In the externship program, law students have an opportunity to learn in supervised judicial, governmental and non-profit organizations about the practice of law.
The OU College of Law provides a wide variety of opportunities for students to work with legal professionals and clients in an attorney-supervised workplace. Students earn from 3–12 hours upon successful completion of an externship. Students work with the extern director to identify placement opportunities.
Current placement opportunities are posted on the OU Law student intranet Externship Forum. Externs may also locate their own placement or work with the Director of Externships to find a placement. Applicants should verify that a current resume and writing sample are uploaded on Symplicity. Externships should finalized at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
There are a few differences between externships and internships. Externs work for class credit, while interns do not. Internships vary greatly, depending on the organization’s preferences. Some internship positions are paid, some are volunteer (unpaid), and some require a legal intern’s license issued by the Oklahoma Bar Association. There is no license requirement to work as an extern.
Students interested in working outside the law school as a licensed legal intern in Oklahoma are required to enroll in Issues in Professionalism, register with the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, apply for a limited license, identify a supervising attorney, take and pass the Licensed Legal Intern Exam, and obtain a limited license.
Forms and applications can be found in the Licensed Legal Interns Forms section of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma on Legal Internship. Students can pick up information from Lori Ketner, Room 2020, or call her at (405) 325-3433 regarding the requirements and process.
Applications for an Externship Placement are accepted throughout the year. Contact Professor Connie Smothermon at csmothermon@ou.edu for an application.
Please select your program of interest to learn more about the application process.
J.D. ProgramM.L.S. ProgramLL.M. ProgramLegal Assistant Education Not sure? Learn more about admissions at OU Law
J.D. ProgramM.L.S. ProgramLL.M. ProgramLegal Assistant Education Not sure? Learn more about OU Law