Academic Programs

Semester-in-Practice Program

Ian Hunter with Barney Frank
Fall '09 SiP participant Ian Hunter and Barney Frank.

Through the Semester-in-Practice Program, students may spend a semester working full-time for credit at an externship placement. Placements may be local or outside of Boston. The Program is designed for students who want an intensive hands-on experience, furthering specific and well-defined career and academic goals.

Placements - Four Unique Opportunities

The Semester-in-Practice Program offers four options:

  • Human Rights Externship (Geneva) - Through the Human Rights Externship, students may spend a semester working in Geneva at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
  • Government Lawyering in Washington, D.C. - Students in the Government Lawyering Externship may spend a semester working at a government office in Washington. Examples include opportunities with the staff of a Congressional committee or subcommittee, in the legal office of an administrative agency, or with a federal board/commission.
  • Death Penalty Externship - Students participating in the Death Penalty Externship may work at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Independent Proposal Externship (local and away placements) - Under this fourth option, students may develop their own proposal for a full-time externship.

The Program is offered fall and spring.

Credits and Hours

Students earn 12 credits: 10 ungraded credits for working full-time at the field placement, plus 2 graded credits for completing readings, writing a research paper, and for submitting weekly journals.

Between the full-time externship and the additional coursework, students will be too busy to take any other classes during their semester away. Therefore, any student considering doing the SiP Program during their spring 3L semester must fulfill the professional responsibility requirement first. Students may not take professional responsibility during their externship semester.

Prerequisites

While there are no formal prerequisites, participating students must have a coursework background that supports their fieldwork. Having a strong coursework background helps students compete for externships, maximizes the externship experience, and demonstrates to the faculty committee reviewing applications that a student has made a commitment to the type of law practiced at the placement organization. Therefore, although the Program is formally open to 2Ls and 3Ls alike, it is contemplated that most participating students will be 3Ls who during their 2L year took classes in preparation for their semester away. For a list of class recommendations, please click here.