Information for Students

  1. Practical Experience
  2. Externships
  3. 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

Law Division Judicial Externship, Cook County - Fall 2025

The application process for Fall externships in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County is open.  

Prospective applicants must submit the following documents:

  • Resume
  • Application (attached), and
  • Writing sample.

The application can be downloaded here.  Please fill this out and apply as outlined on Page 6.

Judge Alison Conlon

Judge Alison Conlon is seeking to hire Judicial Externs for Fall 2025. Judge Conlon sits in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County and currently conducts court both in-person and via Zoom.   The Chancery Division handles civil cases involving equitable remedies.  Judge Conlon's court call sees a variety of complex cases, often including TROs, FOIA issues, administrative reviews, and class actions.

For more information about this opportunity as well as how to apply, please download this handout.  
 

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

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@kentlaw.iit.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.  

Legal Externship - BUPD Law

Job Title: Law Clerk (Externship)
Location: 180 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, Illinois
Firm: BUPD Law

About BUPD Law:

BUPD Law is a dynamic and growing law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to a diverse range of clients. We focus on corporate law, real estate, commercial litigation and financing transactions, offering innovative and strategic counsel. Our team values excellence, collaboration, and integrity, and we take pride in fostering a collegial and supportive work environment.
Position Summary:

BUPD Law is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented extern to join our team through an externship program in partnership with Chicago-Kent College of Law. This externship is for academic credit and offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in private practice while earning credit hours toward their J.D.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Conduct legal research and draft memoranda on a variety of substantive legal issues
  • Assist in drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, contracts, and client correspondence
  • Support attorneys in document review, discovery, and preparation for hearings, mediations, closings, and trials
  • Summarize depositions, contracts, expert reports, and other key documents
  • Help prepare case files, exhibits, and materials for client meetings and court appearances
  • Monitor court dockets and assist with tracking deadlines
  • Perform other legal and administrative tasks as needed to support the firm’s matters 

Qualifications:

  • Current J.D. student at Chicago-Kent College of Law (2L or 3L preferred)
  • Strong academic record and demonstrated interest in transactional or litigation legal work
  • Excellent legal research, analytical, and writing skills
  • High level of organization, attention to detail, and time management abilities
  • Professionalism, reliability, and a collaborative attitude
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office and legal research database - LexisNexis

Externship Details:

  • This is an unpaid externship position for academic credit through Chicago-Kent College of Law.
  • Students must coordinate with the law school to meet externship requirements and obtain credit hours.
  • Weekly time commitment and duration of placement will be determined in accordance with Chicago-Kent’s externship guidelines.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript, and a brief writing sample to Mirna Basic at mbasic@bupdlaw.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please indicate your availability and confirm your eligibility for externship credit through Chicago-Kent in your cover letter.
 

HSG Tech

HSG Tech, Inc. is a thriving Laser Cutting Machine Manufacturer in Addison, IL. HSG Tech is the United States Subsidiary for HSG Laser. With over 2,000 employees around the world, HSG is one of the fastest growing machinery companies in the USA and around world. Program Duration: Mid-August through Early December (dates may be flexible, depending on school requirements with possible extension for Spring 2026 semester).

Legal externs are given substantive opportunities to gain experience and learn as members of the Legal Department. The Legal Department is responsible for providing high-quality, cost-efficient, legal and related services to our staff, officers and executive staff. The Legal Department offers challenging and diverse work assignments for legal externs, including contract review and drafting, research and training, HR oversight, companywide policy development, government relations and other projects reflective of the role of HSG’s General Counsel.

For more information on the position and how to apply, please download this document.  

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab - Health Law, Fall 2025

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (“SRAlab”), formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a not-for-profit hospital, located in Chicago, Illinois, is the first-ever “translational” research hospital applying research to physical medicine and rehabilitation. SRAlab has been ranked as the top physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital in the United States for decades, providing rehabilitation to patients around the world with stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cancer, and other conditions. SRAlab’s research enterprise is the largest of its kind and renowned for breakthroughs in biomedical, neural, mechanical and electrical engineering; molecular/cellular biology; robotics and pharmacotherapeutics.

Application Process: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript to Cristina Catezone at ccatezone@sralab.org. There are no length requirements or limitations on the writing sample. Please submit all required documents in PDF format.

Deadline to Apply:  July 26, 2025

Please open this document for more information about this opportunity and the application process.  
 

LIFE SPAN LEGAL EXTERNSHIPS/CLERKSHIPS
Life Span (https://life-span.org) is seeking enthusiastic law student interns to assist our team of attorneys to provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault – including Orders of Protection, Civil No Contact Orders, Divorce/Dissolution of Marriage, Parentage & Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and more!

Clerks and/or externs can be based out of either our Chicago or Des Plaines offices – 1L, 2L & 3L law students all eligible to apply. Part time accepted and encouraged!

While these are unpaid positions, Life Span accepts applications from law students:

  • who have funding;
  • who are seeking academic credit or participating in an externship through their law school; and
  • who do not have funding. 

EXTERN/CLERK DUTIES

Clerks will gain invaluable hands-on legal experience by working on complex and diverse cases and projects with our Family Law attorneys. Clerks will participate in client intake, negotiations and client advising meetings, draft pleadings, and appear in Court with their 711 law student license. Clerks will also have the opportunity to conduct legal research and analysis on changes in the law and novel legal questions related to client representation.

ABOUT LIFE SPAN

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement and systemic advocacy. Life Span values diversity-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve. We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic.  All services are free of charge.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and cover letter, including the weekly number of hours you are seeking, via email attention: Victoria Bell, Senior Staff Attorney, to hiring@life-span.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all clerk positions are filled, through Friday, August 1, 2025, at 5:00p.m.

Please, no phone calls!