Semester in Practice Externships (Domestic)

Requirements

The Semester in Practice program is a highly-selective, full-time externship program. Students selected for the program will participate in a full-time externship during one semester of their final year at the law school.

• Students will extern in a 10-credit ungraded field placement (the equivalent of 35 hours per week) during either the fall or the spring semester of their final year at the law school
• Students will be concurrently enrolled in a 2-credit externship seminar
• All externships will be at non-profit and governmental institutions approved by the law school
• Externship organizations may be in the Boston area or anywhere in the United States. Once students are selected for the Semester in Practice Program, they will work with a member of the faculty who will assist in the placement process
• Eligible students must be in or entering their final year of law school, must have a minimum GPA of 3.2, and must complete a competitive application process
• Students enrolled in the Semester in Practice program will be required to submit weekly time logs and journals, meet with their faculty advisor for one hour at least every other week, and complete mid-semester and end-of-semester evaluations of the placement
• Participating students may not be employed or volunteer at any other job (including pro bono service) for more than 20 hours per week while participating in the Semester in Practice program or be engaged in any employment which may present a conflict of interest with the externship
• Students may not receive monetary compensation for work at their for-credit externship
• Students are strongly encouraged to take Professional Responsibility—in addition to Evidence for litigation-related placements—prior to enrolling in the Semester in Practice Program
• Participating students may not exceed the total number of fieldwork credit hours allotted per the law school’s policy concerning clinical and other non-classroom activities. (See Academic Standards, Section G). Students need to confirm with the Registrar’s Office that they have enough ungraded credits available to participate in the program, taking into consideration past semesters in addition to academic plans for remaining semesters at Suffolk Law

Application Deadlines and Criteria

Please email the completed PDF application to Mary E. Sawicki. Applications must be submitted to Professor Mary Sawicki at [email protected] four months before the beginning of the Semester in Practice Semester.

Please contact Professor Mary Sawicki at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Required for Submission

• Completed Application [PDF]
• Current resume
• Unofficial transcript
• Brief statement of academic purpose describing:
  • The type of externship opportunity sought
  • The specific educational objectives you hope to achieve through the externship
  • How the opportunity relates to your career goals