Current Opportunities
Student applications will be accepted from Wednesday, Feb. 20 through Feb. 27. All applications must be hand-delivered to the Externship Office and received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Search for Externships
Available externships
Use the filter and search functions above to search for externships that may be of interest to you. Questions? Contact the Externships office at 404-413-9030.
Active Externships with Non-profit organizations
| Externship Site | Practice Area | Details |
|---|---|---|
American Civil Liberties Union of GA (ACLU) - National Security & Immigrants' Rights Project   | Immigration Law | Semester Requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION The ACLU of Georgia National Security and Immigrants' Rights Project, launched in March 2008, aims to bring Georgia and its localities into compliance with international human rights standards in treatment of refugee and immigrant communities in Georgia, including immigrant detainees. To that end, the ACLU of Georgia National Security and Immigrants' Rights Project employs a variety of strategies, including development of impact litigation, legislative advocacy, human rights documentation and publishing of reports, and public education. Externs could be asked to: prepare legislative research memos; conduct Know Your Rights presentations aimed at various immigrant and refugee communities; interview immigrant detainees and research constitutional and international human rights standards for immigration detention; review requests for representation related to discrimination against immigrants and/or post-9/11 abuses of power and conduct the requisite legal research, factual investigation, and client interviews, as well as draft legal memoranda and demand letters. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences: Part-time students are encouraged to apply. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS A brief letter describing the nature of your interest must be submitted with your resume. |
| American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia (ACLU) | Civil Litigation, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Externs spend their time either evaluating potential cases for direct representation and assisting with cases currently in various stages of litigation. Each extern will be responsible for one or two potential new cases each month - corroborating and developing the facts, and conducting preliminary legal research into the substantive issues presented. An extern's time may also involve work on cases in all phases of litigation, including client interviews, discovery, trial preparation, and appeals. Externs may also be asked to write legislative research memos and prepare legislative testimony on civil liberties issues. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS
NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) - Domestic Violence/Safe Families | Domestic Violence Advocacy | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Students participating in the domestic violence externship will be trained and certified to advocate for victims of domestic violence who are seeking Temporary Protective orders pursuant to the Family Violence Act. The students will assist victims in drafting their petitions, appear with them at their ex parte hearings before the presiding judge, assist them in filing the petitions and in delivering them to the sheriff's office for service. After service upon the defendant, the students will accompany the victims to the second hearing, assist them in presenting their cases before the Court, draft the final Protective Orders and ensure that the Orders provide for the safety of the client and her children. It is expected that the students will spend approximately 2/3 of their time in the courthouse and courtroom. Students will also be responsible for following up with the clients to determine if there has been additional violence and if the client needs further relief from the judicial system and will assist them as needed. Finally, the students will perform an assessment of the client’s other civil legal needs (i.e. landlord tenant, consumer, health care etc.) and will make referrals to AVLF’s other projects or to Atlanta Legal Aid as appropriate. AVLF will provide approximately 12 hours of training per semester. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences:
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| Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network (GAIN) | Human Rights, Immigration Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION GAIN provides pro bono services through volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students to represent immigrant asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, domestic violence and other crimes. GAIN’s staff screen, refer, train, support, and supervise the pro bono attorneys as they represent these cases. The extern will be expected to assist with screenings, consultations and interviews of our cases and then provide a summary of the case to the volunteer attorneys. The extern will also work closely and assist our volunteer lawyers in providing research of relevant law, country conditions and gathering of supporting documents for these cases. The extern will also have the opportunity to attend meetings between the client and volunteer attorney and observe and assist the volunteer attorneys with their case. Finally, the extern can also gain unique experience by also representing asylum seekers in their initial credible fear interviews. The extern will be supervised by GAIN’s staff attorneys in all their duties. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences: Immigration Law NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| Georgia Hospital Association | Health Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION GHA is a non-profit trade association made up of member health systems, hospitals, and individuals in administrative and decision-making positions within those institutions. GHA serves approximately 175 hospitals throughout Georgia. The legal department assists member hospitals with finding answers to complicated regulatory questions, participates in meetings with various state agencies which regulate hospitals, drafts and reviews legislation that may affect hospitals, and advises GHA on daily legal issues that may arise in running the association. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Prerequisites: Second or third-year student strongly interested in health-related law Preferences:
NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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| Georgia Innocence Project | Criminal Defense, Post-Conviction | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Students will work at the Georgia Innocence Project under the supervision of the Executive Director. The Georgia Innocence Project is a non-profit organization. The project reviews post-conviction cases, using new DNA technology and other scientific methods, to determine if inmates in Georgia have been wrongly convicted. This position offers students interested in criminal law - both prosecution and defense - the opportunity to be involved in the determination of cases viable for consideration by the Georgia Innocence Project. Students will review inmate correspondence to determine if the project can be of assistance. After cases are determined to be suitable for further review, each student will be assigned a specific number of cases to follow. During this stage, each student will be paired with an established criminal defense attorney. Students will follow and participate in each stage of the post-conviction process, allowing an opportunity for a hands-on learning experience. The student externs will be responsible for reading inmate mail, sending out informational packets to be completed by all inmates, reviewing information provided by inmates, conducting cases investigation, contacting state officials, and monitoring the progress of their individual caseload. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the Innocence movement in Georgia. For more information on the Georgia Innocence Project, visit our website at www.georgiainnocenceproject.org. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Prerequisites: Students must be organized, confident, able to follow direction, detail-oriented, assertive, able to work independently and with a team, responsible, comfortable investigating a criminal case, able to conduct complex research, and committed to public interest work. Preferences: None ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Students will be responsible for setting a firm schedule with the staff. |
| Georgia Justice Project | Criminal Defense | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Students work at the Georgia Justice Project, Inc. (GJP). The GJP provides representation to indigent criminal defendants in municipal, state and superior court (felonies as well as misdemeanors) as well as counseling, GED classes, group meetings, and employment to our clients. Students work in preparing all aspects of a case. During the semester students will assist in interviewing potential clients, gathering information from court and police personnel, visiting crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, negotiating with probation officers and district attorneys, legal research, writing and filing motions, and observing in court proceedings. Students will be supervised by one of the four project attorneys at the GJP. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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| Georgia Lawyers for the Arts | Entertainment Law, IP Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) provides a unique opportunity for law students to gain meaningful exposure to entertainment and intellectual property law. GLA is a nonprofit legal and educational services organization providing $1 million annually in free legal services to musicians, film makers, songwriters, galleries, nonprofit arts organizations, and literary and visual artists. Our externs interact with clients on a daily basis and are expected to take on a great deal of responsibility and maintain a professional demeanor in a fast-paced and exciting work environment. GLA externs perform substantive legal research on IP and entertainment-related matters in both transactional and litigation issues, write legal memos, draft and review contracts, make recommendations on the handling of pro bono cases, conduct client follow-up, assign cases to volunteer attorneys, attend and organize educational seminars, and accompany staff attorneys on client consultations with GLA member artists and art organizations. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences:
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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| GreenLaw | Environmental Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION GreenLaw is dedicated to preventing air and water pollution that endangers human health and degrades Georgia's natural resources. GreenLaw achieves these goals by providing free high-quality legal and technical assistance to environmental organizations and community groups throughout Georgia. By providing these critical services, GreenLaw succeeds in compelling government and industry to take the steps necessary to protect Georgia's citizens and the environment. In all its work, GreenLaw champions the belief that every Georgian, young and old, rich and poor, has the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, live in healthy communities, and enjoy our state's natural beauty. Students will work at GreenLaw under the supervision of the Executive Director or one of the staff attorneys, depending on the student's interest area. GreenLaw has three program areas: Clean Air, Clean Water, and Environmental Justice. More information about GreenLaw can be found at www.green-law.org Extern's assignments may include assisting with preparation and attending trials, hearings and oral arguments, legal research, preparation of memorandums, drafting pleadings and briefs, factual investigation, document review, and attending settlement negotiations, public hearings and other meetings. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences:
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS A writing sample and three references must accompany resume. |
