The Semester in Practice program at Carolina Law is a 12-credit, pass/fail program offering semester-long externships with approved sites at government agencies, non-government agencies (NGOs), and corporate counsel in the United States and around the world. The program is designed as a capstone experience for students interested in a particular practice area who have demonstrated academic and professional excellence.
Semester in Practice externs typically spend the semester living off campus, externing full time with the host organization. Students are trained and mentored by on-site supervisors at the host organization. Student externs are assigned a faculty supervisor who guides and facilitates the students’ exploration of their experience through virtual classroom discussion, journal writing and individual conferences. Students participating in the program may pair the externship with an independent study or a remote course (if available) for additional course credit.
Potential sites in Washington D.C. include various divisions of the Department of Justice, including Consumer Protection, Human Rights, Health and Human Services, and Environmental Enforcement; the Federal Communications Commission; the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Sites in Atlanta include the Centers for Disease Control and the regional offices of the SEC and the EPA. Corporate counsel sites include FilmNation in New York City, the Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey Team, in Pittsburgh, PA, and Atrium Health and EnPro in Charlotte, NC. The Externship Program also offers an international experience in civilian lawyering work on the US Army base in Vicenza Italy.
Placement in this program is by application only and requires the approval of Professor Savasta-Kennedy. Participation in the Semester in Practice program is limited to third-year students in their fall semester and second-year students in their spring semester. Because the program is intended as an intensive immersion in a particular practice area, most students choose to participate during their 3L year, having completed additional courses and a second summer of work. Program requirements include a GPA of 3.2 or above and completion of Professional Responsibility, as well as any site-specific requirements. The application process takes place the semester before the Semester in Practice begins.
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