Field Placements and Externship programs are two ways to get hands-on experience while in law school. Our students are able to experience these extraordinary opportunities to practice their craft during the semester and the summer. Judges seeking law clerks, government offices, non-profits, and other employers view the skills you develop during these programs as a major asset whether or not the experience leads to direct employment upon completion. Learn more about each campus's programs at the links below.
Our experiential programs are open to students who have completed the first-year curriculum and want to gain practical experience. Work with law firms, government agencies, and other legal entities. These opportunities are unpaid, however, you can receive academic credit for your work.
In past years, students have worked for the Office of Homeland Security, the state Attorney General, and U.S. Attorney Offices. In this program, you will:
- Get on-site supervision from a practicing attorney
- Gain practical experience that builds upon your education
You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with practicing lawyers while earning academic credit. Students are able to:
-Research a particular field
-Deal with issues of professional responsibility
Externships allow you to gain exposure to the inner workings of a court. Conduct legal research, write memoranda, attend court proceedings, gain insights into judicial decision-making, and more.
You may apply for judicial opportunities with:
- Municipal and state court judges in the civil, criminal, and family divisions
- Federal judges in the district court, court of appeals, and bankruptcy courts
- Judges who sit in administrative courts, including the EEOC and the Department of Labor
These experiential programs equip you with the skills and values vital for a legal career. They engage you with the intellectual, ethical, and practical aspects of the legal profession. Among other benefits, they will help you improve:
Build confidence, increase clarity of career goals, and add to your understanding of strengths and weaknesses as a lawyer.
Observe lawyers, judges, and others, and discuss these observations with your supervisor to gain a better and more critical understanding of the legal system.
Observe lawyers, judges, and others, and discuss these observations with your supervisor to gain a better and more critical understanding of the legal system.
Gain firsthand experience in legal tasks while receiving valuable guidance from seasoned attorneys or judges, offering essential lessons in professional responsibility.
Find out more about the requirements and application process for the internships, externships, and field placements. Interested students and employers looking to recruit can email Professor Barbara Gotthelf at bkg21@rutgers.edu (Camden) or Associate Dean rossner@law.rutgers.edu (Newark) for more information.
Take advantage of the experiential opportunities afforded to you here at Rutgers Law. You will learn an incredible amount just in one semester as an extern or through representing clients in the various pro bono programs and clinics available here.
Kaitlyn Flynn, '21
Each externship student is required to determine personal learning goals. Here are some suggestions to help get you started.
Improve your understanding of: