Externships
Real-world training provides valuable experience and builds résumés.
Western State offers a variety of educational, real-world externship placements for eligible students. Under the supervision of the faculty externship directors, students receive academic credit for the legal work they perform in an appellate, judicial, civil or criminal law setting. The respective program directors interview and screen interested students to determine which placement will best fit their overall goals, experience, academic standing and expectations.
In addition to the time spent in their placement, student externs also meet weekly for an on-campus seminar. The externship seminar allows the students to explore their placement experiences in class to gain a deeper understanding of the functions and responsibilities of attorneys, judges and other legal personnel.
The categories of available externships are:
Judicial Appellate Externships
Eligible students, if selected by the court, are placed in the chambers of either a state or federal appellate judge. Students in these placements research and draft opinions for the jurist on either a full-time (400 hours) or part-time (150 hours) basis.
Judicial Trial Externships
Eligible students, if selected by the court, are placed in the chambers of a trial judge or commissioner in Orange County, Los Angeles or the Riverside County Courts where they will assist the court with a variety of assigned tasks in civil or criminal cases.
Civil Practice Externships
Students are placed part-time in law firms, state or federal agencies, corporations or other practice settings in the civil law field. Under the supervision of an attorney, these student externs research cases, write memos, interview clients, participate in court proceedings or perform other tasks relating to civil practice. Students in civil law externships may be eligible for State Bar Certification for supervised limited practice under the supervision of an attorney.
First Year Summer Honors Program
First year students who are invited to participate in the Summer Honors Program will be assigned to part-time appellate, judicial trial or civil practice externships for the eight-week summer session.
Criminal Law Externships
Students enrolled in a Criminal Law Externship work an average of 12-15 hours per week in the District Attorney, Public Defender or Alternate Defender Offices in Orange County and adjacent counties.
Externship Benefits
Students earn five units of credit for part-time placements and up to ten units for full-time appellate placements. Externs gain a unique awareness of the practice realities, challenges and attendant professional obligations that they will face in their future legal careers. Externships are also viewed as a mark of distinction by many prospective employers.
“The Criminal Law Externship program gives the law student the unique opportunity to get personally involved in helping prosecute or defend a wide spectrum of real people who become involved in the criminal justice system. The extern quickly learns to strive for excellence because of the potential consequences for each defendant whose liberty may be at stake. The parties involved deserve the best representation and I believe that our program provides exactly that.”
Visiting Associate Professor Robert Molko; Director, Criminal Law Externship Program
“The Civil Externships provide third year students with valuable real world experience under controlled conditions. Judicial officers and practicing attorneys closely monitor and guide the externship participants in working on real-time case situations where the student can apply their academic knowledge.. These externships are a valuable assist in the transition from classroom to future law practice.”
Visiting Associate Professor David Brennan; Director, Civil Externship Program