Corporate Counsel Externship Program

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Corporate Counsel Externship Program

The Corporate Counsel Externship Program offers students a unique opportunity to gain valuable practice skills and knowledge by working under the guidance of an experienced supervising attorney in a company or other organization with an in-house legal function. Students can choose to apply for externships with a wide range of companies offering work in a variety of practice areas. Students also participate in a weekly seminar focused on practice skills taught by experienced in-house counsel. The knowledge and skills gained in the program will not only benefit students interested in an in-house career but also those who plan to work in law firms or other organizations.

Consistent with the Law School’s other externship programs, the Corporate Counsel Externship Program includes Externship I and II courses. During the fall and spring semesters, students in Externship I attend a two-hour weekly seminar (a combination of in-person and remote classes), which supplements the work experience with readings, discussion, written reflections and practical skill assignments. The requirements for Externship II are similar, except that the class sessions meet for one hour every other week. Third-year students who meet the eligibility requirements may participate in an expanded externship with a company through the Semester-in-Practice Program.

For Externship I, a student can receive either 3 or 4 credit hours. For 3 credit hours, a student must complete fieldwork of at least 84 hours (about 6 hours per week); and for 4 credits, a student must complete fieldwork of at least 126 hours (about 9 hours per week). Students who have already taken Externship I can register for Externship II for either 2 or 3 credits. For 2 credits, at least 100 fieldwork hours are required; and for 3 credits, at least 140 fieldwork hours are required. See the Semester-in-Practice section for details on fieldwork and credit hours under that program.

Depending on the externship, students may work in a variety of practice areas, including employment, compliance, corporate, real estate, and litigation, to name a few. Some companies rotate students through different practice areas while others focus on one or two practice areas. Students may perform routine tasks or special projects, as required by the host company. Examples include legal research, drafting and reviewing contacts or policies, assisting with presentations, and preparing company filings. Companies are encouraged to integrate students into the life of the legal department as much as possible by inviting them to participate in departmental and other meetings. Check individual company postings for more details on practice areas and the type of legal work externs are likely to perform.

Students will arrange a regular work schedule with their field supervisor. Most students and supervisors find that it works best to spread your fieldwork over two to three days a week so that you are working in blocks of time. Therefore, we recommend that you arrange the rest of your schedule so that you have morning or afternoon blocks of time at least two days a week. Please note that some companies require a minimum number of hours each week and have other schedule requirements or preferences. Many companies allow remote or hybrid work arrangements. Check the individual company postings for hours and schedule requirements and to determine if students are required to work on-site.

A wide variety of externships are available and are posted on BearBoard. On BearBoard, look for “Corp. Counsel Eligible” postings within the Job Listings tab. You can also seek out your own placement that meets the eligibility criteria. You will need to work with Ben Parrish at parrish_bf@law.mercer.edu to obtain approval for your own placement. Our rules, consistent with most law schools, do not allow us to give class credit if you work for paying clients for private law firms. Students cannot receive wages or a salary from a for-credit externship placement. Please note that you may not be registered for any externship course until you secure a field placement.

You will submit for each externship:

a one-paragraph statement of interest explaining why you are interested in the externship and highlighting any relevant courses or experience
a resume

Some companies may require additional application materials. Companies will screen applicants, conduct interviews and select the students for placement. Unless directed otherwise by the company, second- and third-year law students are eligible to apply. Check the individual company postings for application requirements and eligibility criteria. Our goal is to complete the selection process before registration begins. Note the deadlines for submitting application materials in each externship posting.

Students in Externship I are required to participate in a weekly two-hour seminar designed to enhance the externship experience. Led by experienced in-house counsel, the seminar focuses on practice skills and knowledge and includes drafting and problem-solving exercises/simulations and topics relevant to the successful practice of law. It also includes assigned readings, weekly submission of reflective journals, and class discussion, all of which are designed to help you learn from your fieldwork experience. Students in Externship II will meet for one hour every other week.

No. This program allows you to work with lawyers and experience what it is like to work as a lawyer. You will build skills that are transferable to many types of law practice. Some students use the experience to try out fields they might be interested in for their careers; others use it to experience something different from what they will be doing after they graduate.

It is a great learning experience, letting you apply the knowledge you’ve learned in law school to actual practice settings.
It gives you practice at being a professional within a support structure of both a fieldwork supervisor and a faculty member.
It is a great way to try out a field that you may or may not want to work in later. You learn about your own externship placement and about those of your classmates through classroom discussion.
It creates networking opportunities. Some students in our externship programs have learned about temporary or permanent job opportunities through contacts developed during the placement. Externships do not, however, typically result in a job offer from the host company.
It enhances your resume, giving you a list of specific skills and experiences that you have gained through the fieldwork.
It also demonstrates initiative and that you are eager to supplement your classroom learning with legal work.