The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law offers a special program for second and third year law students who seek legal experience in governmental offices or non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles, California area. The Program offers externship credits and two 3-credit classes which will be taught in Santa Monica, California. (Classes are offered in the fall semester only; classes are not available during the spring or summer at this time.) The Los Angeles Externship Program helps students acquire expertise in important legal areas, obtain real world experience, and develop relationships that are invaluable assets to new attorneys as they enter legal practice.
Students must fill out an LA Application (available below) and submit it to Carolyn Landry in Room 101 at least four months before the externship semester begins. The LA Application alerts the Externship Program to both student interest and externship options. Late applications may be accepted, but a timely application is highly recommended. Students do not need to have secured a postion in order to fill out the LA Application.
Students are responsible for securing their own placements in LA in government or non-profit organizations. A website that may assist students is psjd@nalp.org. Once accepted, students must provide the name and address of the agency or judge and supervisor contact information to the Externship Program. Students will earn credit for both the externship and for academic courses taught by College of Law faculty in Santa Monica. The courses will address subjects such as privacy, ethics, and law and economics.
Students may pursue a minimum of 12 with a maximum of 15 credit hours during the semester. Most externship placements earn nine credit hours at 60 hours per credit. Students may earn 3- credits per course and students may take one or two courses while in LA. Students accepted into the program will pay all standard tuition and fees required by their enrollment at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and are eligible for financial aid through the law school.
If you are petitioning for Arizona residency, please note that leaving Arizona for this program may negatively impact your petition for residency. Once you have obtained residency, participating in this program will not result in a review of your residency status.
Eligibility and Requirements Los Angeles Application