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Special Issue
l
THE NEWYLS
32
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015
Navigating Student Externship
Programs in Chicago
By NatalieWolfe
A
SLAWSCHOOLSHAVEMOVED
toward providing greater experi-
ential education, the demand for
externships has increased. Externships can
be mutually beneficial relationships: law
students gain much-needed legal experi-
ence, while lawyers receive help with legal
tasks and give back to the legal commu-
nity. The laws and guidelines surrounding
externships, however, are often poorly
understood by lawyers and law students
alike. In this article, I attempt to clear
up the confusion by answering some fre-
quently asked questions about externships.
What’s the Difference between Externs,
Interns, and Volunteers?
Law students may serve as externs, interns,
or volunteers. The terms “interns” and
“externs” are often used interchangeably,
but law schools prefer the term “externs”
for students who work in exchange for law
school class credit. The term “intern” can
refer to all other students not receiving
class credit. The American Bar Association
prohibits law students from simultaneously
receiving compensation and class credit,
but does not preclude the reimbursement
of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. ABA
Standards for Approval of Law Schools,
Interpretation 305-2 (Study Outside the
Classroom) (2014-2015). Volunteers are
unpaid law students working in the non-
profit sector for public service, religious
or humanitarian objectives.
See
29 C.F.R.
§ 553.101(a).
What Are Externships?
Externships allow law students to receive
class credit in exchange for substantive
legal work supervised by a licensed attor-
ney outside of the classroom. They offer a
great way for students to put the concepts
they have learned in the classroom into
practice. They also give students exposure
to different areas of law, let them network
with practitioners, develop a professional
persona, and learn about ethics.