Register for externships
Welcome to the Externship Program! Akron Law’s Externship Program offers students the opportunity to gain meaningful and substantive legal experience under the supervision and mentorship of practicing attorneys and judges. Students earn academic credit (2 credits (85 hours worked) or 3 credits (127.5 hours worked) to be worked) for legal work performed outside of the classroom and in approved legal settings such as government entities, public interest organizations, and courts. Students perform legal tasks and apply their academic studies to real cases, gaining valuable insight into the operation of legal institutions.
The primary educational goals of the program are to provide students with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of substantive law and the legal process; to improve their lawyering skills; to increase their understanding of the range of skills necessary for effective lawyering; to improve their understanding of the issues related to professional responsibility in legal practice; to develop productive working relationships; and to engage in reflective lawyering.
How do I apply?
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Fill out the application, and acknowledgement of responsibility and submit it along with your resume to Assistant Dean O’Brien and make an appointment to discuss your interest, career goals and potential placement. Externships are offered Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
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Who is eligible?
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Students must have successfully completed 29 credit hours and be in good standing. In certain circumstances, students with less than 29 credit hours may seek an exemption to enroll in the externship with permission from the Externship Coordinator and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
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How do I find a placement?
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Akron Law has a list of pre-approved placements for your externship experience. Each semester (fall, spring and summer), we will post opportunities that are approved for credit for the upcoming semester. Opportunities will vary each semester depending on attorney/placement participation. Students can also identify opportunities not on our list. However, if a student identifies an opportunity, the student must first obtain approval of the placement from Assistant Dean O’Brien prior to committing to the placement.
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Do I enroll in a course with the externship?
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Yes, you enroll in the course Externship I or Externship II (for continuing placements) during the semester of your placement. The course meets in a “boot-camp” prior to the start of the placement and then again several times throughout the semester to reflect and debrief on the experience.
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What is the externship protocol?
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The Protocol is the handbook detailing all aspects of expectations and guidelines for both students and employers in the externship. It is critical that you review this handbook.
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What are Public Interest Fellowships?
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Each summer, the Law School awards a stipend to a number of students who have secured a public interest placement. The Public Interest Law Program supports and encourages those students who would like to gain legal experience in public interest areas by facilitating their financial ability to engage in this work.
Learn More About Public Interest Fellowships
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Where can I get further information about Externships?
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For questions about placements, contact Alisa Benedict O’Brien, Assistant Dean of Career Planning, at 330-972-8540 or ab139@uakron.edu.
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