Pro Bono Outreach

Externships

John Marshall Law Journal

Advocacy

Micronesian Program

• What is the procedure for obtaining an externship?
  1. Students interested in obtaining an externship must complete the following steps:
     1. Complete and submit to the Director a pre-registration form with preferred placements, resume and cover letter addressed to each preferred placement.
     2. If you have already secured a placement, submit a pre-registration form with the name of the placement and a Placement Approval form to determine the placement’s eligibility.
     3. If the placement offers to interview you, contact the supervising attorney to schedule an interview.
     4. Once an offer is made, contact the attorney to accept or decline the offer.
     5. Coordinate the dates and times of employment with your new employer.
     6. Register for Externship Class (660-3) and sign-up on TWEN
• Will I have any responsibilities outside of my externship?
  1. Yes, there is a mandatory classroom component in conjunction with your work experience. Students are required to meet for an introductory class and a mid-term session. In addition to class meetings, each student must register for the class on TWEN and complete all assignments.
• What does the classroom component entail?
  1. The classroom component consists of group and individual meetings and participation in the online course on TWEN. Students must complete all reading assignments and submit periodic journal entries on topics related to the practice of law. Students are also encouraged to use the discussion boards on TWEN to share experiences with the rest of the class. Students must also submit weekly timesheets and mid-term and final evaluations.
• Who is eligible for an externship?
  1. Students must have completed all required first year courses, be in good academic standing and have at least a 2.00 GPA prior to enrolling in the Externship Program.
• What constitutes an eligible placement?
  1. In order to qualify for the externship program, a placement must
     1. Be a judicial clerkship or a position with a governmental agency, corporate legal department or a legal non-profit agency;
     2. Meet the educational goals of the Externship Program; and
     3. Be under the supervision of a practicing attorney
     Placements with private firms or attorneys are allowed if the firm or attorney has pro bono cases referred from a legal service provider or a pro bono project. Students are allowed to work only on the non-profit cases or assignments.
• May I receive monetary compensation for my work?
  1. No. Students are not allowed to receive any monetary compensation from the field placements, with the exception of reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses such as parking.
• Do I need a 3rd Year Practice Certificate?
  1. Only students accepting placements that will involve litigation are required to have a 3rd year practice certificate. To be eligible under Georgia’s Third-Year Practice Act, a student must be regularly enrolled, be in good standing, and have satisfactorily completed at least two-thirds (59 credits) of the requirements for a J.D.. Dean’s Certificates are sent directly to the supervising attorney upon request by a student.
     Please contact the Externship Director for further information.
• Am I required to complete all journals/assignments if I am a repeat extern?
  1. No. If you are a repeat extern, you need only complete the final journal entry and weekly timesheets.
• How many credits am I eligible to receive from an externship?
  1. Students in the program during the regular academic year must earn a minimum of two and no more than three credit hours per semester. During the summer, a student may earn up to 6 credits. Each credit hour requires 47 working hours during the semester. This translates into 94 hours for 2 credits or approximately 6.7 hours a week during a 14 week semester. Summer students are allowed to work beyond the 7 weeks in the summer semester.
     
     NOTE:Students may earn up to eight (8) hours in externship credits towards their J.D. Externship hours do not count toward your total pass/fail allotment. (Please see §707 of the Academic Code for more details)
• How are externships graded?
  1. Externships are graded as Pass/No Credit/Fail. Grades are based on classroom participation and the supervising attorney’s assessment of the student including but not limited to the student’s work habits, work quality, and professionalism. Students who are terminated or asked to leave a placement for any reason, including unprofessional or inappropriate behavior, will fail the externship. Students who do not complete the classroom requirements will receive a grade of No Credit.
• What happens if I decide to withdraw from my externship?
  1. Students may withdraw from an externship only with the permission of the Director and Associate Dean. See Section 502(d) of the Academic Code. Students should endeavor to honor all commitments made to their employer.