Students have the opportunity to learn as student externs under the direct supervision of attorneys and judges. Externship opportunities exist in the public sector, including federal and state judicial branches, the Nevada and U.S. legislatures, and offices of governmental and not-for-profit legal services agencies.  Aside from current placements in Northern Nevada, further placements are in development. Externships expose students to a wide range of legal issues and the opportunity to conduct legal research and draft memoranda, pleadings, and a variety of other legal documents; interview clients; and assist and participate in cases. In addition to the hours spent "in the field," externs attend a classroom component and produce written work product.

Judicial externs work under the supervision of a judge in the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, U.S. Immigration Court, or Nevada state courts (Supreme Court, District or Family courts).  Students who wish to participate in Judicial Externships must have completed all first-year courses (32 credits).

Students who wish to participate in Government and Public Interest Externships, must, with exceptions noted below, have completed forty-five (45) hours of academic work plus Professional Responsibility as a pre- or co-requisite.  Participation in the Las Vegas City Attorney's Office, UNLV General Counsel, UMC Risk Management, Nevada Attorney General's Office, Clark County Legal Services, Nevada Cancer Society and the ACLU require completion of all first-year courses. See complete listing and descriptions below.

Congressional externs may be placed in the local offices of U.S. legislators. Students must have completed all first-year courses. Placement in U.S. legislation offices in Washington, D.C. are possible with advanced notice. The Externship is limited to 5 credits per semester.

The Legislative Externship provides opportunities for students to work with the Nevada Legislative Counsel’s Office in Carson City, generally when the legislature is in session.
 

A few externships have additional course prerequisites. Participation in most placements is subject to interview and acceptance by the agency. Externships will be offered every semester, generally for up to 7 credits, with the exception of the congrssional externship (5 credits). Field work is graded on a Pass/Fail basis and 1 credit of course work grade options are Pass/Fail/ C-.
 

Students may not solicit placements on their own.  Students are limited to 12 credits which may be applied to their graduation minimum requirement. A particular externship course may only be taken once. A mandatory Orientation will take place at the beginning of each semester.
 

Externship Director, Professor Martin Geer’s office is located in Room 458 (ph.895-2093).

Catalog Course Descriptions

Law School Externship Guidelines

Clark County Externships
Congressional Externships Placements

Government & Public Interest Externships Placements

Judicial Externship Course Overview
 

Northern Nevada Externships
Legislative Externship

Judicial Externship Placements

Government & Public Interest (GPI) Placements
 

Out-of-State and International
 

Applications for Fall 2008