Externships and Field Placements
UND School of Law's Externship Program is an experiential learning opportunity for law students to work under the guidance of practicing attorneys, judges, and other qualified professionals.
The program provides hands-on, legal experience for academic credit allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations. Adhering to the American Bar Association (ABA) standards for field placement programs, it offers substantial lawyering experiences, qualified supervision, and opportunities for reflection on professional and ethical responsibilities.
Open to law students who are in good academic standing and have completed at least the first year of law school (30 credits), the UND School of Law Externship Program allows students to work in various experiences including opportunities in law firms, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and judicial chambers. The goal is to allow for a diverse range of experiences to cater to our students' varied interests while providing flexibility by offering opportunities during both the academic year and the summer.
Funding Process, Priorities, and Application
Benefits
Observe and Perform Qualified Legal Work in the Real World
- Engage in hands-on, real world, legal tasks.
- Gain practical experience that closely mirrors the work of a practicing lawyer under the guidance and supervision of experienced attorneys or qualified individuals.
- Apply substantive legal knowledge to real-world situations, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
- Enhance your legal and professional skills, reflecting on your values and ethical considerations in a practical setting.
- Seamlessly connect your classroom learning to real-world legal practice before completing your law school education
Feedback and Opportunities for Self-Evaluation
- Externs benefit from constructive feedback on their performances and actively participate in self-evaluation, fostering continuous improvement and skill development.
Reflection
- Externs will engage in guided reflection on their experiences with faculty members and/or program directors through the seminar course, allowing them to integrate theory with practice and explore the ethical dimensions of their work.
Academic Credit
- Academic credit is earned corresponding to the hours of work performed.
Financial Payment
- The program accommodates both paid and unpaid legal work, providing flexibility for
students.
- Note: UND School of Law does not track the payment status of externship positions.
Meets ABA and UND School of Law's mandated experiential credits
- The Externship Program fulfills both the American Bar Association's and UND School of Law's requirements for experiential credit.
Gain Confidence and Credibility
- Develop confidence in your legal abilities and enhance your credibility within the legal community.
Try Different Practice Areas
- Explore and test various practice areas, gaining exposure to different legal specialties and finding your professional niche.
Build Your Legal Network
- Establish valuable professional contacts.
- Build relationships with experienced attorneys and professionals.
- Mentorship opportunities that may lead to job recommendations and references.
- Increased chances of securing employment by developing potential job opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
Placements
The following list is only a small sample of externship placements for UND Law students in the last few years.
- US Bankruptcy Court/Judge Hastings (2)
- US District Court/Magistrate Senechal (2)
- US Attorney - Alaska
- US Attorney Bismarck (2)
- US Attorney Fargo (2)
- US District Court – Bismarck/Judge Hovland & Magistrate Miller (2)
- US 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
- US Dept of Justice/ATF - Washington DC
- 9th District Minnesota
- Second Judicial District - Reno, NV
- Arizona Court of Appeals
- Scotts Bluff Prosecutor - Nebraska
- Altru General Council, Grand Forks
- Bozeman Health General Council, Montana
- Burleigh County State's Attorney
- Bredahl and Associates/Indigent Defense/Judicial Clerk
- Broward County Legal Services
- Cook County SAO, Chicago IL
- Pro Bono Law Project
- Federal Public Defender - Bismarck
- Federal Public Defender - Fargo
- Public Defender - Omaha, NE
- Placer County Public Defender, CA
- Grand Forks Regional Child Support Unit
- Gunnison Law Office - Colorado
- Nelson & Griggs County SAO
- Vetsch Law Firm/Spirit Lake Tribal Court
- Legal Services of North West Minnesota
- Mahnomen County SAO
- Manitoba Law Centre - Legal Services Clinic
- Manitoba Law Reform Commission
- MHA Nation Tribal Clerkship/Judge Seaworth
- Minot City Attorney
- MN Public Defender, St. Cloud
- MN Public Defender, St. Paul
- Legal Services of North Dakota, Minot (2)
- Legal Services of North Dakota, Fargo
- Legal Services of North Dakota, Bismarck
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY
- Legislative - GA Group (2)
- ND Public Defender Office, Williston
- ND Public Defender Office, Fargo
- ND Public Defender Office, Grand Forks (2)
- ND Supreme Court, Bismarck
- ND Supreme Court - Self Help\
- ND State Legislature Legislative Council (11)
- ND Governors Office
- ND Attorney General Office
- North East Judicial District, Grand Forks (3)
- North East Judicial District, Devils Lake
- Community Theater Foundation
- Pembina County SAO
- Pennington County SAO/Steve Moeller
- Pritt & Pritt Law Firm - West Virginia
- Romstad & Skoyles/City Attorney
- Galstad, Jensen & McCann, P.A./City Contract
- Spirit Lake Tribal Court Judicial Clerkship
- Sanford Health - Fargo
- Cavalier County SA/Stewart Law Office
- The Empire Arts Center Nonprofit
- UND Affirmative Action/EEOC
- UND Athletic Department Compliance
- Walsh County States Attorney (2)
- Ward County PD
- Wilkin County Attorney