Semester-in-Harrisburg

The Semester-in-Harrisburg Program allows third-year students to spend a semester during the third year of law school in the Pennsylvania state capital working for academic credit at an approved state government agency, the state legislature, or a nonprofit group that focuses on state government affairs. The program is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing a career in state government or a particular regulatory area, such as banking regulation, environmental law, or securities regulation.

Students who enroll in the program work three days a week for academic credit (9 credits) and must enroll in either the State and Local Government Law course or an approved elective course relevant to their externship experience (3 credits). Students also are required to attend regularly scheduled meetings with the faculty supervisor. The required components of the program constitute full-time student enrollment status (12 credits), and students in the program must obtain approval from the program directors to enroll in additional law school courses during the semester that they participate in the program.

Louise Halliday, Externship Program Coordinator, is available to consult with interested students about potential externship opportunities and academic planning to prepare for participation in the program. Students who wish to participate in the program are strongly encouraged to consult with professors Cole and Marion during their second year of law school so that they will be prepared to participate in the program during their third year and can arrange an appropriate externship.

Representative externship opportunities include the following offices:

  • Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel
  • Pennsylvania Department of Banking
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • Pennsylvania Department of State
  • Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
  • Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  • Pennsylvania Office of Department of Corrections
  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • YWCA Domestic Violence Legal Center

Students interested in applying for the Semester-in-Harrisburg Program must meet the program eligibility requirements and submit an application and other required materials. For more information, Louise Halliday, Externship Program Coordinator.