Clinical Education Program

Externships

Courses

Clinical externships at the School of Law enable students to integrate theoretical knowledge of the law with the development of professional skills through practical experience under the supervision of the faculty, the bench and the bar. The experience offers students a unique and invaluable perspective on the practice of law and the role of lawyers in society.

While "the practice of law" is broadly defined for clinical purposes, an externship must afford a significant opportunity for the participating student to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

• to enhance research or legal writing skills
• to reinforce substantive or procedural knowledge of the law
• to broaden understanding of the legal profession
• to develop lawyering skills, such as interviewing, analysis, client counseling, planning, negotiation, problem solving, or oral advocacy
• to raise and resolve issues of professional responsibility

The School of Law offers five types of externships, all consisting of work in the field and faculty supervision. They are organized into the following courses of study:

LAW 031501. Clinical Education - Judicial Externship (Maximum 10 units fieldwork)
Through externship placements in judicial chambers at all levels of the federal and state judiciary system, students will develop skills in legal analysis, research, and writing under the supervision of a judge. Many offer an overview of litigation practice and observation of court proceedings.

LAW 031601. Clinical Education - Judicial Seminar (1 unit)
Students explore the role of the judiciary in regard to ethical dilemmas presented by questions of competent representation, justice, fairness and morality. Strategies for problem-solving and reflective learning skills are discussed.

LAW 033501. Clinical Education - Criminal Externship (maximum 6 units fieldwork)
Students assist prosecutors or criminal defense attorneys. Under the California State Bar Practical Training of Law Students program, students may be certified to appear in court on behalf of clients under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney. Field placements help develop skills of analysis, investigation, planning, negotiation, client interviewing and counseling and professional responsibility.

LAW 033601. Clinical Education - Criminal Seminar (1 units)
This seminar is required for those enrolled in a criminal externship. It involves practical skills training in handling preliminary hearings as well as lectures on various aspects of criminal procedure.

LAW 034501. Clinical Education - Public Interest Externship (4 units maximum)
Through externship placements with the various public interest entities in both the public and private sectors, students will explore the role of the lawyer in society, as well as ethics and morality as it applies to law. Students develop their skills in analysis, negotiation, writing and counseling. The public interest seminar is required for those enrolled in a public interest externship.

LAW 034601. Clinical Education - Public Interest Seminar (1 unit)
To be taken in conjunction with a public interest externship, this class will be divided evenly into two parts: component one will feature readings from various legal theorists and philosophers and will emphasize how these various views of the law may impact legal services to the poor. Component two will focus on practical lawyering skills for working with low-income clients. Included will be overviews of substantive law and social issues affecting the poor, interviewing skills and discussion of students' externship experiences.

LAW 035501. Clinical Education - Entertainment Externship (4 units maximum)
Students are placed in a variety of entertainment companies in the television, film and music business, as well as the guilds and agencies. Additional placements are with emerging internet companies. The media seminar is required for those enrolled in a media externship.

LAW 035601. Clinical Education - Entertainment Seminar (1 unit)
The Media Seminar explores the current legal and business affairs issues facing media entities. It discusses the role of the lawyer in addressing these issues, as well as the ethical and moral issues facing lawyers in this context. Students actively participate in preparing and leading class discussions.

LAW 036501. Clinical Education - Government Externship (Maximum 4 units )
Through field placements in the government sector, students develop their skills in legal analysis and reasoning, negotiation, interviewing, research and writing. The government seminar is required for those enrolled in a government externship.

LAW 036601. Clinical Education - Government Seminar (1 unit)
The Government Seminar accompanies an externship with a government or public law office such as the Office of the Attorney General, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office, the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Los Angeles County Counsel. This is an active participation class in which the students discuss topics such as ethics for government attorneys, the role of public and government attorneys in society, practical issues arising from government externships, diverse law practice environments skill development, problem solving and career planning. Guest speakers from the field of public and government law provide insights into their role in the legal world.