Experiment

1. MSU College of Law Externship Program
Spring 2017 Information Session

2. Externship Information Session
Spring 2017
Professor Jennifer Rosa, Director of Externship Programs
Jill Roberts, Assistant Director for Career Development, Career Services Office

3. EXTERNSHIP v INTERNSHIP
Internship
 Law practice experience done on a volunteer or paid basis
 Arranged individually between the student and the site
 No oversight from the Law College
 May be performed anywhere
Externship
 Experiential and academic components
 Law practice experience that allows the student to earn pass/fail
academic credit (various) and carries certain requirements
 Academic credit hours for an externship cost the same as any
other credit hours
 Typically performed only at nonprofit organizations or
government/judicial sites, reflecting a commitment to public
service and pro bono work

4. EXTERNSHIP BASICS
 What? Law practice experience outside the classroom for credit.
Students perform substantive legal work under the direct
supervision of an attorney and attend a mandatory classroom
seminar that meets periodically throughout the semester.
 Where? Students may work in judicial, governmental, legal aid or
nonprofit settings.
 Anywhere else? In limited circumstances, students may work at
law firms if they engage only in pro-bono work (work for indigent
or nonprofit clients only), court appointed defense work, or certain
local government work. There are also special placements
available in corporate general counsel offices.

5. GENERAL OBJECTIVES
Develop the following skills:
 Problem solving and negotiation
 Legal research, writing, and analysis
 Professional responsibility
 Communication
Gain the following professional advantages:
 Self-awareness
 Professional contacts
 Writing sample
 Recommender or reference

6. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
 Full-time students must have completed 1 full year of legal studies
 Good academic standing (at least a 2.0 GPA)
 For international students, because this is considered a law school
course, CPT is not required (see Dean Alsup if questions)

7. EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT
 Students may earn up to a maximum of 9 externship credits
total during law school
 PLAN AHEAD
 The configuration can be
(a) three, 3 credit externships;
(b) one, 3 credit and one, 6 credit externship; or
(c) one special 9 credit externship
 General Externships: 3 or 6 credits (6 requires permission)
 DC Externship Program: 6 or 9 credits (9 requires permission)
 Talsky Center International Externships: 9 credits (some exceptions)
 Cannot repeat the same externship site
 Graded on a pass/fail basis

8. EXPERIENTAL COMPONENT (cont.)
 3 credit externship, students must work at least 160 hours at the site
AND a minimum of 10 weeks during summer, 14 weeks during the
semester
 6 credit externship, students must work at least 320 hours at the site
AND a minimum of 10 weeks during the summer, 14 weeks during
semester
 9 credit externship, students must work at least 480 hours at the site
AND a minim of 10 weeks during the summer, 14 weeks during
semester
 Week Modification:
 Can work more weeks, but not fewer
 If a student needs to complete the externship in fewer weeks, must
obtain Professor Rosa’s approval
 Hours:
 Must complete the required number of hours by working those hours
(no hours given for holidays or vacation time)

9. PLACEMENT EXAMPLES
GOVERNMENT SITES
 Michigan Attorney General’s Office – Several Divisions
 Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs – Several Divisions
 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
 Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office
 Wayne County Prosecutor's Office
 City of Flint
 Michigan House Democratic Policy Staff
 U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corp. (JAG)
 U.S. Department of Justice
 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
 U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Michigan (deadline Oct. 3)

10. PLACEMENT EXAMPLES
COURT SITES
 U.S. Court of Appeals, Chambers of Hon. David W. McKeague
 U.S. District Court for the WD of MI, Chambers of Hon. Janet T. Neff
 Michigan Supreme Court – Justice McCormack
 Michigan Court of Appeals, Chambers of Hon. Mark Boonstra
 Michigan Court of Appeals – Research Division
 Kent County 17th Judicial Circuit – Judge Quist
 Ingham County 30th Judicial Circuit – Judge Aquilina
 Ingham County Probate Court
 U.S. Tax Court (Judge Buch)
 Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

11. PLACEMENT EXAMPLES
NON-PROFIT SITES
 Legal Services of South Central Michigan
 Elder Law of Michigan
 Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service
 Michigan Indigent Defense Commission
 Lakeshore Legal Aid – Counsel and Advocacy Law Line (CALL)
 MSU Office of General Counsel
 McLaren Health Corporation
 University of Michigan Health Systems Compliance Office
 St. Vincent Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic
 Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
 U.N. - International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

12. HOW TO OBTAIN AN EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
Postings in In Symplicity/CASE:
 Review Externship Site Descriptions and comments from past
externs on the specific posting in Symplicity
 Submit applications through Symplicity using the “Apply” button,
or as instructed by the specific site
 The posting in Symplicity will indicate how to apply
 When applying through Symplicity, you have to upload the
documents to send. Make sure you are selecting the correct cover
letter with the correct employer, address, & salutation
 Interview with externship site at their request
 Both student and the supervisor must complete necessary forms

13. HOW TO OBTAIN AN EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
Establish your own externship/create your own adventure!
 Site must meet externship requirements and objectives:
 Student must perform substantive legal work
 Student must be supervised by an attorney
 Site must be non-profit, legal aid, government, or judiciary
 A new site must be approved by Professor Rosa or CSO
 Both student and the supervisor must complete necessary forms

14. HOW TO OBTAIN AN EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT
**Once you accept an offer, it is expected that you will perform
an externship at that site**
For Summer Placements, Spring Recruitment Fair
 Friday, February 10, 2017
 1:00pm-3:30pm
 4th Floor Atrium
 Opportunity to speak in person with externship employers
 Take copies of your resume
 Professional dress required

15. ACADEMIC COMPONENT
In addition to time working, time will be spent in the classroom (5 classes
during regular academic year and 3 classes during summer semester)
 Students doing first externship in Michigan enroll in seminar that meets
during the academic semester/summer.
 During Summer, students may select from multiple seminar times that meet
both in East Lansing and Detroit.
 Students doing first externship out-of-state enroll in online seminar.
 Students who are enrolled in a second or third externship AND have
completed an in-person seminar may enroll in an online Advanced
Externship Seminar (after first) or Advanced+ Seminar (after second)

16. ACADEMIC COMPONENT (cont.)
Externship Seminar Requirements:
 Attendance is mandatory
 On time submission of assignments for general seminar
 Learning Plan
 Reflective Essays
 Final Paper
 Supervisor evaluation
 Student evaluation
 Weekly time logs
 All of the requirements must be completed in order to receive a passing
grade for the externship

17. FORMS
Required Forms:
 Externship Enrollment Form (from student, includes registration for
mandatory seminar sessions)
 Spring Externship Agreement Form (signed and submitted by
supervisor indicating they have reviewed the Field Placement
Supervisor’s Guide)
 Forms are turned into the CSO office. Once the forms are processed and
approved, they are submitted to the registrar’s office.
Forms are available from the Career Services Office and on the Career
Services website.
Complete and return no later than Wednesday, December 21, 2016.

18. FINANCIAL AID
Externship credit hours cost the same as
all other law school credits.
King and Merit Scholarships cover an externship
 No minimum credit enrollment requirement
Other types of financial aid also cover an externship
 You must take a minimum of 3 credits to receive a federal loan in
summer semester (Stafford loan or Gradplus)
John Garcia, The Office of Financial Aid
 517-432-6810
 garcia11@law.msu.edu

19. DEADLINES
Preferred Externship Deadline:
 As soon as you have your placement secured
Final Deadline (both forms): Wednesday, Dec. 21
No Exceptions!!

20. QUESTIONS?
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