Employer Information

Legal Externships

Thank you for participating in the UW College of Law's externship program.  It's the contribution and mentorship of practitioners that continues to support our students' experience!  

The objective of the externship program is to provide an experiential learning opportunity to enhance a student's skill set, knowledge of the industry and develop concrete legal abilities that will aid them in their careers.

Given the dynamic nature of multiple employers, the program aims to be as pragmatic and flexible as possible to accommodate various hiring cycles and preferred practices from our many participants.  Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions!

Field Supervisor Application & Update

There is an application for a potential supervisor to fill out if you would like to have an extern in your office. You can find this application here.  All externships must be in a judicial, governmental or non-profit organization. If you would like to have an extern in your office, please fill out the Field Supervisor Application form and return it to Tim Crawford at tcrawfo4@uwyo.edu for review. Upon receipt, our office will notify the supervisor and student of the status of their application and the necessary next steps.  

All employers are expected to acknowledge and adhere to the Policy & Procedures by signing a Letter of Understanding.

Review your office's current listing through our placement page.  If you need to update your contact information for the program, include additional application materials beyond a resume, or revise the description for your program, please complete the Employer Update Form.

Application Timeline & Process

• Students will submit applications indicating their top 3 selections from the list of pre-approved employers by the deadlines listed below.  (Students are allowed to apply for externships after the deadline, however, if more than one student applies for the same placement, the student who submitted their application prior to the deadline will get priority.)  The Faculty Director will then contact the first-choice employers with a complete application packet shortly after the school's posted deadline.  As employers return their selections, the Director will either inform the student they have been placed via email or advance to the student's next choice until all students are placed.  After the student is placed, it is their responsibility to contact the externship supervisor to discuss start date, work hours, etc.
  • School Deadlines:
    • Fall externship: First Friday in July
    • Spring externship: First Friday in November
    • Summer externship: First Friday in April
• Alternatively, employers may post through the general job board, soliciting applications earlier than the school's deadline.  That process is run by the office of Career Services and Professional Development.  You can find the job posting form through their website.  If you fill the position, consider letting the externship program know so we can inform students.
• Students may also contact employers proactively, asking for insights about the office, information regarding candidate preferences or to secure a placement before the school's deadline.  It is up to the discretion of the employer to accept the student or wait until after the deadline.  The employer may accept the student, and still consider other students after the school deadline for a second student.  Employers may also accept a student after the school's deadline.

Rule 9 - Student Practice License

The Wyoming State Bar provides a way for students to get "real-world" experience prior to graduation. Rule 9 states that a student may practice in court as a normal attorney under the direct supervision of their supervising attorney. This gives an extern the incredible opportunity to get exposure to the court system, practice making an argument to the court, and allows the supervisor to give meaningful feedback and mentorship early in a young lawyer's career. It is encouraged that field supervisors participate and provide these opportunities to their externs, when appropriate. 

• The full text, rules and obligations of Rule 9
• Affidavit of the Law Student
• Certificate of the Supervising Lawyer

Supervisor Documents & Training

The Externship Program Director is always happy to answer any questions a supervisor or their staff may have throughout the duration of the externship placement, or outside of a placement. The College also provides a .5 credit CLE training for all field supervisors, either live at the externship career fair, or through self-study.  The video will be posted on this page each March for self-study.

You can find other policies, guidelines and evaluation documents listed below. 

• Field Supervisor Application
• Policy & Procedures
• Letter of Understanding
• Mid-Term and Final Student Evaluation(s)
• Submit for Pro Bono CLE credit through the Wyoming State Bar
• Field Supervisor Training, and Power Point Presentation 
  • Submit for self-study (.5) CLE credit through the Wyoming State Bar