Information for Students

Chicago-Kent offers three avenues for students to pursue externship opportunities in the areas of government, public interest, private, and for-profit firms and corporations. Examples of externships include working for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office; public defender offices; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and numerous major law firms and nonprofits. All externships must be approved. The three types of externships include:

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.

Legal Externships allow you to work in civil or criminal practice in a specialized area of your choice with supervising attorneys in federal, state, and local government agencies; private law firms of all sizes; corporate legal departments; or public interest organizations." 

Judicial Externship Program

Judicial Externship Program (JEP) is a four credit hour, 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.

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 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:  We will post opportunities below or you can find one on your own through 12Twenty (see below).   If you do obtain an externship through an outside source, please email Professor Decatorsmith and Michael Oakes as well as fill out this form

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 32 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu).

Find your own judicial externship:  Students can find their own externship through posts made by individual chambers on the Career Services Management System 12twenty* or get placed with judges in various divisions via the Cook County application. In the Summer, students can also apply to judges via the Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization, and applications typically close by the end of January each year.   We will also post any opportunities for externships below.  

Cover Letter and Resume Guidance  

Below are short guides on to help you prepare your cover letter and resume:

Cover Letter Guide

Writing Sample Guide

Judicial Externship Opportunities

Please continue to check for Spring 2026 opportunities

 If you receive a Judicial Externship, please register your opportunity here so you receive law school credit. 

Legal Externship Programs

Access2Practice (A2P) Legal Externship is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail class which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to gain supervision and mentoring in a wide variety of legal areas – both civil and criminal.  Externs must work a minimum of 16 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and 32 hours per week in the Summer semester, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component, among other academic requirements associated with the course. 

The program does not assign students to particular practice placements. Instead a student must first independently obtain an externship placement before applying to participate in and register for an Access2Practice Legal Externship. Each placement is independent and external to the law school and will have its own independent selection and screening process. 

Application Process:  Externships can be found via Chicago-Kent’s extensive legal network.  For information on how to do this, follow our document on How to Apply for a Legal Externship Placement. Students can find their own externships through 12twenty*, the Career Services Management System. Newly posted externships will also be featured below and in The Record.  

Once a student has secured an externship, he or she must apply to the externship program by (1) informing Professor Decatorsmith via email (jdecator@illinoistech.edu) and (2) filling out this Form.  This information allows us to keep track of student placements as well as give us the information needed to reach out to firms and confirm student placement, as well as discuss our expectations with regard to the student's supervision.  

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 32 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the in person weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu). 

LEGAL EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please see below and continue to check back for new Fall opportunities.  

If you receive a Legal Externship, please register your opportunity here so you receive law school credit.  

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY - Spring 2026
Customs and Border Protection – Office of Associate Chief Counsel
610 S. Canal St., Ste. 767
Chicago, IL 60607

The Office of the Associate Chief Counsel provides legal advice to, and legal representation for, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a wide range of matters relating to the diverse activities and functions of the Agency. These areas include international trade, immigration, seizures and forfeitures of contraband and IPR infringing merchandise, ethics, and labor and employment matters.

Deadline:  For the Spring 2026 term, applications must be submitted by close of business on September 26, 2025.

for more information and how to apply, please download this document.  

Southern Poverty Law Center Opportunity:  Summer 2026

SPLC is offering summer externships to highly motivated legal interns who are passionate about civil rights.   Note this is not a Chicago opportunity.  

They are currently accepting applications for their Summer 2026 Legal Internship. This is a full-time (40 hours / week) paid internship at $17.50/hour. We offer both remote and hybrid opportunities, with offices in Montgomery, AL; Atlanta, GA; Jackson, MS; New Orleans, LA; Washington, D.C. and Florida areas. The internship includes opportunities for meaningful work alongside one of our five Advocacy and Litigation Impact teams:

Economic Justice
Criminal Legal and System Reform
Democracy: Voting Rights
Inclusion and Anti-Extremism

Applications are due by September 30, 2025, and the internship will begin in early June 2026. Interested students can get more information and apply directly through their website: