Course Requirements & FAQs

Basic course requirements for the General Externship Program:

An externship in the General Program requires students to complete fieldwork hours, which vary depending on the credit hours sought, and participate in a corresponding seminar, which is not separately graded.

1. Credit – Students may earn two (2), three (3) or four (4) credit pass/fail hours in a single semester.
   • The number of credits available for a particular placement will depend on the type of experiences available at the specific placement, what best meets the needs of the organization and the work assigned, and the student’s needs.
   • Students can enroll in a two (2) credit externship only once
   • Students can earn up to eighteen (18) credits in externships; these credits are applied toward the total number of pass/fail credits students can apply toward their degree, which is eighteen (18).


2. Experiential Credit Requirement – ​All externships ​can count toward satisfying the school's six (6) credit experiential requirement.


3. Field Hours & Length – ​
   Externship I students:  students must complete the following number of hours:
   • Two credits - 73 field work hours
   • Three credits - 115 field work hours
   • Four credits - 158 field work hours
   Externship II students: students must complete the following number of hours:
   
   • Two credits - 85 field work hours
   • Three credits - 128 field work hours
   • Four credits - 170 field work hours
   
   
   • The externship course is not complete until the end of the regular semester. It is expected that the fieldwork hours will be spread out over the duration of the entire semester, although the hours need not be equally distributed per week.
   • For fall and spring semesters, students must work a minimum of ten (10) weeks. For summer, the minimum is five (5) weeks.


4. Work – Students must engage in legal and law-related tasks. These tasks vary with supervisor and assignment, but usually include legal research, writing briefs and memoranda, drafting pleadings, investigating cases, interviewing clients/witnesses, planning or implementing case strategies with supervisor, observing court hearings and depositions.


5. Seminar – The seminar is an opportunity for students to critically reflect on their experiences, explore their professional development, and discuss issues to help them succeed at their placements. The seminar is part of the externship course and not separately graded. During the term, students set goals, keep a record of hours, submit reflective journals, and engage in self-assessments.
   • Extern I students: Students who have not externed before or taking for the first time an externship with a court, in-house legal department or criminal law, will be enrolled in Extern I and attend an associated seminar consisting of class meetings, usually every other week.
   • Extern II students: Students who have already taken the seminar associated for their placement type will be enrolled in Extern II which consists of a combination of group and individual meetings.


6. Compensation – Students may receive both compensation and academic credit upon documented pre-approval by the Externship Director. See the FAQs section below for further guidelines..
   

   Reimbursement Application for Unpaid Internships

   Students who accept unpaid internships/externships can apply for reimbursement of commuting expenses (not to exceed $250.00) by submitting the attached application during the following timeframes:

   Application Period:
   Summer: April 1-15
   Fall:  Aug. 1-15
   Spring: Jan. 15-30

   Limited funds are available. Applications will be submitted to the Unpaid Internship Commuting Reimbursement Committee, via email at careerservices@law.tamu.edu. The committee will review all applications, in date order received, and will make awards on the following criteria:
   
   1. Internship/Externship is unpaid and student is not receiving benefits or reimbursements for the expenses by the site/organization (i.e. they will provide parking or reimburse students for parking);
   2. The location of student’s home address to site, as well as location of site to school;
   3. Excepting summer, the reimbursement is only available for sites outside of City of Fort Worth; and
   4. Reimbursement award amount will vary depending on need, not to exceed $250.”

    



7. Third-Year Bar Card – Externship students who have completed 45 hours may apply for a Third-Year Bar Card (from the State Bar of Texas), which allows a student to practice law and appear in court under attorney supervision, with client consent. Each student must have a licensed attorney to sponsor the Bar Card.

FAQs