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General Program

Students have the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work in a public defender or prosecutor’s office, government agency, nonprofit organization, judge’s chambers, or in-house counsel’s office in the Atlanta metro area. An accompanying weekly class guides you through this experience, with topics in one of eight practice areas taught by an instructor with experience in that area.

Supervisor Manual

Student Externship Guide


Prospective and Renewing Placements

Prospective externship placements can submit an application to join the General Externship Program online. Please note this program does not include law firms. If you are a firm with 10 or fewer attorneys, check out our Small Firm Externship Program.

Renewing Placements must submit an Externship Renewal Agreement. Please note that this link may also be used by small firms (i.e., 10 or fewer attorneys) as identified by our Small Firm Externship Program.


Policies

  • Standard externships provide students with 2 credit hours (pass/fail) for the fieldwork. Certain placements that offer a distinct and significantly enhanced educational experience may be eligible for more fieldwork credit hours. Certain placements that offer a distinct and significantly enhanced educational experience may apply through our online form to be eligible for more fieldwork credit hours.
  • Students take a companion course, which is an additional 1 credit hour pass/fail.
  • Students commit to a minimum of 150 hours and 12–14 weeks, including fieldwork (9–11 hours a week) and classwork (1–2 hours a week). Higher-credit options are:
    • 200 hours = 3 credits of fieldwork
    • 250 hours = 4 credits of fieldwork
    • 300 hours = 5 credits of fieldwork
  • Externships are available for JD students only.

Process

  • The Director of Externships posts approved placements (using Symplicity), and students submit applications online during the designated externship application period, in the semester before the externship term.
  • The posting for each placement indicates whether higher-credit options are available.
  • Externship offers are released to students prior to preregistration for the following semester’s courses.
  • Go to Symplicity to find announcements about the externship application process and to review opportunities.