Practicum Program and Externships

Northwestern Law’s Practicum program integrates the substantive law foundation provided by a doctrinal course with the benefits of experiential, hands-on learning provided by fieldwork in an externship. This unique approach takes advantage of Northwestern Law faculty expertise and the wide-range of externship opportunities available in Chicago. This two-level design – requiring students to master substantive law that will enhance their externship and to use their externship to inform their in-class learning – promotes a high level of engagement in the courses’ curriculum and the externship. Experience has demonstrated that both the externship and the seminar are significantly enhanced by the blending of the seminar’s theory and the externship’s practical experience.

The goal of the Practicum seminar is to provide a foundation for the subject matter of the externship. It is designed to encourage students to use their externship experience to develop a deeper understanding of the issues raised in the seminar. Northwestern Law offers a series of subject matter-based Practicum seminars including: the Civil Government Practicum, the Corporate Counsel Practicum, the Criminal Law Practicum, the Judicial Practicum, the Mediation Practicum and the Public Interest Practicum. The Seminars meet once a week.

As a requirement of the Practicum, students work 12 to 15 hours per week in an approved externship under the close supervision of on-site lawyers, including federal judges, governmental officials, public interest professionals, and corporate counsels. In the externship, students further their understanding of the relevant substantive law, develop their research, writing and advocacy skills, gain on-the-job training, observe and participate in court proceedings, and are introduced to the ethical and professional responsibilities of the legal profession.

Students receive four credit hours for a Practicum. Although each Practicum course has its own course requirements, all students must participate in all seminar classes, maintain a reflective journal, make a substantive class presentation or submit a paper, and satisfy the requirements of their externship.

Practica are available in the following areas:

Civil Government Practicum: Students secure externships at federal, state, or local governmental agencies or offices involving civil law, including the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, etc.
Corporate Counsel Practicum: Students secure externships in legal departments of Chicago-area corporations. Students conduct research, write memoranda and counsel clients under the direction of in-house lawyers.
Criminal Law Practicum: Students secure externships with either prosecution or defense lawyers in the federal or state criminal justice system, including the United States Attorney’s office, the Federal Defender’s office, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and the Cook County Public Defender’s office. Students conduct research, write legal memoranda and briefs, assist in trials and trial preparation, and observe courtroom proceedings.
Judicial Practicum: Students secure externships with United States District Court Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Court of Appeals Judges. Students conduct research, prepare legal memoranda, draft opinions, and observe courtroom proceedings.
Mediation Practicum: After completing mediation skills training from the Center for Conflict Resolution and becoming certified mediators, students conduct mediations under faculty supervision.
Public Interest Practicum: Students secure externships with public interest legal organizations including the Legal Assistance Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lifespan, and other non-profit organizations, where they represent clients in civil matters. Students interview clients, research and draft legal memoranda, assist in discovery, and participate in policy initiatives. The Public Interest Practicum offered in the summer includes civil government externships. The appropriate course for students interested in externing at a civil government agency during the fall and spring semesters is the Civil Government Practicum.

The links above provide information concerning each Practicum and its application requirements.