Requirements and Limitations

  1. COURSE PLANNING: Students who want to take a 12 credit externship (generally Prosecutor, Defender or Legal Services) in the Fall of their third year need to schedule other important fall electives in their second year. No other courses may be taken with a 12 credit program. Also, note that 12 and 9 credit externships are restricted during a student’s last term (see #3 below).


  2. CAPS ON EXTERNSHIP CREDITS, CLINIC CREDITS: A maximum of 15 externship credits, or 18 clinic credits (externship combined with the Public Interest Law Center) may be applied toward graduation, excluding prerequisite course hours. In addition, a maximum of two externships may be taken. A student may not take more than one clinical program in any semester.


  3. LAST SEMESTER CREDIT CAP: Students may take externship programs up to 6 credits during the last semester of law school, and may take 9 credit programs provided they: (1) remain in the local area near the law school; and (2) take another two- or three-credit course (no exceptions) at the law school in that semester. Students may not take a 12-credit externship program during their last semester of law school. Waivers will be granted only in the most extraordinary and compelling circumstances. Petitions for waivers should be submitted to the clinical faculty responsible for the program and should document your circumstances.

  4. Students may not take additional courses while they are enrolled in a 12 credit externship program. However, Tallahassee externs may receive journal credit with prior approval of the faculty extern coordinator.


  5. Three and four credit programs require a student to work 182 hours over 13 weeks, and students work 14 hours per week. Four credit programs require 182 hours over 13 weeks, and students work 14 hours per week. Students may not take more than 15 total credits during the semester. Four credit programs include additional skills and/or a seminar component.


  6. Six credit programs require a student to work 260 hours over a 13 week period. Students work 20 hours per week in blocks of 3 or more hours, as arranged with the site supervisor. Students may not take more than 15 total credits during this semester.


  7. Nine credit programs require a student to work 390 hours over a 13 week period. Students work 30 hours per week and may not take more than 12 total credits during this semester. During the summer only, students doing a prosecutor/defender externship have the option to work full-time for 10-11 weeks. If the full-time option is selected, no other courses may be taken.


  8. Twelve credit programs require a student to work 520 hours over 13 weeks. Students work 40 hours per week. No other courses may be taken with a 12 credit program.


  9. A student may not repeat a completed externship program in a subsequent term. If a student is unable to complete a program for a compelling reason, the faculty supervisor may permit the student to repeat the program.


  10. Applications for an externship or clinical prerequisite course must be filed with the clinical office by the posted deadline (usually about four weeks into the previous semester). Fall semester applications are due in the Spring, according to posted deadlines.


  11. Students may not receive credit unless they are participating in an approved externship program described in this catalogue. All enrollments, including externship clinical prerequisites, are subject to the faculty supervisor’s approval, considering background information, course preparation, and possible duplication of curriculum with other clinical programs.


  12. COMPENSATION: Students are not permitted to receive compensation for their services rendered in credit-earning programs. However, students working outside the Tallahassee area may receive reimbursement for the cost of travel and relocation from the placement office or another donor.


  13. EMPLOYMENT: Students enrolled in a judicial externship may not have outside legal employment, but may have other employment (including faculty research assistance). Students engaging in a 9-12 credit externship may not have outside legal employment, but may be approved for other employment in the evenings and weekends, up to a maximum of 8 hours per week, after consultation with the faculty supervisor and site supervisor. Other part-time externs may engage in outside legal employment only with the approval of the faculty supervisor, placement supervisor, and outside employment office supervisor. Clerking is discouraged because of both time demands and ethical considerations.


  14. OVERLAPPING PROGRAMS — RESTRICTIONS (Subject to change as programs are evaluated.)

    1. Two Judicial Externships: Students may not receive 6 credits for each of two judicial externships. Students may not take two appellate programs, nor two trial level programs for credit. If one 6-credit trial level and one appellate program are taken, or bankruptcy with any other program, the second program is awarded 3 credits (for 15 hours per week participation). The Trial Court (1L) externship may not be combined with another trial level judicial program for credit, but an appellate program may be taken for full credit.


    2. Other Program Restrictions: Students may not take two appellate advocacy programs or both the prosecutor and defender externships for credit. Also, students may not take both the full-time and part-time prosecutor/public defender program for credit. Otherwise, where programs overlap to a substantial degree, including any two environmental programs, the second program taken will award students 50% reduced credit with 25% reduction in participation hours at the placement office. Similarly, students combining the appellate advocacy and judicial programs would also receive a 50% reduction in credit for the second program, with a 25% reduction in participation hours.


    3. Public Interest Law Center: To the extent that the learning experience in the PILC may duplicate that of a particular externship, credit reductions may apply. Students wishing to take both the PILC and an externship should check with the faculty supervisors of both programs concerning credit awards, and obtain written approval for their planned course of clinical work.

  15. VISITING STUDENTS: Visiting students may not participate in a 9- or 12- credit externship. A visiting student may pursue an externship of up to 6 credits if space and resources are available, provided s/he is primarily enrolled in other coursework at the College. The same limitation applies to the clinical prerequisite courses.

  16. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Immigration rules require non-US citizens who want to do an externship (internship) to apply for Curricular Practical Training Authorization (CPT). The International Center, Division of Student Affairs, can be reached at 850.644.1702 or 850.644.9951 or on the Web at http://ic.fsu.edu for assistance with completing the CPT application form.

  17. PRO BONO: Students enrolled in a judicial externship may not complete any of their pro bono hours during the externship. If you are taking a judicial externship in your last semester you must have your pro bono completed before your final semester.