Judicial Externships

•  "This was the best thing I could have done in law school. The law and motion department is great because you get to see a lot of law in a few short months. I also read a lot of documents and now have a good understanding of what makes a good brief."Through the Judicial Externship Program, students work full or part-time in state and federal judicial chambers on legal research memos and judicial opinions under the supervision of judges and their postgraduate or permanent law clerks. The externship promotes the improvement of analytical, research, and writing skills in a real-life, real-time context that requires students to exercise professional judgment on a daily basis. While
  most externships are within two blocks of the Hastings campus, students
  may extern anywhere in California and with permission may extern out of state.

Program Overview

• Classroom Component - 1 unit
  Orientation - mandatory, two days prior to the first day of classes for the semester. Fall 2012- August 16th & 17th, Spring 2013- January 8th & 9th.
• Pre- or Co-Requisite Requirement - 2 to 3 units
  Complete course from the approved list, prior to or during the externship semester
• Fieldwork Component - 3 to 9 units
  Full time externs - minimum of 12 weeks for at least 35 hours per week
  Part-time externs - work 45 hours per unit

 "I am more confident about my own ability now as an attorney because I was able to discuss complicated legal issues with the judge and the other attorneys and to produce good writing that won their praise." 

How Do I Obtain an Externship?

View an overall timeline of the Judicial Externship Process

• Students must have completed 3 semesters and have a 2.8 GPA
• Research Courts and Judges you may want to apply to
• Review the Courts and Judges where prior externs worked
• Review the surveys completed by prior externs describing their experiences (available in the Externships and Pro Bono Programs Office)

Prepare your application:

• Review the online application for the Northern District of California
• For all other courts, submit the following:  

 "In sum, my experiences during this externship have been superb and the best supplement to my legal education I could have imagined.  While gaining a greater understanding of  law and process, I also learned about myself as a writer, analytical thinker, and what my future holds as a legal professional.  Most importantly though, I observed and learned about what types of skills, professional habits, and intellect it takes to be a good attorney."

• Application Information
• Send applications to first round placements
• If unsuccessful, send application to second round placements
• Once you have obtained an externship, confirm eligibility for enrollment with Professor Nancy Stuart
• Enroll in classroom and fieldwork components through WebAdvisor

For More Information or to Confirm Your Externship

Contact Professor Nancy Stuart, Director of Externships and Pro Bono Programs