Academic Programs
Welcome to the Levin College of Law’s Academic Externship Program
Externship Overview
The Levin College of Law offers a vibrant Externship Program in which students earn academic credit and obtain real-world experience in a variety of legal settings. Levin externships are available throughout Florida and the United States at government agencies, with sitting federal and state judges, at non-profit institutions, and in for-profit corporations.
Externships further students’ abilities to apply legal principles learned in the classroom; develop practice skills, poise, and confidence; and gain exposure to particular areas of interest. Externships provide insight into professional responsibility, the practice of law, and the operation of the legal system. Additionally, the externship experience introduces students to practitioners and judges and enhances the legal resume.
Levin students have performed externships at such entities as EEOC, FCC, NOAA, World Intellectual Property Organization, Department of Homeland Security, and the ACLU. Other externships include Discovery Network, Elizabeth Arden, Office Depot and Sony Corporation. Judicial externships are available in federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, state circuit courts, district courts of appeal, and the Florida Supreme Court.
During their externships, Levin students are closely supervised by lawyers and judges and maintain regular contact with a faculty member for academic guidance.
General Information Regarding Externships
- Students must have completed their first year of law school and must be in good academic standing in the semester prior to their participation in the Externship Program.
- Students may not participate in an externship and a clinic in the same semester.
- Depending on the particular externship, students may enroll for up to 6 credits for Summer semester and up to 5 credits for Fall and Spring semesters.
- Students may earn a maximum of 6 credits during law school.
- Externships are treated as a course. Students must register and pay for the credit hours the same as for any other course.
- Externship credits count for financial aid purposes.
- Students must work the designated number of hours required for the number of credits for which they are registered.
- Externs are required to attend a College of Law Orientation Meeting and may be required to attend other workshops and site orientations.
- Externs must submit journals or other written work to their Faculty Supervisor. Individual Faculty Supervisors may have additional requirements.
- Externs must submit bi-weekly time logs to the Career Development Office.
- Externships are graded pass/fail.
- New externships must be proposed to the Curriculum Committee by a faculty member, who will also supervise the placement. Approval by the Committee is not guaranteed.
For more details and a listing of externship opportunities, please see the Externship Program Guide.