Applying to Semester-in-Practice

The application period for the Spring 2022 Externship Program begins Monday, October 18th at 9:00am.  To apply for a Semester-in-Practice for Spring 2022, please see How to Apply for Clinics & Externships and select the Semester-in-Practice Externship type in your application.

In addition, please schedule an appointment with Externship Director Kate Devlin Joyce via this link.

Plan early!

Spending the semester away takes foresight and preparation. We recommend you get information about the program and internships as early as you can in your law school career. Here’s what you should do:

First, get an idea of what organizations may support your career path. If you are interested in a government position in Washington, D.C., meet with Professor Sean Kealy. If you are interested in an international human rights position, meet with Externship Director Kate Devlin Joyce. If you are interested in other types of positions, set up a meeting with the Office of Clinical & Experiential Programs. Also meet with the CDO to discuss your overall career goals.

Then, make some informational inquiries. Contact relevant organizations to find out if they take interns and how to apply. Our program requires you to work on legal work, and that your supervisor be an attorney.

You should spend your 2L year taking courses that would support your externship. Also take several core bar classes—you don’t want to leave bar classes for your 3L year if you’ll be gone a full semester. Map out your course plan to make sure you satisfy all of BU Law’s graduation requirements, and adhere to any credit caps (for example, BU Law’s 17-credit non-gpa maximum). If you think you may want to do the program your spring 3L year, be sure you take professional responsibility first.