Three- and Six-Credit Programs

There are no mandatory course requirements for enrolling in the three- or six-credit Externship Program; however, individual externship placement sites may specify prerequisites, including GPA, specific classes, and/or the ability to be certified to practice.

Students participating in the Externship Program work under the direct supervision of one of the on-site supervisors from our list of partner externship sites. Students extern on-site approximately 10 hours each week during the semester for three credits, and approximately 20 hours each week for six credits. Our site partners include judges at federal and state levels and experienced attorneys from government agencies, public interest groups and corporate counsel offices, such as:

  • Fourth Circuit, Court of Appeals, federal magistrates, and bankruptcy courts
  • NC Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and OAH
  • DA and PD Offices throughout the Triangle
  • NC DOJ Attorney General’s Offices
  • UNC Hospitals
  • BCBS
  • SAS Patent
  • Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights

Fall and spring lottery spots are assigned in late February for the upcoming academic year. Students who receive a spot from the lottery do not set up their own externship but rather apply to up to four externship sites from our site partner list and accept at one. With sites ranging from judges to legal aid to corporate counsel to criminal trial work, there is something for every legal interest. The program offers 55 placements in both the fall and spring semesters at a number of sites, and is limited to third-year law students through the clinic/externship lottery. When space is available, after the lottery and waitlist are complete, a small number of 2L students may be able to enroll in the program. The fall/spring program earns three pass/fail credit hours for the majority of sites, with a small number of sites offering six pass/fail credits.

Sample Site List