| LAMBDA Legal Defense and Education Fund | Civil Rights | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Headquartered in New York, Lambda Legal's Southern Regional Office ("SRO") opened in Atlanta in 1997, and is responsible for matters arising in the ten state region. Students will assist the SRO's three Staff Attorneys, Greg Nevins, Beth Littrell, and Cole Thaler, primarily through research, writing, and factual investigation of impact litigation involving domestic relations, public and private employment discrimination, disability law, youth advocacy, and numerous other matters, many of which involve constitutional claims or public policy aspects. Our docket is weighted toward appellate practice and amicus curiae work in precedent-setting cases, but we also conduct some trial-level litigation, so opportunities for attendance in court and at depositions, along with practical training in strategy and procedure, may be available. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Prerequisites: None Preferences:
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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| Senior Citizens Law Project, Atlanta Legal Aid | Elder Law, Poverty Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Students work in the Senior Citizens Law Project (SCLP) of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society under the supervision of an attorney. SCLP provides legal representation on issues relating to public benefits, nursing homes and personal care homes, housing, consumer, probate, guardianship, advance directives, and elder abuse and financial exploitation. Participating students will be expected to interview clients and witnesses, prepare pleadings, research legal issues, research court records and represent clients in administrative hearings. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences: None ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS A writing sample is required at the time of the interview. |
| Southern Center for Human Rights | Civil Rights, Criminal Defense, Post-Conviction | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR)'s internship program provides students with hands-on training in all areas of capital and civil rights litigation and advocacy. Externs assist staff attorneys in all aspects of our work. Externs should expect to do several of the following tasks while they are at the Center: conduct legal research and draft pleadings, motions, and briefs; locate and interview witnesses; visit and interview clients; monitor court proceedings for human rights violations; represent inmates before the Alabama parole board; participate in case strategy sessions; locate, obtain, and organize documents; gather statistical data; read and digest transcripts; assist in conducting inspections of jails and prisons; conduct social science and other research; assist in locating and preparing expert witnesses; research public policy issues and prepare policy reports; and attend depositions, press conferences, court hearings, and arguments. We give our externs a great deal of responsibility, and they have been instrumental in many of our successes. We expect our externs to be committed, to work hard, to have fun, and to learn a great deal. As many of SCHR's clients are in prisons outside of the metropolitan Atlanta area, our externs are often asked to travel with attorneys, investigators, and other interns and externs throughout Georgia and Alabama. SCHR’s small staff size ensures that externs receive regular supervision and support. Upon completion of assignments, externs review their findings with the attorneys and develop follow-up action plans. The Southern Center for Human Rights is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. SCHR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious creed, national original, ancestry, disability, or sexual orientation. SCHR encourages applications from minorities, women and other groups that are under-represented in the legal profession.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS
Criminal Procedure
NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| Southern Environmental Law Center (Part-Time Students Only) | Environmental Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION This externship has been designed for, and is only open to, students enrolled in the part-time program while taking this externship. Special arrangements have been made with this site to accommodate part-time students who are not otherwise able to participate in the externship program because of on-gong commitments unrelated to law school. SELC has six program areas: Global Warming, Clean Energy & Air, Land & Community, Coast & Wetlands, Clean Water, and Southern Forests. Externs have the opportunity to choose some of their assignments from one of the SELC's six program areas. Externs will conduct research and writing on various environmental and administrative law issues and may participate in meetings with attorneys, clients, partner groups, and/or state and federal officials. Externs do primarily research and writing though they also have opportunities to join in teleconferences, meetings and site visits with our attorneys. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Prerequisites: Part-Time Student Preferences:
At the time of application, include three references and your GPA on your resume and include a one-page summary that briefly explains your interest in the placement as it relates to your professional development goals and highlights relevant coursework and/or experience. |
| Truancy Intervention Project Georgia, Inc. | Juvenile Law | Semester requirement: 1 SITE DESCRIPTION The Truancy Intervention Project (TIP) was developed in 1991 by former Juvenile Court Judge Glenda Hatchett and Terry Walsh, then President of the Atlanta Bar Association. Its objective is to provide early, positive intervention with children reported as truants. Volunteers work one-on-one with children, as advocates both in and out of the courtroom and as role models to children on the brink of school failure. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS Preferences:
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Students MUST have Wednesday mornings and/or afternoons available.
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