Externships at Akron Law
Akron Law students have the opportunity to enroll in externships with legal organizations to gain experience while learning how law is practiced. Externships offer valuable training that is of interest to employers and help students develop their skills of advocacy, client counseling, legal writing, and professionalism under the supervision of a mentoring lawyer. Students earn course credit of 2 or 3 credits, or alternatively may apply for a Public Interest Fellowship stipend. For more information or to apply, click here.
Placements
Akron Law offers a variety of placements with public, private, and non-profit organizations to match student interest and career goals, or we can help you find a new placement or a placement in another geographic location. Students working in externships may not receive compensation for participating in that placement, if they are receiving course credit.
Judicial: Ohio Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio, U.S. Immigration Court, Ohio Court of Appeals for the Ninth District, Ohio Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Summit County Common Pleas, Summit County Domestic Relations Court, Summit County Probate Court, Stark County Probate Court, Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court, Barberton Municipal Court
Federal Government: U.S. Attorney, National Labor Relations Board, U.S Department of Education, U.S. Coast Guard Legal Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Immigration, U.S. Army JAG Corps
State Government: Ohio Attorney General, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Summit County Prosecutor’s office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office, Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office, Medina County Prosecutor’s office, Legal Defender of Summit County, Barberton City Law Department, Stow City law Department, City of Akron, City of Cleveland, Summit County Children’s Services, Wayne County Prosecutor’s office, Portage County Prosecutor’s office, City of Beachwood
Non-Profit: Community Legal Aid, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, Akron General Medical Center-Human Resources, Akron Public Schools, Area Agency on Aging, Immigrant Workers’ Project, Mid-American Conference General Counsel, University of Akron Athletic Department, University of Akron General Counsel, Kent State University General Counsel, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, International Institute
Business: Akron Global Business Accelerator, Forest City Enterprises, ValMark Securities, Signet Enterprises
Health Law: Summa Health System, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Aultman Hospital, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Robinson Memorial Hospital, Community Legal Aid Health, Education, Advocacy & Law (HEAL) Project (please visit here for more information on HEAL)
Testimonials
“The externship experience gives a student a very valuable look at career choices. By asking externs to do a myriad number of things, they will know before graduation their innate skills as well as learn practical skills. The externship experience also gives externs a valuable glimpse into workplace culture so they can determine where their values, skills, and passions will fit best.”
Theresa E. Morelli, Esq., Managing Counsel, Forest City Residential Management, Inc.
"The externship program at Akron Law offers fantastic opportunities for practical experiences outside the classroom. I worked as a Judicial Extern in Judge Cook's chambers in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This was an amazing opportunity to observe the inner workings of the federal judiciary. More importantly, my externship offered me an opportunity to explore a potential career path in the law."
Daniel Glass, 3L
“Working as an extern at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office enables law students to gain first-hand exposure to the criminal justice system and to local law enforcement. Students work closely with Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys who are investigating and prosecuting felony criminal cases, providing support to crime victims, and seeking to affirm criminal convictions on appeal, among other tasks…. The more experiences and professional relationships a law student can acquire and develop while in law school, the more prepared the law student will be to begin a successful career in the law.”
James Moss, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office