Federal Judicial Practice Externship

Course Description

Students dedicate their time to both a placement with a district court or appellate court judge and a weekly, two-hour seminar. To develop advocacy skills, all students are required to participate in a moot court argument before a panel of judges.

To be accepted for this class, you must be selected by a participating judge for work in his or her chambers. Students cannot volunteer to work in a judge’s chambers and then apply for the course. In addition, since students will be working for a federal judge, students may not work in a private law firm, government office or legal services office during the externship.

Judicial externs cannot engage in any political activity. During the semester that students are working in chambers, they cannot make any political contributions, volunteer for any campaigns, attend any campaign rallies or wear campaign shirts/buttons. In addition, Judicial Conference policy requires that all persons working or volunteering in court chambers undergo a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check as a condition of employment.

Fieldwork

Students work in the chambers of participating judges in either the Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York or Second Circuit. While in chambers, students complete extensive research and writing projects such as bench memoranda on a broad range of cases It is hoped that each student will be able to draft an order or opinion. Students are also encouraged to attend Second Circuit oral arguments or district court proceedings, particularly those related to the cases on which they are working.

Seminar

Class sessions are taught in a variety of styles ranging from lecture to visiting speakers. The lectures address fundamental topics of oral advocacy, legal writing and appellate review. The substance of these classes directly relates to the types of cases that FJP students see in chambers and to the development of practical skills. Other classes involve discussions with a distinguished group of guest speakers about various aspects of legal practice.

Application Procedure

Students should submit the standard application, a resume and a grade transcript via CAMS. Selected student applicants will be contacted for an interview.

* 5 credits include 3 clinical credits and 2 academic seminar credits.