Externship Program
Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s Externship program offers opportunities to gain firsthand legal experience while earning academic credit.
Externships provide students an opportunity to develop and hone their research and writing skills in a real world setting, often while working directly with clients and the courts.
Potential practice areas include civil litigation, corporate transactions, criminal prosecution, criminal defense, tax, estate planning, immigration, family law, intellectual property and child welfare and custody. We have offered externship-placement opportunities in law firms of all sizes and practice areas and at nonprofit, issue-focused organizations and public entities such as the Public Defender’s, District Attorney’s, and City Attorney’s Offices.
Students who have successfully completed or are enrolled in Evidence and Civil Procedure can become certified law clerks and make court appearances.
Students also attend Externship classes and receive individual mentoring.
For more information on externships, students should contact the Director of the Externship and Pro Bono Programs, Professor Judybeth Tropp at jtropp@tjsl.edu
The Judicial Externship Program
The Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s Judicial Externship Program provides students with the opportunity to earn law school credit while working with Federal or California State Court judges on the Federal District Court, the California Court of Appeal, the State Superior Court, the Probate Court, and the Family Court.
Students in this program have the opportunity to research, write, and advise the court on a wide variety of legal issues, and observe courtroom proceedings. They often have the chance to draft judicial opinions, playing a special role within the judges’ chambers.
Students also participate in judicial seminar classes and receive individual mentoring.
For more information on the Judicial Externship Program, students should contact the Director of the Externship and Pro Bono Programs, Professor Judybeth Tropp at jtropp@tjsl.edu