Our students often extern with justices of the Florida Supreme Court. FSU Law students represented three of the nine externs during summer 2018.
Externships allow students to earn academic credit while working off campus in a law office or court.
An externship is a semester-long work experience that allows students to earn academic credit while gaining practical legal experience off campus. FSU Law has one of the most extensive externship programs in the country, with a wide variety of opportunities at government, legal aid, not-for-profit, and in-house corporate counsel law offices. Positions are offered each semester and are available throughout Florida, and in national and international locations.
While students are supervised by an experienced licensed attorney or judge, they also receive classroom training and support from a clinical faculty member. Students learn the role of an attorney or judicial clerk while representing real clients and adjudicating cases and reflecting on these experiences in journals, reports, and seminars.
During their externship, students improve professional competencies and skills, and explore practice areas. Students often tell us that their externship affirmed their interest in an area of law. Moreover, externships give students the opportunity to network and develop relationships with potential mentors outside of the classroom.
When students apply for an externship, they will meet with one of the externship faculty who will review their goals and make sure that the placements they apply for will help them meet their learning objectives. For more general information about specific externship programs, please visit the following pages:
Students should visit the FSU College of Law Externships site on Canvas for the most current externship descriptions, credits, locations, and learning outcomes, and to apply.
If you are an attorney or judge who would like to work with our students, please email externships@law.fsu.edu for more information.
Notable Facts & Figures for the 2020-2021 Academic Year
- 179 students participated in externships at 81 different placement sites.
- 21 students placed with federal judges or federal agencies.
- Students placed in 36 cities, including Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and London.
- 31 students were in full-time litigation placements.
- 23 students were at in-house corporate counsel placements.