Externships and Field Placements
The UND Law program of legal education gives graduates the opportunity to “hit the ground running" after graduation. They are practice-ready with a heavy emphasis on experiential learning through our extensive internship and externship program. Annually, we place more then 120 students in work-related programs throughout the state, nation and Canada. Many placements are exclusive to UND Law students, with the Federal Courts, States Attorney’s Offices, District Courts, Civil and Criminal JAG Corps, and the North Dakota Legislature, in addition to countless positions working in private law firms across the state. A recent example of a practice ready education is a third-year student who argued five cases in front of the North Dakota Supreme Court as part of his externship experience.
UND Law students are allowed to receive their limited practice papers after completing their first year of law school, so they are encouraged to seek a work opportunity beginning the summer following the first year. Our students work individually with our Director of Field Placements and Externships to craft an experience that meets their needs and interests.
For more information about externships or field placements, contact Trish Hodny at hodny@law.und.edu or 701.777.6265
The following list in 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