Off-campus Externship Opportunities
Off-campus externship opportunities exist in the areas of state and federal court, government agencies and public interest law firms. On-campus externships involve mediation opportunities and disability law issues.
Enrollment in any externship is subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in the Loyola Law School Externship Policies and Procedures. All externship opportunities are periodically reviewed to determine whether they meet the academic goals and objectives of the Externship Program. Eligible students must apply for an externship in the Externship Department.
All opportunities must be approved in advance. Click here for lists of pre-approved opportunities, government agencies by practice area and public interest agencies by practice area. Upon timely application, eligible applicants select a court or agency, send a cover letter and resume, and arrange for an interview. Accepted offers must be confirmed in writing. Students should check with the Externship Department for details on specific programs. This list is not exclusive. It is merely indicative of the range of available opportunities.
On-Campus Clinical Opportunities »
Business and Commercial
California Department of Corporations
Externs become familiar with the substantive area of the California Corporate Securities Law and other laws under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Corporations. Students assist counsel in the Enforcement Division in preparing cases for administrative hearings and civil injunctive cases.
Securities and Exchange Commission
A supervising attorney from the Los Angeles Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission works with externs in investigating and preparing civil and administrative cases involving issuers of securities, brokers, dealers and other regulated entities.
Note: The SEC externship limits student applicants to third year day and fourth year evening students. Second year day and third year evening students may apply for the Summer Session prior to their last year. (Prerequisites: Evidence and Corporations.)
Small Business Administration
SBA externs assist staff attorneys research problems in commercial law. Cases include bankruptcies and defaults on Small Business Administration Loans. Students are also involved in the approval or disapproval of new Small Business Administration Loans.
United States Attorney - Tax Division
Externs are supervised by deputy U.S. Attorneys in the Tax Division of the US Attorney's Office in researching and drafting summary judgments, interrogatories, pleadings, complaints and petitions related to litigation before the Federal District Court, the Bankruptcy Court and, to the extent that tax issues are involved, the state courts. Students participate in all phases of pre-trial preparation on various tax matters. Third year students are preferred.
Note: Interviews are conducted early each semester in order to process all security clearances.
United States Trustee in Bankruptcy
The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 created the United States Trustee System as part of the Justice Department to assume responsibility for many of the administrative duties previously assigned to bankruptcy judges. The Bankruptcy Reform Act mandates that the United States Trustees supervise the administration of cases under Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13. Activities include assisting in the preparation of pleadings and auditing cases and other customary law clerk duties. Primary responsibility will involve Chapter 11 reorganization cases.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
This is a one-unit externship offered in the spring semester of each academic year. Students receive training in basic tax law and tax form preparation, and provide 25 hours of live-client tax preparation services in the community. Completion of the course automatically satisfies the pro bono graduation requirement.
The VITA course is limited each year. Priority enrollment will go to second year day and third year evening students. Others may enroll if room in the course thereafter allows. Second time takers must agree to be site supervisors.
Civil Practice - Public Interest
Civil Litigation
Externs assigned to public interest organizations research and prepare cases in class action suits and constitutional law, including civil liberties and test case litigation. Typical assignments are with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel, San Fernando Neighborhood Legal Services and Los Angeles Legal Aid.
Immigration
Several immigration placements offer externs a variety of experience. The Los Angeles County Bar Association Immigration Legal Assistance Project provides counseling to resident aliens, prospective immigrants, applicants for citizenship, refugees and those seeking political asylum. Opportunities are also offered at the Central American Refugee Center, El Rescate and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
Center for Conflict Resolution - On Campus
The Center for Conflict Resolution is an on-campus program that provides community-based mediation, conciliation and facilitation services. Students work under the supervision of Law School Professor's, and are assigned actual cases and clients.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Students under direct attorney supervision are assigned cases which they are expected to handle professionally to conclusion. Much of the caseload involves the legal problems of the indigent with federal, state and local administrative agencies, creditors and landlords. Cases include civil and appellate litigation.
Mental Health Advocacy Services
Mental Health Advocacy Services represents clients in a variety of areas, including special education, juvenile justice, access to services, community care, hospital issues, social security, family law, employment discrimination and others. Externs may work on administrative hearings, court cases or research projects relevant to their interests.
Disability Rights Legal Center - On Campus
At the on-campus Disability Rights Legal Center, students work on cases involving the rights of physically and mentally disabled clients in two areas: civil rights and public benefits. Students, under the direction of the supervising attorney, are responsible for all aspects of the preparation and assessment of cases, from initial client interview through administrative hearings and judicial review.
Trial Advocacy
City Attorney-Criminal Division
Externs are assigned to a branch office of the Office of the City Attorney, and, under the direct supervision of a trial deputy, prepare and present cases in court, including examination of witnesses, presentation of evidence, motions, pleas and arguments. Students must be eligible for certification by the State Bar of California. Reference should be made to the section on Certification of Law Students -- Practical Training of Law Students (21.8.) describing the rules for obtaining certification.
County Counsel - Dependency Court
Externs are assigned to a trial deputy in the Office of the County Counsel. Each student has primary responsibility for assigned cases, including appearances at trial. Cases are chosen to offer the maximum amount of trial experience. The Office of the County Counsel represents the Department of Children's Services and the interest of the State in cases involving abused and neglected children in Dependency Court.
District Attorney
Externs are assigned to various branch and area offices of the Los Angeles District Attorney throughout Los Angeles County. Under the supervision of a deputy District Attorney, students prepare and present jury and non-jury cases, as well as conduct preliminary hearings. Grading is numerical. Students must also attend Professor Hobbs' Trial Advocacy Seminar which involves discussions of criminal law and procedure in practice. Times and dates for the seminar meetings are established and posted by Professor Hobbs. Students must be eligible for certification by the California State Bar. Students enrolling in this course are selected by Professor Hobbs. Students may not exceed six units of field work.
