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UALR William H. Bowen School of Law
Externships


    Public Service Externship

    The Public Service Externship is a clinical program in which law students earn academic credit while working in the offices of state or federal judges, legislators, government agencies, or non-profit agencies.  Through the externship program, students receive exposure to a wide range of public service practice settings, gain practical work experience, and get the opportunity to see first-hand the workings of a judge’s chambers, a legislative office, or a government or non-profit agency.  Examples of recent placement opportunities include externships with judges on the Arkansas Supreme Court, the United States District Court, and the United States Bankruptcy Court; externships with the Arkansas General Assembly and the Office of United States Senator Blanche Lincoln; and externships with agencies such as the Federal Public Defender and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

    The Public Service Externship has two primary components:

    1. the placement setting in which the student extern performs legal work on-site under the direction of a field supervisor; and
    2. a related seminar class taught by the Director of the Externship Program that meets periodically during the semester to discuss assigned readings, the students’ work experiences, and other topics pertaining to their externships.
    Student externs are required to complete at least 100 hours of service at their placement site by the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the program.  Enrollment in the program is limited, and students are selected to participate through an application process conducted by the Director of the Externship Program.

    For more specific information about the academic requirements of the Externship Program, please see the following document:
    Overview of Public Service Externship Program (pdf)

    For more specific information about the rules of the Externship Program, please see the following document:
    Rules of Public Service Externship Program (pdf)

    For more specific information about the externship placements that are available, please see the following document:
    Directory of Externship Placements Fall 2008 (pdf)

    Externship Program Contact
    Kelly Terry, Director of Public Service Externship Program and Pro Bono Opportunities
    501-324-9946

Revised: 3/4/2008