Public Interest Clinical Externship

Program Description

Through our Public Interest Clinical Externship Program, students earn academic credit while working on behalf of low-income clients in marginalized communities. Students may be eligible to appear in court as student attorneys in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts as well as other states. Students in this program gain valuable hands-on experience representing clients through civil legal services programs, public defender offices, non-profit immigration organizations, and other non-profit organizations. 

Seminar & Credits

Students participate in a two-hour weekly Social Justice Lawyering Seminar on structural racism in the legal system and its impact on clients and lawyers, professional identity formation, and reflective lawyering. 

  • Fieldwork Tracks: Students selected to participate in the Public Interest Clinical Externship program can choose to take a total of 4–12 ungraded fieldwork credits and 2 graded seminar credits. Each Clinical Externship Fieldwork credit equals 42.5 hours in the field.
  • Approval Requirement: For 8 or more ungraded fieldwork credits, students are required to obtain academic counseling and approval from the Dean of Experiential Education.
  • Note:In rare circumstances, students may apply to stay on for an additional semester as an “Advanced Clinical Externship” at the same placement in the same program, or in a different placement in the same program, but students will need special permission from the instructor to apply for this. In general, we cannot allow students to do a repeat placement or program when we have many students applying for these spots for the first time. For Advanced Clinical Externship, students can choose between 4–6 ungraded fieldwork credits. Seminar credit is not required.

To connect with our program director, explore the Faculty Directory.

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.