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Take the skills and principles you learn in the classroom and learn how they apply in practice. Emory Law's Externship Program provides work experience in different types of practice so you can determine which suits you best and develop relationships that will continue as you begin your legal career.

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

Experiential Learning Mission

Emory Law students are required to complete the Six-Credit Experiential Learning Requirement as per ABA Standard 303 and the ABA’s Guidance Memo. Externing for credit hours rather than financial compensation at one of our hundreds of approved placement sites throughout Georgia and beyond is an excellent way to do so.

Externships are an educational experience in every sense and rooted in the history of the legal profession. In early colonial times, apprenticeships were referred to as “articles of clerkship” and were the bedrock of legal education for two centuries before being supplanted by the case method fist pioneered by John Norton Pomeroy in the 1860s. The ABA now recognizes that this earlier form of experiential learning is critical to your success.

As an extern at a corporation, small firm, government office, or public interest organization, you will learn powerful skills for succeeding in the practice of law upon graduating and passing the bar. Through the Externship Program, you will discover the ethical and practical issues attorneys and judges wrestle with and take seriously. In so doing, you will find that members of the bar believe in the value of service regardless of their area of practice, and are deeply committed to their clients, the rule of law, and the highest standards of excellence. You will also come to appreciate that, throughout your career, you should strive to improve your skills and knowledge to become better lawyers.

Finally, if you happen to give more time than required during an externship with a designated nonprofit, prosecution, and/or public defender placement, you may count those overage hours as pro bono service, which is both a requirement of many state bars and a foundational underpinning of the legal profession. Visit our Pro Bono Program for more information.


Externship Student Testimonials

A'Lyrika Bowens 25L

A'Lyrika Bowen 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

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

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

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

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 Process: Five Stage Overview

The Externship Program Office is here to guide you through the five stages of the Externship Process.

Emory Law externship process map

STEP 1: Identify an Externship Opportunity

Fortunately, our office has worked with hundreds of sites over the years and have a recent list of sites available here. For a complete list of sites we have worked with in the past, please visit Symplicity which provides details about the externship opportunity, frequency of those opportunities (i.e., FA/SP/SU), whether pre-requisites or co-requisites are required, the typical class year those sites expect (i.e., 2L/3L), and additional information such as whether background checks are required or a Student Practice Certificate.

If there is a site that is not currently listed or about which you have questions, please contact us. We onboard new sites all the time which requires a meeting with our Program Director, Professor Derrick Howard, and then for the Program Coordinator, Dr. Franklin Lebo, to add the employer’s profile to Symplicity.

STEP 2: Apply for an Externship Opportunity

In September and March every fall and spring semester, law schools across Georgia open the externship application process simultaneously. You have about three weeks to apply via Symplicity for a position during this first round for consideration. Employers then reach back with interview invitations. The process wraps up in October and April respectively. This means being sure that you have an updated resume, transcript, and writing sample on file in Symplicity. Every placement is different in terms of the documents required. You may also be required to supply a cover letter. Be prepared by having your documents uploaded in Symplicity. The good news is that if you happen to miss this externship application window, you may still seek an externship for the next semester. There are plenty of placements that may still have openings for externs after this initial round who would be delighted to hear from you. The key is to reach out to us for assistance.

STEP 3:Complete Externship Onboarding for Course Registration

The next critical step is to be sure to contact the Externship Program office (lawexternships@emory.edu) to let us know that you have accepted an externship opportunity. You will need to send us evidence of your offer and acceptance. Sometimes the offer and acceptance come through Symplicity, but other times you may end up accepting directly from the employer. Either way, be sure to reach out to the Externship Program office.

You will then need to complete two onboarding documents in Symplicity and then will be registered for your externship program coursework (i.e., LAW870 series companion course and LAW871 fieldwork course) by the Externship Program Coordinator. Students are not permitted to self-register for externship courses. This process is nuanced and may involve the faculty who instruct the companion course to be sure you are in the right substantive section paired with your externship experience.

STEP 4: Complete the Externship

This step involves not only completing the required hours at your placement site, but also includes properly documenting your activities including your midterm and final self-assessment, but also your work term hours. Your site supervisor must also complete a midterm and final assessment as well. All of these documents must be uploaded to Symplicity. Symplicity is our only archival database to remain in compliance with ABA standards for assessment and record keeping purposes. Likewise, many bar exams require not only transcripted evidence of a completed externship, but also affirmation from Emory Law’s Externship Program that you have indeed completed a specific externship. This may be critical for you years after graduation.

Moreover, multiple employers require the same evidence for background checks. Finally, overage hours may be used for pro bono credit hour evidence completion which is also required by multiple bar exams and earns an honorable mention at Emory Law as well. Finally, note that your course instructor may also require similar pieces of evidence for grading purposes. Be sure to complete all required documentation both in Symplicity and in Canvas. In short, keep your records in Symplicity true and complete.

STEP 5: Final Document Review and Grade Submission

Finally, the externship program director in coordination with your course instructor, site supervisor, and the program coordinator will affirm that your records are true and complete. The course instructor then submits your final course grades via OPUS to be recorded on your transcript.


Externship Program Office Staff

Derrick Howard
Derrick Howard

Professor of Practice and Director, Externship Program and Professionalism Program

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Franklin Lebo
Franklin Lebo

Program Coordinator, Externship Program and Professionalism Program

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Externship Program Faculty

Randy Cadenhead

Randy Cadenhead
Professor Randy Cadenhead instructs LAW870A: EXTERN - Public Interest.

His career of over 30 years as counsel at Cox Communications and BellSouth Corporation included practice areas in corporate law, privacy law, and public interest practice. He has served in multiple professional leadership roles in Atlanta and is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Florida. 

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Adam Hames

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

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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Shiriki Cavitt Jones

Shirk Cavitt Jones
Professor Shiriki Cavitt Jones instructs LAW870F: EXTERN – Corporate Counsel.

She currently serves as Commercial Transactions Attorney Director for Coyote Logistics, LLC, a UPS Company, where she is responsible for working with Coyote’s business stakeholders to handle data privacy matters and negotiate complex commercial and IT agreements, including identifying and analyzing potential business risks and recommending risk mitigation strategies.

Shiriki obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English (cum laude) in 2001 from Dartmouth College and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2004.

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Alkesh Patel

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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Debbie Segal

Debbie Segal
Professor Debbie Segal instructs LAW870A: EXTERN - Public Interest.

Her experience practicing for over 30 years began with Atlanta Legal Aid where she served as Executive Director of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. She ultimately became Pro Bono Partner with the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend. During her career, she supported public interest and the legal needs of women through a number of organizations including leadership roles with the ABA. Although officially retired, she continues to represent victims of domestic violence and is active with the Emory Public Interest Committee. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 2019 for her efforts.

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Jim Thompson

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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Ailya Zaidi

Ailya Zaidi
Professor Ailya Zaidi instructs LAW870C: EXTERN - Government Counsel.

Since 2013, she has developed a civil litigation practice with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration where her areas of focus include administrative law, environmental law, ethics, employment and contracts. She is an active member of the Georgia Bar.

Prior to joining the federal government, Ailya served as the Assistant Director of Academic Success at Mercer Law School. During law school, Ailya served as an extern with the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Senior U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Georgia. 

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