Judicial Externships

The Judicial Externship Program provides students with the opportunity to work in judicial chambers on legal research memos and judicial opinions under the supervision of judges and their postgraduate or permanent law clerks. Our students extern with judges at state and federal trial and appellate courts as well as with administrative law judges. Judicial Externships are open to 4th, 5th, and 6th-semester students.

Classroom Component

  • 1 unit, pass-fail, counts towards experiential requirement.
  • All judicial externs complete a mandatory two-day orientation in person at UC Law SF during the two business days preceding the first day of classes for the semester. Attendance is mandatory, no exceptions will be granted.
  • You will be required to complete readings and submit assignments before the orientation. Assignments will be sent to students at least two weeks prior.
  • After the orientation is complete, the class will not meet as a whole again, but you will have ongoing assignments and contact with your faculty supervisor.

Fieldwork Component

  • 3 to 9 units, pass-fail, counts towards experiential requirement. Each fieldwork unit is computed at the rate of one unit for every 45 hours of work.
    • Full-time externs – minimum of 12 weeks for at least 35 hours per week
    • Part-time externs – minimum of 12 weeks, minimum of 45 hours per unit
  • Placement units count against non-classroom 20-unit cap.
  • Students may earn up to 9 units of non-classroom credit by working as externs at any level of state or federal courts and at some selected administrative agency tribunals.
    • If placements do not have a substantial research and writing component, including many Superior Court externships, fieldwork will be capped at 5 units.
  • Remote, in-person, and hybrid fieldwork will be allowed.
  • Students are required to begin their externship fieldwork the first week, or, if necessary, the second week of classes.

Before You Apply

  • Students can find more information about how to apply to judicial externships by clicking here. After reviewing the link, you may also reach out to the Associate Director of Clerkships & Externships, Professor Hanna Wen at wenhanna@uclawsf.edu, for additional support.
  • Attend info sessions held each semester.
  • Set up an appointment with the Career Development Office to review your resume and cover letter.
  • Consider taking a recommended course prior to or during the externship. 

Application & Enrollment

  • Students may extern anywhere in California; externships outside California require advanced permission.
  • A student who accepts a judicial externship position may not withdraw to take a position with another judge or court.
  • Students are expected to begin their externship fieldwork the first week of classes, or, if necessary, the second week of classes.
  • Once you secure a placement, visit Sharknet for permission to enroll.