The externship program at The University of Tulsa College of Law offers 2L and 3L students the opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining practical, live client experience in the field. Students work in a legal setting under the supervision of a licensed attorney or judge while also taking a contemporaneous academic course, which provides the opportunity for reflection and additional substantive knowledge.
Externship opportunities exist in a broad range of civil and criminal litigation as well as transactional law. UTulsa Law students have received 300 total placements in 64 different municipalities over a two-year period (2024-2025). In addition to the many placement opportunities provided by the College of Law, students can secure their own placement, subject to approval, or work directly with the director to create an experience tailored to the student’s individual preferences.
Advantages
Externships provide the opportunity to move from thinking like a lawyer in the classroom to thinking like a lawyer in a practice setting.
- Obtain significant experience and knowledge in a specialized area of law through practical experience augmented by classroom learning.
- Enhance research, writing and analytical skills.
- Develop professional skills, including client service, case responsibility and management, application of ethical and legal principles in practice and networking with legal professionals.
- Acquire lawyering skills by working with clients and solving real problems.
- Earn the ability to present themselves to future employers as “practice ready.”
Types of Placements Available
- Federal, state and tribal courts
- Law firms
- Government agencies
- Non-profit organizations
- Corporate legal departments and other companies
Exposure to Different Areas of Law
- Bankruptcy
- Business / Corporate / Banking
- Corporate Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
- Energy Law
- Entertainment Law
- Environmental Law
- Estate Planning
- Family Law / Child Advocacy
- Foundations / Trusts
- Government Affairs
- Health Law
- Human Rights
- Immigration Law
- In-House Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- International Law
- Judiciary
- Litigation
- Mediation
- Municipal Law
- Native American Law
- Non-Profit
- Public Interest / Social Justice
- Public Trust Law
- Real Estate Transactions
- Social Security Law
- Tax Law
- Trial Advocacy
Opportunities are available locally and throughout the country. Full-semester out-of-state placements are available during the summers and/or the last semester of the 3L year.