Externship Program

Whittier Law School offers practical training through externship placements with trial and appellate courts, governmental agencies, and non-profit legal services organizations. Working under the supervision of experienced attorneys or bench officers, students are able to gain valuable insights into the operation of legal institutions while dealing with actual client matters. They also are able to develop a better understanding of the legal and socioeconomic problems common in the practice of law.

In conjunction with each student’s first externship placement, students attend Lawyering Skills, a one-unit course on the theoretical components of client representation and the socialization process of becoming a lawyer. Students are supported throughout their externship by members of the faculty.

Students who have completed or are enrolled in Civil Procedure and Evidence may seek Law Student Certification from the State Bar of California. If approved, this status allows law students the opportunity to participate in hearings and trials as part of their externship. Applications are available at www.calbar.ca.gov (click on "Attorney Resources"; then "Practical Training of Law Students").

All externships taken for academic credit are unpaid, and students may earn up to six credit/no credit units toward graduation during their law school career. Qualified students with placements with the local California appellate or federal bench may earn an additional two units.

Whittier Law School Externship Policies and Procedures Handbook 2006-07

Externship Application Forms

EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Externship Directory, including a practice area Externship Directory Index, is available as a resource for students exploring externship opportunities. Whittier students can earn academic credit in a variety of legal environments, including:

Judicial Externships

Whittier Law School students regularly serve as externs with members of the bench at all levels of the government. These experiences range from traditional research positions with the United States District Court or California Courts of Appeal to more targeted placements such as the federal Immigration Court or state Juvenile Court.

Federal, State, and Local Government Externships

Government service is a long tradition at Whittier Law School and students seeking externship placements in the governmental sector can choose from one of the highest concentrations of opportunities in the country. Students serve in Public Defender and District Attorney Offices throughout Southern California, as well as in nearly every governmental agency dealing with legal issues. Recent placements have included the California Attorney General’s Office, the federal Department of Justice, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Public Interest and Legal Services Externships

Whittier Law School is well known for its commitment to equal justice and public service and its students contribute thousands of hours each year in service to the poor and disenfranchised through public interest placements. Students can choose to serve through a traditional legal aid or pro bono services agency, such as the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, or they can work at any number of public policy or advocacy organizations, such as the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Centers-Related Externships

Students who participate in any of Whittier Law School’s Centers or specialization programs can choose from placements designed to complement their targeted curriculum goals. For example, students enrolled in the Center for Intellectual Property can seek opportunities in a broad variety of placements involving patent, trademark, and copyright concerns.