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 in real-world legal settings, such as law firms, government agencies, courts, and nonprofits. 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. The academic component of the program is taught by a member of the law school faculty and allows students to reflect on their experiences and professional development and integrate practical skills with legal theory.
Externship students receive academic credit for time they spend on-site doing qualified work and for the academic seminar required to be taken contemporaneous with their first experience.
Externship I, II, III, IV, and V (Law 555 and Law 563-566)
- Externship I (Law 555) and Seminar (Law 557)
- First-time externs must sign up for both the placement and the seminar.
- Students must take at least three credits and work at least 150 hours over the course of the semester. The accompanying seminar is one credit.
- Externship II (Law 563), III (Law 564), IV (Law 565), and V (566)
- Students participating in the program for a second or subsequent semester are not required to take the seminar and are instead assigned to the faculty member for independent reflection and must attend two small group sessions.
- Students approved to continue in the same placement must enroll in at least two credits and work at least 100 hours. Students approved to participate in a different placement are required to enroll in at least three credits. All advance students must participate in the small group sessions.
- Visit with the Office of Career Development to search and apply for legal and quasi legal student opportunities.
- Meet with your academic advisor to decide if an externship fits in your academic and career plans/goals.
- Submit an application to participate in the externship program by the deadline with the opportunity (internship
or pro bono) secured.
- If the agency is not already one of the over 350 approved placement sites for externship program participation, the faculty member will contact the student with the next steps to apply for approval for the proposed site.
North Dakota Legislative Externship (Law 560 and Law 557)
- Twelve credits:
- Ten externship placement credits.
- Two externship seminar credits.
- Meet with your academic advisor to decide if the legislative externship fits in your academic and career plans/goals.
- The application and selection process occurs the spring semester prior to the legislative year (one year before).
- Notification will be sent to all students when the process opens.
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
When are externship opportunities available?
Externship opportunities are available during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The full-time Legislative Externship Program in Bismarck, ND, is offered every other spring (odd-numbered years) during the North Dakota Legislative Session.
Who is eligible to apply for the externship program?
Students in good academic standing may apply beginning the summer after their first year of law school.
Can international students participate in the externship program?
Yes. Most placements are open to international students on an F-1 visa. The externship office will provide required employment letters, and the CPT authorization is usually processed by the UND International Office within a week of receiving the letter, as long as the student is registered. If the placement is paid, students must also contact the nearest Social Security Office to apply for a Social Security number (this process may take up to 30 days). Any questions should be directed to the UND International Center to process Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
What kind of work qualifies for externship credit?
Students must perform qualified legal or pre-approved quasi-legal work. Work must be substantive, supervised by a licensed attorney (or judge), and provide opportunities for professional skill development.
What are the credit and hour requirements for a first-time extern?
- First-time externs must register for at least 3 placement credits (150 hours).
- Credits are calculated at 50 hours per credit.
- Fall/Spring maximum placement credits: 11 credits; Summer maximum placement credits: 7 credits (8 for advanced students).
- All placement credits are out-of-class credits.
- Students should work with their academic advisor to select credits that fit their academic and career goals.
Can a student continue as the same placement for another semester?
Yes. To be considered for a continuing placement, a student must submit a statement explaining how the additional semester will advance their learning and career goals when prompted on the application.
- Minimum placement credits for continuing placements: 2 placement credits.
- Approval is at the discretion of the Director.
Is there a seminar requirement?
- Extern I students must enroll in the one-credit Learning from Practice seminar (Law 557), taught via Zoom on Monday evenings.
- Legislative externs must take a two-credit in-person seminar in Bismarck.
- Advanced externs (Extern II–V): No formal seminar is required, but students must complete assigned reflections and meet with faculty in at least two small-group sessions per semester. Advanced externs may opt into a one-credit advanced seminar with Director’s approval.
How do students apply for the program?
- Work with the Office of Career Development to secure a placement.
- Complete the externship application via the link on the UND School of Law externship webpage (for fall, spring, and summer).
What are the application deadlines?
- Fall Semester – July 15
- Spring Semester – November 15
- Summer Semester – April 15
- Legislative Externship (Bismarck) – April 15 of even-numbered years (for participation the following spring in an odd-numbered year)
What if I'm still searching for an externship opportunity?
Students can search CareerConnectLaw or meet with the Director of Career Development for placement assistance.
Will there be an information session?
The Office of Career Development typically hosts an experiential options information session in January to go over all the types of courses that count for experiential credit, including: Clinics, Externship, and Simulated Courses.
Can the externship be paid?
Yes. Students may receive pay and academic credits, provided all program requirements are met. The restriction on the receipt of pay and credits was lifted by the American Bar Association in August 2016.
How many preapproved placements are available?
We maintain a list of 300+ pre-approved placements across the U.S. and Canada.
What if my placement is not preapproved?
Students should first speak with their employer to ask if they are interested in participating in the program or open to receiving information about becoming a participant. If the answer is yes:
- The student should apply for externship participation.
- The Director will send the student program information and a copy of the Agency Agreement, which the student can then forward to their employer.
- Once the Agency Agreement is returned, the Director will set up a meeting with the proposed site supervisor to discuss logistics, program requirements, and answer any questions.
- New placements are initially approved for a single pilot semester. Based on its success, the Director may add the placement to the ongoing pre-approved list.
Students are encouraged to apply early to ensure time for the vetting process (typically 3–4 weeks).
The following list is only a small sample of externship placements for UND Law students in the last few years.
- Attorney General:
- ND, MN, AK, NJ
- Canada Government:
- Manitoba
- City Attorney:
- ND, MN, UT, WA, OH
- Federal Agency/Prov Government:
- ND, Manitoba
- Federal Judicial Clerkship:
- ND, IL, DC, AK
- Federal Public Defender:
- ND
- Federal Transportation Board:
- WA
- Federal U.S. Attorney:
- ND, AK
- Higher Ed/Compliance:
- ND
- In-House Counsel:
- Business, Energy Law, Env/Civ Engineering, Insurance, Manufacturing and Technology, Medical, Renewable Energy (ND, MN, NC, MT).
- Judge Advocate General:
- U.S. Airforce, U.S. Army
- Judicial Clerkship - Municipal:
- DE
- Law Firm (all practice areas):
- ND, MN, AZ, CA, GA, CO, TX, MT, IA, IL, NV, NY, OR, SD, WA, DC, WV, WY, OH, Canada
- Tribal Law Firm:
- ND, MN, OK, NE, DC
- Law Firm/Indigent Defense:
- ND, MT
- Legislative:
- ND, NV, Canada
- Nonprofit Agency/Nonprofit Organization:
- ND
- Nonprofit Juvenile Defense:
- CA
- Nonprofit Legal Defense Services:
- ND, MN, NY, MD, CA, WI, FL, NV, MT, Canada
- Nonprofit Sports Association:
- NY
- Sports Agency:
- TX
- State Agency:
- ND, SD
- State Judicial Clerkship:
- ND, MN, IA, MT, NM, NV, CT, PA, TX
- State Public Defender:
- ND, AZ, CA, KY, MN, NV, Canada
- State's/County Attorney:
- ND, MN, AZ, ID, SC, GA, IL, MD, NE, OH, SD, TX
- Tribal Council Attorney:
- MN
- Tribal Judicial Clerkship:
- ND, MN, AZ
- Tribal Judicial Institute:
- ND
- Tribal Law/Public Interest:
- Quebec
Application deadlines for upcoming programs:
Fall Semester - July 15
Spring Semester - November 15
Summer Semester - April 15*
*All summer externship applicants will be considered for summer funding if they secure an opportunity at a qualified agency. More Information.