Western State College of Law

Externship Programs

Real-world training provides valuable experience and builds résumés.

“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.”
– Assistant Professor Robert Molko, Director, Criminal Law Externship Program

“The Civil Law Externship and Judicial Externship programs provide students the invaluable opportunity to work in real world legal settings. Judicial officers and attorneys in private law firms and government agencies work directly with students on cases at various stages of development. The skill sets developed in these placements range from client intake to drafting post trial motions in private firms, screening newly filed cases, to drafting orders resolving motions in the superior courts. The experience gained through any placement is invaluable, as it enhances the student’s resume and demonstrates that the student is prepared to transition from academic to practicing attorney.”
– Assistant Professor Stephen Chavez, Director, Civil & Judicial Externships

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.

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.

Government Employment Link

Certified Law Clerk Program

Career Services encourages students to take the knowledge they have acquired in the classroom and apply it in a legal setting. The State Bar of California's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program offers law students the opportunity to provide legal services while under the supervision of an attorney.

For more information and to register for this program, please visit The State Bar of California website.

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 limited practice while under the supervision of an attorney.

First Year Summer Honors Program
First year students who are invited to participate in the Summer Honors 1L Fellowship 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. The externs research and write briefs and trial memoranda, respond in writing to motions and argue those motions in court. Additionally, District Attorney externs may conduct felony preliminary hearings and prosecute misdemeanor court trials while the Public Defender externs may participate in interviews with in-custody clients, interview defense witnesses, and assist the attorneys in preparing for felony jury trials. Eligible students may obtain certification through the California State Bar Association's Rules for the Practical Training of Law Students and actually participate in hearings, oral argument and examination of witnesses under the supervision of an attorney.