Judicial Externship Fieldwork
Prerequisites: 1L course of study Students earn academic credit while working in approved placements across a wide range of judicial settings. Students work with their Career Counselors to identify opportunities and submit their applications through the Office for Career and Professional Development. In the federal court system, opportunities exist with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Court of International Trade, and with judges, magistrate judges and bankruptcy judges in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. In the state court system, opportunities exist with judges in the Appellate Division, Family, Surrogates and Supreme Courts (Civil or Criminal Terms), and the Civil Court of the City of New York. Opportunities also exist with administrative law tribunals such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. At the placement, students work on real legal matters, while receiving close supervision and regular feedback. At the law school, students are supported by faculty in a required seminar or tutorial to learn from their experience. The judicial externship fieldwork experience exposes students to the judicial decision-making process, the work of lawyers and judges, and the functioning of the justice system and the courts. Depending on the placement, typical activities include legal research, preparing written memoranda and drafts of judicial opinions, and observing and assisting in the courtroom and at pretrial conferences.
Grading and Method of Evaluation:
High Pass-Pass-Low Pass-No Credit. Students will be assessed based on an end-of-semester evaluation provided by the Mentor Attorney and the student's oral and written descriptions of and reflections on the fieldwork.
Enrollment Notes:
Students interested in enrolling in the Judicial Externship fieldwork course must read the Externship Student Manual and follow its enrollment procedures. For information on current judicial externship opportunities, consult the Career Counselors and visit Symplicity. Students may enroll in the Judicial Externship course for a maximum of two semesters, working for the same or a different judge, and may enroll in no more than three credit-bearing externships during law school. Exceptions may be made upon a showing of the educational benefit to be derived and subject to the approval of the Faculty Director.
Grading and Method of Evaluation:
High Pass-Pass-Low Pass-No Credit. Students will be assessed based on an end-of-semester evaluation provided by the Mentor Attorney and the student's oral and written descriptions of and reflections on the fieldwork.
Enrollment Notes:
Students interested in enrolling in the Judicial Externship fieldwork course must read the Externship Student Manual and follow its enrollment procedures. For information on current judicial externship opportunities, consult the Career Counselors and visit Symplicity. Students may enroll in the Judicial Externship course for a maximum of two semesters, working for the same or a different judge, and may enroll in no more than three credit-bearing externships during law school. Exceptions may be made upon a showing of the educational benefit to be derived and subject to the approval of the Faculty Director.