How to Apply for Clinics, Practicums & Externships
Clinics, externships, and practicums offer students an opportunity to gain practical lawyering skills and have a real-world impact. These courses satisfy the BU Law requirement that every JD student must take at least six experiential learning credits.
How do I apply for 2026-2027?
Please complete the Clinic and Practicum Application Form by 3/20.
Interested in clinics and/or practicums? Submit the application form during the application period, March 2-20, 2026. Rank up to 3 choices.
Interested in an externship? If you’d like to pursue an externship placement, please complete our Externship Program Interest Form. We work with with students to identify and secure placements for fall and spring on a rolling basis. Please be advised that students interested in a judicial externship must fill out the externship interest form and then apply to those placements by March 15 (or the stated deadline) since they have early deadlines. Contact extern1@bu.edu to learn more!
Interested in clinics, practicums, and externships? Submit both the clinic and practicum application form AND the externship program interest form. Students will be notified of clinic and practicum decisions in mid-April, and have some time to consider all options before committing to a clinic or practicum spot and/or pursuing an externship. Once an externship placement is accepted, students must notify the Externship Program by emailing extern1@bu.edu.
Upcoming Dates & Important Application Information
The 2026-2027 application period for clinics and practicums will take place March 2-20, 2026. The Externship Program uses a separate interest form and will work with students to find placements on a rolling basis.
Mar. 2-20, 2026: Application Open for Clinics and Practicums & Advising Period
- Scheduling links for one-on-one faculty advising sessions are listed below. Advising sessions (20 minute appointments) are available throughout the March application period. If there is not a time that suits your schedule, please email that faculty member directly to schedule a meeting.
Mar. 20, 2026, 11:59 pm: Application Deadline for Clinics and Practicums
If you have any questions, please email lclinic2@bu.edu. In addition, the February 2026 Clinical and Experiential Programs Information Session recording is available in case you missed it: Link to recording.
- Learn more about our experiential faculty members and/or schedule a meeting with them to introduce yourself and ask questions about your program(s) of interest.
- BU/MIT Student Innovations Law Clinic
- Jef Pearlman (Intellectual Property): Click here to schedule advising session
- Chris Conley (Privacy, Health, & Media): Click here to schedule advising session
- Vivian Etter (Venture & Finance): Click here to schedule advising session
- Ari Lipsitz (Intellectual Property): Click here to schedule advising session
- Tom Patten (Venture & Finance): Click here to schedule advising session
- Victoria Tang (Privacy, Health, & Media): Click here to schedule advising session
- Civil Litigation and Justice Program
- Naomi Mann (Director)
- Jade Brown (Consumer Economic Justice Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Connie Browne (Civil Litigation Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Madeline Meth (Appellate Clinic): Email mmeth@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Jim Davy (Appellate Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Criminal Law Clinical Program
- Karen Pita Loor (Director): Click here to schedule advising session
- Shira Diner (Defender Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Angelo Petrigh (Defender Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Brian Wilson (Criminal Prosecution Clinic): Click here to schedule advising session
- Externship Program
- Kate Devlin Joyce: Click here to schedule advising session
- Cecily Banks (Corporate Counsel): Email cbanks@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Immigrants’ Rights and Human Trafficking Program
- Julie Dahlstrom: Click here to schedule advising session
- Sarah Sherman-Stokes: Email sstokes@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- International Human Rights Clinic
- Susan Akram: Click here to schedule advising session
- Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinic
- Sean Kealy: Click here to schedule advising session
- Racial Justice and Movement Lawyering Clinic
- Caitlin Glass: Click here to schedule advising session
- Compassionate Release Practicum
- Jack Godleski: Email godleski@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Environmental Law Practicum
- Pamela Hill: Email pahill@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Health Justice Practicum
- Cristina Freitas: Email crisff@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Debbie Freitas: Email debff@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Mental Health Litigation Practicum
- Beau Kealy: Email bkealy@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Carrie Domzalski: Email cdski@bu.edu to schedule advising session
- Prison Education Practicum
- Shira Diner: Click here to schedule advising session
- Angelo Petrigh: Click here to schedule advising session
- Reproductive Justice Practicum
- Sapna Khatri: Click here to schedule advising link
- BU/MIT Student Innovations Law Clinic
For general questions regarding our programs or the application process, please contact lclinic2@bu.edu.
Ways to Learn More
What if I missed the deadline to apply for clinics or practicums?
What is the difference between a clinic, externship and a practicum?
Welcoming All
We warmly welcome all applicants and remind students that Boston University policy prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status, and acts in conformity with all applicable state and federal laws. This policy extends to academic programs, including School of Law’s Clinics, Practicums, and Externships. The Program works with students and BU’s Office of Disability & Access Services to arrange reasonable accommodations as appropriate.