Self-Created Externships

Some students secure a volunteer internship they want to convert to an externship, some want help finding a summer placement back home or in another out-of-state location, and other students are simply interested in a local agency or organization not already on our list of pre-approved placements.  In all of these cases the student is able to work with the Office of Skills and Experiential Learning (OSEL) to build an opportunity through the self-created externship process. To qualify as a self-created externship, the proposed placement must meet the following criteria:

1. The proposed placement must be a court, government agency, or non-profit legal organization.  Currently, Loyola College of Law does not place students in a for-profit setting;
2. An experienced attorney must be willing to supervise the student and ensure the opportunity consists primarily of substantive legal work;
3. Students may not receive compensation, including independent or third-party funding, for the work performed at the placement. Students may receive reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses such as parking.
4. The agency must sign a memorandum of understanding and agree to meet all externship program expectations before the placement is approved.  

All students have to do to begin the self-created externship process is schedule a meeting with Dean Finger by contacting her at dfinger@loyno.edu. Finding, vetting, and coordinating with potential placements takes time, so please come see Dean Finger several months before the start of the desired semester of enrollment.