Externships "Learning by Serving"
Through the UNM School of Law's externship program, students gain real world legal skills while working with clients under the supervision of a licensed attorney in a non-profit, government agency, or judicial setting. Externs will analyze legal problems and explore the various professional roles lawyers play while gaining skills and forming invaluable networking bonds.
Students may enroll in up to two externships during their time in law school and may take the course for either 2 or 3 credits. The amount of work required is one (1) credit for every 42.5 hours of work in the placement so for 2 credits it is 85 hours and for 3 credits it is 127.5 hours over the semester. Note that regular semesters are typically 15 weeks long and summer is generally 10 weeks long.
Externships include a required one-hour class component and counts toward the overall hourly requirement. Students may be paid and receive credit for an externship.
More information can be found on the Course Description page. Carefully read the relevant course descriptions for these classes for further details.
For Students: Externship Search Process
To find an externship placement students should first check Connect for current externship opportunity postings. Apply for an advertised, open position by uploading application materials as instructed. The employer will then contact the student for the next steps.
Sometimes the employer will want to conduct an interview and then select the right fit for the position. If there is not a posting for an opportunity you are interested in, contact one of the SCSO professionals for an appointment to discuss how to search for and apply for an opportunity. Often there is an employer who may be interested if asked. Once you have successfully secured an offer, see the registration process below for the next step.
Registration Process
Once you have secured an externship placement, complete the registration form. Email your completed registration form to Professor Hope Eckert for review and approval. Once approved the Registrar’s Office will be notified and will send a CRN by email for your enrollment in your my.unm account. Enrollment will not be permitted without prior approval.
For Employers
Students will be available to work in an externship during a regular semester which is typically 15 weeks and in summer which is 10 weeks. Remember that you must advertise your position far enough in advance that you may interview and select before the start of each semester.
The lawyer supervisor is expected to provide students with training in lawyering skills, such as, client interviewing, counseling, negotiation, legal drafting, case evaluation and planning, case management, time and office management, argumentation, and applied legal research. Students should be exposed to the professional responsibilities of a lawyer. Whenever ethical issues arise, the supervising lawyer is expected to explore these issues in depth with the student.
In order to receive credit for the class students are expected to produce ten (10) pages of written product which may be all one document or may be numerous items.
If you are interested in having a student extern you may advertise the position on our job posting system called Connect. Simply upload your position and students will reply with the application materials you request.
Agency Externships
Students may work with a government agency, or non-profit organization under the supervision of a practicing lawyer to obtain knowledge and experience in the practice of law.
Law Office Externship
Under supervision, externs have the opportunity to interview and counsel clients, negotiate with lawyers and others, make presentations in court, draft legal documents, conduct legal research, interview witnesses, and generally to perform and learn the various tasks and skills necessary to help a particular client resolve his or her legal problems.
Students enrolled in the Law Office Extern Program are governed by N.M.R. Civ. Pro. 1-094 and Rule 83.11 of the Local Rules for the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. Students are required to conduct themselves at all times within the spirit and meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Supervising lawyers must be sure that students understand and follow these rules. Ethics is a pre or co-requisite to qualify for coverage under this rule during externships.
Under these rules, students are granted the privilege to practice law while under the supervision of a properly licensed attorney designated by the Dean of the Law School and while the student is currently enrolled in the Law School clinical program. A lawyer other than the lawyer designated by the Law School as the student's supervisor is permitted to supervise the student only with the prior permission of the Law School.
Judicial Externships
The Judicial Extern Program provides law students first-hand experience with judges in state and federal courts. Students strengthen their legal research and writing skills by drafting bench memos, participating in drafting opinions, observing oral argument and being a part of the behind the scenes decision making process.
about the Semester in Washington D.C. ProgrTestimonials
The externship course is such a fun opportunity to take what we learn in the classroom and apply those skills in the real world. At the same time, you get to share the experience with other students and receive support from UNM faculty and professors along the way. The course creates a space to pursue your interests in different practice areas and truly discover what type of law you might want to do. I cannot recommend this course enough - I enjoyed it so much, I enrolled twice!
During my 1L summer I completed an externship with the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) in Albuquerque. This externship was an invaluable experience which allowed me to be involved in trial preparation and enabled me to learn practical components of law. As an extern with the LOPD, I completed pre-trial interviews of witnesses, wrote memos and briefs on cases, and observed hearings and trials. Working closely with an attorney at LOPD, I was able to get hands-on experience in the field of Criminal Defense. I am thankful to UNMSOL and the LOPD for allowing law students the opportunity to gain practical legal experience through UNMSOL’s externship program.
Iwas selected as one of 35 Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellows (out of over 400 applicants from across the U.S.) and worked at NM Legal Aid. I was supervised by Grace Allison, tax attorney. We launched an inaugural tax pilot project in Laguna Pueblo. I also conducted covid-safe client intakes utilizing our newly designed legal wellness tool.
