Beginning in fall 2025, all new Penn State Dickinson Law students must take at least 3 credits in a legal practice setting through an externship program, in-house legal clinics, or as part of a Semester-in-Practice Program. In order to receive academic credit for working at an externship placement site, students must:
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Complete legal work at their externship site for a required number of hours per credit (typically 140 hours per semester for three credits);
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Attend and participate in the academic companion course; and
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Complete assigned readings and required reflective assignments and self-evaluations.
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Students who have completed at least one year of legal education and are in good academic standing are eligible to apply for an externship.
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Students in the externship course are encouraged to have taken or be concurrently enrolled in Professional Responsibility.
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Some placements require students to be eligible for Certified Legal Extern Status (see Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rules 321 and 322 for more details).
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Externships for academic credit may be paid or unpaid. Placements in the private sector at law firms and businesses must be paid and provide students a unique learning opportunity.
Externship Program Placements
Externships allow students to continue taking courses while working with federal and state court judges, state or federal government agencies, in-house corporate counsel, and public interest or nonprofit organizations. Some private sector placements will be approved if paid and provide a unique learning opportunity.