More information regarding externship requirements is available at Law School Rule 24 and in the Program Description Agreement.

Applications to enroll in an externship during any semester should be submitted to lawexternships@colorado.edu no later than the first day of classes for the semester at issue.

  1. Determine an externship site that will satisfy the above requirements and will meet your career interests.
  2. Approach the site of interest and identify an attorney who will serve as your field supervisor. You must identify a single person to serve as your supervisor even if you will work with several attorneys during the course of your externship. Make sure that you discuss with your supervisor your need to be trained and mentored.
  3. You must decide on the number of academic credits you would like to receive for your externship. Each credit consists of 50 working hours per semester and you may register for 2, 3, or 4 credits, unless otherwise approved for a semester long 7-credit externship in Colorado or a 10-credit externship in a national or international placement in consultation with the Director of Experiential Learning. Students cannot register for a 1-credit externship. 
    • Students earning 2 credits must work a minimum of 100 hours
    • Students earning 3 credits must work a minimum of 150 hours
    • Students earning 4 credits must work a minumum of 200 hours
  4. Students who complete more than the minumum required number of hours for the number of credits he/she/they are enrolled in should consider logging the additional hours towards the 50 hours required for Colorado Law's Public Service Pledge.
  5. Students interested in completing a semester long 7-credit externship in Colorado or a 10-credit externship in a national or international placement must make an appointment to meet with the Director of Experiential Learning.
  6. Obtain a resume, bio, or related document, from your field supervisor (which should include qualifications of this individual to be your supervisor, and a business address and phone number).
  7. Fill out a Program Description Agreement

Have your supervisor submit this agreement electronically to lawexternships@colorado.edu no later than the first day of classes for the semester at issue.

Your completed application should consist of:

  • The Program Description Agreement 
  • A copy of your field supervisor's resume and bio clearly showing his/her/their qualifications. Documents printed out from employer websites are acceptable.

Upon receiving your application, we will carefully review your application materials. If your application is approved, we will sign the Program Description Agreement and you will be registered for the requested number of credits by the Law Registrar's Office.