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?
Regular term externship opportunities are available in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The full-time legislative externship program in Bismarck, ND is available every other year during the North Dakota legislative session.
Who is eligible to apply for the externship program?
Students in good academic standing may apply to participate in any semester beginning in the summer following their first year of law school.
Can international students participate in the externship program?
Yes, international law students can work in most legal settings across the U.S. while attending law school. They participate in the externship program through the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization, processed in-house through the international Student Center.
What kind of work qualifies for externship credit?
Students must perform qualified legal or pre-approved quasi-legal work to receive academic credit.
What are the credit and hour requirements for a first-time extern?
Students externing for an organization for the first time must enroll in a minimum of three placement credits, requiring 150 hours of on-site work during the fall/spring semester or 200 hours during the summer term. All placement credits are considered out-of-class credits. Students can enroll in more than the minimum credit hours and it is recommended that they work with their academic advisor to determine how many credits fit their career and academic goals.
Can a student continue as the same placement for another semester?
Yes, a student may continue at the same placement by submitting a statement explaining how an additional semester will advance their career and educational goals, with specific examples of how it will differ from prior semesters. This continuation is at the discretion of the Director, and students in the same placement must register for at least two placement credits during subsequent semesters.
Is there a seminar requirement?
Yes, students enrolled in the externship program for the first time must enroll in a one-credit seminar course, taught via Zoom on Monday evenings. This course typically meets six times per semester. Students enrolling in the program for a second or subsequent time are not required to attend a formal seminar; however, they will have required reflections and assignments and will meet with the faculty member as an advance cohort group at least once, usually twice, per semester via Zoom.
How do students apply for the program?
Students should work with the Office of Career Development, within the Office of Student Life, to secure a legal opportunitiy. After securing a placement, student can apply via the link on the UND School of Law's externship webpage.
What if I'm still searching for an externship opportunity?
Visit CareerConnectLaw to search for jobs or schedule a meeting with the Director of Career Development for assistance.
Will there be an information session?
Yes, 1L information sessions will be scheduled for December and January (exact dates TBD).
Can the externship be paid?
Yes, students may participate in either paid or unpaid externships as long as they meet the program requirements.
How many preapproved placements are available?
We have over 300 preapproved placements throughout the U.S. and Canada.
What if my placement is not preapproved?
If your placement is not on the preapproved list, you can work with the Director to submit the necessary paperwork to add the placement to the program. After submitting the initial papwerwork, the Director will meet virtually with the site supervisor to address any questions and finalize the vetting process. Initially, placements are approved for a single pilot semester; based on its success, the Director will determine whether or not it can be added to the ongoing preapproved placement list. It is recommended that you apply early to ensure that your placement can be vetted and approved prior to the start of the semester. Please allow three to four weeks for the approval process.
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.