summer. Please note that summer externships require you pay for each credit hour individually, rather than your full- or part-time tuition during the fall or spring semesters.  The tuition for extern credit is typically less than for a lecture course during the summer. 
  • How do I propose an externship of my own choice? See Lisa Cannon for a new externship proposal form and further details.  October 10 is the deadline for proposals to be considered for the following spring semester and February 10 is the deadline for new summer and fall externship consideration.

Students interested in pursuing an externship should contact Lisa Cannon, at 219-465-7816