The Externship Program is an experiential course in which students earn 1, 2, or 3 academic credits for legal work performed at a court, government agency, or non-profit legal organization under the supervision of an attorney. Loyola students can participate in an externship during any fall, spring, or summer semester after their 1L year and have access to over 100 local placements offering opportunities in every imaginable field of practice. Students can also select from a limitless array of self-created summer externships anywhere in the U.S. The required externship seminar gives students the opportunity to reflect upon their field work, share their experiences with one another, and develop skills and professional values for use at their placements and beyond. Students receive both instruction and real-world experience in essential skills such as research and writing, legal problem-solving and analysis, cross-cultural competence, and professionalism. Over the course of the semester, students produce written work product for their field placement, submit regular journal entries for the seminar, and assess themselves on individualized learning goals they develop. Students are selected for participation in the program through an application process and must receive an offer from a qualifying placement prior to enrollment.