Federal Public Defender
Externs are assigned to a trial deputy in the office of the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles. Each deputy handles every aspect of each assigned case from the pretrial proceedings through appeal. Students assist in the investigation, research, motion practice and trial preparation of cases assigned to their deputy and participate in bail proceedings, plea bargains, depositions and appeals. Under current federal practice rules, students may not examine witnesses nor present evidence, but they may assist counsel at trial. In addition, a senior deputy in the Federal Public Defender's office conducts a seminar focusing on trial practice and strategy under the Federal Rules of Evidence. (Prerequisites: Administration of Criminal Justice or Criminal Law, and Evidence.)
United States Attorney-Criminal Division
Externs are assigned to a trial deputy in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Students assist in the investigation, research, motion practice, trial preparation and appeal of cases. Under local federal district court rules, students may not examine witnesses or present evidence in court, but they may assist counsel at trial. (Prerequisites: Administration of Criminal Justice or Criminal Law, and Evidence.)
Judicial Administration
All applicants for judicial externships must apply for available opportunities through the Externship Department. Externs must apply on time and have the requisite cumulative grade point average (reference should be made to the section on Policies and Application Procedures, 14.9.2.). All full-time judicial externs (10 units) must participate in a concurrent tutorial course taught by the Faculty Externship Director. Applicants may select judges from a pre-approved list in the Externship Department, and forward a cover letter, resume and writing sample to each judge selected. Many judges may also require a transcript.
California Courts of Appeal
Various divisions of the State Courts of Appeal sitting in Los Angeles and Orange Counties accept law student externs. Students research the law, review briefs, draft memoranda and compose drafts of opinions for cases before the Court. Students during the Summer Session typically work full-time for an intensive involvement with the Court's workload.
Federal Judicial Externship Program
The Federal Judicial Externship Program allows second or third year Day Division students and third or fourth year Evening Division students to work in the chambers of a Federal District Court judge, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, or a Federal Bankruptcy judge. These courses may consist of part-time externships (two to six units) or full-time externships (seven to ten units, 82 GPA). Externs typically perform legal research, prepare bench memoranda, evaluate cases for decision by the judge and observe court proceedings.
Judicial Clerkships - Los Angeles & Surrounding Area Superior Courts
Students are assigned to judges in the Civil Divisions of the Los Angeles and surrounding area Superior Courts. Externs perform many of the same functions as a graduate law clerk, i.e., research and draft memoranda and other documents on cases before the courts. All judicial externs must apply for approved opportunities through the Externship Department, or the externship may not be confirmed for credit.
United States District Court Magistrates
Externs assigned to one of the magistrates in the United States District Court in Los Angeles research and draft memoranda on a wide variety of issues coming before the court. With the increased responsibility of the magistrates in handling bail, assignment, law and motion matters and preliminary proceedings, as well as new workloads in the areas of poverty and welfare rights, there is considerable opportunity for externship experience in federal criminal and civil matters.
State and Local Government
California Attorney General
The Attorney General's Office, through its legal division, provides legal counsel to the state's constitutional offices and more than ninety state departments and agencies and represents the State of California on all criminal matters before the Appellate and Supreme Courts. Externs research constitutional, civil rights and civil litigation issues, draft pleadings and discovery requests, and assist attorneys in the preparation of hearings, depositions and trials. Occasionally externs participate in settlement negotiations. Placements are also available in the Criminal Division.
Civil and Criminal Practice, Los Angeles or Santa Monica City Attorney
Externs working in the civil and criminal divisions of the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney may be placed in a wide range of units, including Civil Liability, Criminal, Police Litigation, Hard Core Gang, Airport Division, Domestic Violence Prosecution, Harbor Division, Environmental and Land Use.
Students placed in the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office work in one of two civil divisions, where they are assigned to a trial deputy and may work on consumer, land use, civil rights, business law or personal injury matters. The Civil Litigation Division is concerned with personal injury liability issues, while the Civil Advisory Division addresses all other legal matters, as well as the preparation of ordinances, resolutions and city programs. The Civil Advisory Division also provides internal advice to city departments. In the special division dealing with the Santa Monica rent control ordinance, students research and investigate zoning matters, condominium conversions and other administrative law areas.
Consumer Affairs
Students are assigned to either work with the California Attorney General's Office (Civil Division), Los Angeles District Attorney's Office or the Federal Trade Commission. The externship work includes investigation and research into fraudulent business practices and misleading advertising, as well as the preparation of such cases for trial or administrative agency action. Some emphasis is placed upon alternatives to litigation, including voluntary compliance, negotiation, and statutory reform.
Environmental Protection
Externs are placed in several offices, and approved opportunities may change from time to time. Externs assigned to the South Coast Air Quality Management District will gain experience in the general area of government regulatory processes, including the rule making process and the administrative process. Externs may also attend District Governing Board meetings and observe the process in which rules are eventually adopted. The extern may also have the opportunity to represent the District in presenting cases to the five member Administrative Hearing Panel.
Externs accepted by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) typically research and prepare administrative civil penalty cases under federal fisheries and marine mammal legislation. Externs may also work on other matters involving the marine environment.
Externs accepted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) will assist attorneys in researching and the investigation of various appeals/recovery provisions in current environmental legislation.
Labor Law
The legal office of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement is a branch of the State Department of Industrial Relations responsible for the enforcement of the Labor Code. It covers such diverse areas as minimum wage, OSHA, public works, child labor and artist/management controversies. Externs participate in client interviews, witness preparation, law and motion matters and settlement negotiations. Placements are also available from time to time with the National Labor Relations Board and Cal-OSHA.