Externship Program Overview

Southwestern's Externship Program allows students to enhance their classroom learning and better understand their career options through real-life practice experience at select off-campus placements in Southern California and beyond. In the past several years, we have had about 380 externships each year. Over eighty percent of our students complete at least one externship, and about forty percent take two externships as part of their J.D. curriculum. Placement opportunities include governmental agencies, public interest entities, state and federal judicial chambers, the legal departments of companies, and select law firms. During the summer session, placements are possible nationally as well as internationally. Click here to sample some of the placements available to students through the Externship Program.

Extensive information about placement opportunities, the application process, and course requirements is available on the Externship portal page. An excellent place to start is the Externship Policies and Guidelines (PDF in the sidebar). After reviewing the information on the portal, you are encouraged to visit the Externship Office; we will be happy to counsel you on the Externship Program further and answer your questions. Please remember that timely application is critical and that some placements (primarily federal judicial and federal governmental offices) require at least six months' advance application. Please note that students wishing to participate in entertainment externships must have completed Copyright Law.