Legislative Externship at Massachusetts State House

Var credits

This CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have received permission from the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office to enroll. Students receive credit for working with a Senator, Representative or Committee in the Massachusetts Legislature. Externs may draft legislation evaluate testimony; participate in planning meetings with legislators and staff; research questions of law and fact for proposed legislation; observe legislative strategy sessions and negotiations; and attend floor debates and committee meetings. Prior to the start of the semester, the program instructor, Professor Sean Kealy, works with each student and matches them with a Senator or Representative, depending on their areas of interest. Students receive 3-9 variable P/F credits for their fieldwork, as determined in consultation with their placement supervisors. Each credit requires 50 hours of work over the course of the 13-week semester (averaging 4 hours per week). NOTE: Students who enroll in this externship may count the credits toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. COREQUISITE: Legislative Externship: Seminar (JD 938).

1 credits

This CLASS IS RESTRICTED to students who have received permission from the Clinical and Experiential Programs Office to enroll. This the companion academic component for students enrolled in the Legislative Externship: Fieldwork course. The seminar covers subjects that affect the legislative process including: constitutional interpretation by legislatures, theories of representation, legislative organization and rules, lobbying, legislative oversight powers and legislature-executive agency relationships. In addition, each students keeps a reflective journal chronicling their educational experience and reactions to the practice of law observed at the field placement. NOTE: Students who enroll in this externship may count the credits toward the 6 credit Experiential Learning requirement. COREQUISITE: Legislative Externship: Fieldwork (JD 937).