What is an externship?
Who is eligible for an externship?
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
How do I start the process?
Can I do an externship my final semester of law school?
What is an externship?
An externship is an off-campus work experience for one semester in a judge's chambers, a government agency, non-profit or public interest organization, or in some cases, in-house counsel with a private company or corporation.
Who is eligible for an externship?
You may participate in a part-time externship any semester of your 2L or 3L year. You may participate in a full-time externship only in your 4th or 5th semesters of law school. In some limited cases, a final semester externship MAY be possible. Please check with the Externship Coordinator for more details.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
To apply for a full-time externship you must have a 2.7 GPA. There is no minimum GPA to apply for a part-time externship but you must be in good standing and not on academic probation.
How do I start the process?
Every student who is interested in applying for one of the externship programs, should carefully read through the information on this website. Then you may contact Wendy Haro, Externship Coordinator, at haro@law.ucla.edu or 310-825-3468. The Externship Office is located in Room 1470. The Externship Coordinator can provide you with handouts, assist you with completing necessary paperwork and direct you to important resources for learning about the many externship opportunities available to you.
You may also wish to make an appointment with Susan Gillig, Director of Externships, for externship counseling. Her email is gillig@law.ucla.edu.
We also recommend discussing your externship plans with your Career Counselor.
Can I do an externship my final semester of law school?
Students are permitted to do a part-time externship during their final semester of law school. Students may PETITION to do a full-time externship during their final semester under special circumstances. Those special circumstances include severe personal hardship, compelling curricular reasons (such as the inability to take coursed required for the externship prior to the 5th semester), logistical difficulties (such as problems surrounding security clearances) and/or institutional interest in placing the student in the externship. Students must obtain permission to do an externship during their final semester PRIOR to applying to judges or agencies for that externship. Petitions will be considered by the Assistant Dean for Students in consultation with the Chair of the Standards Committee and the Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs.