Externship Program

Emory Law's Externship Program offers you the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience across various types of practice settings. This helps you discover which suits you best and build relationships that will support you as you begin your legal career.

Law student in the foreground looks at promotional material at Emory Law table

Emory Law students must fulfill the Six-Credit Experiential Learning Requirement as per ABA Standard 303 and the ABA’s Guidance Memo. Completing an externship for credit hours instead of financial compensation at one of our many approved placement sites is a fantastic way to meet this requirement.

The five stages of the Externship Process:

Externship Student Testimonials

A'Lyrika Bowens 25L

As I ventured into my field of interest, the Externship Program at Emory Law presented a remarkable opportunity to extern with Vivid IP, an intellectual property and entertainment law firm. My daily tasks challenge and enhance my ingenuity, optimize my lawyering skills, and provide intensive networking experiences. Working with top national and international clients within the entertainment field, I am presented with unimaginable experiences. In the future, I plan to remain in the Sports & Entertainment Field providing elite and zealous representation for clients.

Jacqueline Graves 24L

My externship with Sur Legal Collaborative was phenomenal. The environment was incredibly welcoming and the whole team consisted of exceptional advocates for immigrant workers in Georgia. The work ranged from research memos, to creating advocacy literature & graphics, to filling out immigration forms. The site supervisor really welcomed input from externs and customized our experience at Sur. I am grateful that I was able to be a part of the organization for a semester and learn from such amazing advocates.

Jordan Pool 24L

My externship at Coca-Cola has been a great opportunity to understand the role in-house counsel plays in a business environment and to practically apply the concepts learned in my coursework. As part of the corporate secretary's team, I work on a range of matters, including governance, securities regulation, investor communication, and financial transactions. I have already experienced issues at the externship which directly relate to discussions I have been having in classes. In addition to helping me gain a better grasp of the key legal aspects of each of these areas, I have also considered how an attorney can add value to the business when dealing with these matters.

Adam Shepherd 24L

The Externship Program at Emory Law provided me with valuable insight into litigation, more specifically, Plaintiffs' civil litigation, an area that I had always aspired to pursue. During my time at Glass and Robson, I had the opportunity to engage in a diverse array of assignments. These tasks encompassed drafting demand letters and presenting compelling arguments supported by relevant case law in substantive motions. This hands-on experience profoundly revealed to me that this particular area of law not only aligned with my interests but also played to my strengths effectively.

Daniel Xu 24L

You can't get this type of experience in a classroom! At my first externship at the Southern Center for Human Rights, I was able to advocate for a client in front of the Alabama Parole Board. Last semester, I externed in the chambers of Judge Jill Pryor on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. I watched dozens of oral arguments, wrote several bench memoranda, and even drafted an opinion resolving a case on appeal. We ate lunch together every day, and I loved getting to know everyone in chambers and being able to pick their brains for advice. As a 3L, I am developing an entirely different skillset while externing at the Federal Defender Program, where I am exploring my interest in client-centered work and indigent representation.

Externship Program Office Staff

Questions? Contact lawexternships@emory.edu.

Externship Program Faculty

Adam Hames

Professor Adam Hames instructs LAW870G: EXTERN - Prosecution.

He has an extensive background having represented the state of Georgia in federal and state trial and appellate courts. He acted as lead counsel in numerous high profile and precedent setting cases, including over 95 cases resulting in published opinions by the Georgia Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has specialized in non-death penalty murder appeals and habeas corpus petitions in state and federal court. His time at the Attorney General's Office provided invaluable training in criminal law, habeas corpus, and appeals.

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Corey Hirokawa

Professor Corey Hirokawa instructs LAW870E: EXTERN - Judicial.

Corey Hirokawa 00L is the Assistant Director of Emory Law’s Center for Public Service, where she directs student pro bono opportunities and serves as the staff advisor to the Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC).

After graduating from Emory Law in 2000, Hirokawa worked as a civil litigator at Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP with focus on public interest and civil rights litigation, class actions, and appeals. She then served as general counsel for several emerging technology companies before joining Emory Law full-time in 2023.

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Alkesh Patel

Professor Alkesh Patel instructs LAW870I: EXTERN - Advanced.

Professor Patel brings a decade of experience practicing in contracts, commercial law, construction and real estate. He currently is the Section Chief of Business and Finance in the Commercial Litigation Division at the Georgia Attorney General’s Office. In this role, he represents a number of state entities, including the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Alkesh oversees a group of 10 attorneys and is responsible for overall contract litigation and transactional work for the various agencies of the State. In addition, Alkesh has been involved in the review of hospital transactions pursuant to the Georgia Hospital Acquisition Act.

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Jim Thompson

Professor Jim Thompson instructs LAW870D: EXTERN - Civil Litigation.

He joined the BellSouth Corporation Legal Department in 1985 and was part of the newly formed federal regulatory group at BellSouth practicing before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Jim transitioned to handling litigation in-house, principally in the State of Georgia. He became part of the Complex Litigation group in 2001. Jim continued in this group until his retirement from the AT&T Legal Department in 2022 as Assistant Vice President Senior Legal Counsel. For over 30 years of his career, Jim supervised students in the Emory University School of Law Externship Program. He has also been involved in pro bono activities throughout his career, most recently with the Housing Court Assistance Center (HCAC) of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation where he was awarded HCAC Volunteer Lawyer of the Year in 2023.

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