Externship Programs
An externship is an internship where you receive course credit. During an externship, you will complete an academic component, including class assignments and class attendance, in addition to the work you do at your placement.
See Student Eligibility section earlier on this page.
No. The Externship Programs Office does not place students in external placements.
However, the Externship Programs Office, along with the Office of Career Services (OCS) can help students learn of employers who are looking for externs, help students by providing reviews of students who have previously externed at a placement, and offer general information about what type of placements may be suitable to a student’s skill set and interest.
You must be supervised by a licensed attorney who has been admitted to the Bar for at least two years and is in good standing with the Bar.
Please note: A student may not earn credit for work performed at a family or relative’s (including spouse’s/domestic partner’s) office/agency/firm.
See Application Process section earlier on this page.
Applications are typically due six weeks before the start of the semester in which you want to extern.
Adhering to these deadlines allows enough time for all applications to be reviewed for approval in time for the Law School’s registration deadlines.
No. Please do not ask the Externship Programs Office to make an exception if you missed the application deadline.
If the application deadline is fast approaching, and you are having difficulty completing your application, please contact the Externship Programs Office BEFORE the application deadline.
Telephone: (415) 422-4467
Email: asidwell@usfca.edu
Physical Location: Kendrick Hall, Room 339
The Externship Programs teach students professionalism, which includes responsibility, timeliness, and attention to detail, including deadlines. As part of this Program, it is important students comply with deadlines.
Adhering to these deadlines allows enough time for all applications to be reviewed for approval in time for the Law School’s registration deadlines.
If you have found an employer, and your employer is not completing the forms, please contact the Externship Programs Office:
Telephone: (415) 422-4467
Email: asidwell@usfca.edu
Physical Location: Kendrick Hall, Room 339
See Acceptance and Registration Process section earlier on the page.
No. An externship is an internship with an academic component. In accredited law schools, students must simultaneously complete the academic component while externing at an outside placement in order to receive credits. No retroactive credit is permitted.
The number of units you may receive depends on the numbers of hours you work at your externship.
See Academic Units and Required Fieldwork Hours section above.
See Mandatory Class Attendance Policy section above.
No. Class is mandatory and attendance is required.
Please note: The Externship Programs Office may adjust this policy in concert with the SOL's accommodations for the coronavirus pandemic.
If a student fails to attend the orientation class (or first class), a student will be automatically dropped from the course. All classes are mandatory.
Please note: The Externship Programs Office may adjust this policy in concert with the SOL's accommodations for the coronavirus pandemic.
Please see our list of prior externship placements.
Please see the financial aid office.
Yes.
If you are interested in receiving credit for a summer externship, here are some considerations:
- Summer externships are treated like any other summer school course. You must register for the externship at the beginning of the summer and you must pay for tuition for each unit.
- The unit options during the summer session are 2 (summer session only), 3, 4 and 5 units.
- Please see Financial Aid Office for more details about submitting your Intent to Enroll.
- The last day to register for summer school is usually the first week of June. See Course Schedule for official date.
- Full-time students must still pay tuition for subsequent semesters at the School of Law. Thus, if you are a full-time student, it may not make financial sense for you to get course credit for summer work. Instead, you might consider performing the work on a volunteer basis. You will still obtain valuable experience while avoiding an increase to your overall costs/debt burden. For further information, please see the Financial Aid Office.
- Only students externing during the summer for 3 or more units are eligible for financial aid. For further information, please see the Financial Aid Office.
- All rules about student eligibility, academic standing, course credit, hours of work required, pre-requisites and co-requisites still apply.
Yes, international students are eligible to participate in the Externship Program. USF students may receive pay and credit for their externships. Any questions regarding pay or off-campus work authorization should be directed to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Telephone: (415) 422-2654
The policies and requirements are intended to ensure a high-quality experience for students working under the supervision of experienced practitioners.
Policies and procedures are found on this page.
No. You can take only one in-house clinic, civil/criminal law or judicial externship, or Street Law, in any given semester.
See Repeat Externship Policy section above.
Yes. See Criminal and Civil Placements: Obtaining an Externship Placement section above.
Please call the Externship Programs Office at (415) 422-4467 or email us at externships@usfca.edu or stop by the Externship Programs Office in room 339 of Kendrick Hall.