Externship Program Information for Students
Externships broaden your employment opportunities by providing you with practical legal experience often not available through paid clerking or volunteer positions.
Serving as excellent preparation for post-graduate judicial clerkships, judicial externships acquaint you with the day-to-day operation of the courts as you work with trial and appellate court judges and their law clerks to research and write legal memoranda and draft opinions.
In legal externships, you'll work in civil or criminal practice in a specialized area of your choice with supervising attorneys in federal, state and local government agencies, corporate legal departments, or public interest organization.
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM - FALL 2022
Judicial Externship Program (JEP) is a 4-credit hour unpaid Pass/Low Pass/Fail program open to students who have completed at least their first full year of law school and want to do legal research and writing for a federal appellate, district or magistrate judge or designated Illinois appellate or circuit court judges. You must pay regular tuition for all four (4) credits.
JEP enables a student to become involved in particular legal problems through research and writing, and to contribute to the resolution of those problems by participating in drafting memoranda and opinions. Depending upon the judge, an extern may also have the opportunity to observe the judge’s day-to-day routine and to discuss with him/her the issues and problems that judges confront. Take advantage of this prestigious learning opportunity while enhancing your marketability in the legal world.
Application Process
For those students who have secured their own Judicial Externship in fall, please fill out the appropriate application below and submit to Suzanne Blaz (sblaz@kentlaw.iit.edu) by Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Judicial Externship, Secured Own - Fall 2022
Note: Open forms in Adobe PDF ("Open With Different Viewer" once it opens in the browser) to fill them out.
ACCESS2PRACTICE
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
What is LEP?
Access2Practice (A2P) Legal Externship is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail program which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to gain supervision/mentoring in a wide variety of legal areas – both civil and criminal. LEP externships are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters and in the Summer session and consist of two separate components: fieldwork and class. Externs must work 16 hours a week during the Fall/Spring semesters and 32 hours per week in the Summer semester for a minimum total of 224 hours. In addition, externs attend a series of classes that meet on designated Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. Classes focus on different legal areas and the often complex realities at the core of law practice.
Why Extern?
To become a good lawyer and to supplement what you learn in the classroom, you need practical experience in real-world legal work. Most students aren’t fortunate enough to receive a paid clerking position — or even a volunteer opportunity — that teaches what they want to learn. LEP presents a unique and important opportunity to gain exposure to an area of the law in which you are interested and helps you significantly broaden your future employment opportunities.
For additional information about LEP, you may also refer to the “Types of Externship Programs.”
How to Apply:
The Information and Application packet for Fall 2022 LEP is now available below and on Symplicity.
Legal Externship Application - Fall 2022
Fall applications are due on or before Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
For additional information about LEP, you may also refer to the Law School Website externship page.
If you have any questions about the Program or the application itself, please contact Professor Vivien Gross (vgross@kentlaw.iit.edu).
Note: Open forms in Adobe PDF ("Open With Different Viewer" once it opens in the browser) to fill them out.
For information on how to craft a cover letter, writing sample and unofficial transcript, please refer to the Career Services Office Informational Page.