Externships: Putting Theory into Practice
Overview of Program Requirements
In order to receive three academic credits, students must do the following:
- Work a minimum of 10 hours each week over the course of the semester (140 hours total). Many, if not most students work more than 140 hours because they find that they need or want to do so in order to make the externship experience a valuable one. Students who are heavily involved in numerous activities should seriously consider whether or not they can accommodate the time commitment an externship requires.
- Participate in the academic component of the externship. All externs who have not previously taken an externship must attend a classroom component at the law school, which usually consists of one or two class periods. Some externships also require students to participate in seminars conducted by the site (check the program descriptions under Current Opportunities). Academic component hours do not count towards the 10 hours required weekly unless the class is offered on-site at the externship and not taught by GSU faculty.
- Complete a Goals Form at the beginning of the externship.
- Complete Work Summary Forms every two weeks during the externship.
- Complete a mid-semester one page paper and meet with a faculty advisor.
- Complete a three page end-of-semester paper and meet with a faculty advisor.
- Complete a Site Evaluation and Student Evaluation of the externship experience.
Students may participate in a total of two semesters of externship course work. Two externships may not be taken simultaneously. Students receive three (3) credit hours for each externship, not to exceed six (6) credits. Grades for externships are assigned on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
