Information for Students

Chicago-Kent offers three avenues for students to pursue externship opportunities in the areas of government, public interest, private, and for-profit firms and corporations. Examples of externships include working for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office; public defender offices; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and numerous major law firms and nonprofits. All externships must be approved. The three types of externships include:

Judicial Externships acquaint you with the day-to-day operation of the courts as you work with trial and appellate court judges and their law clerks to research and write legal memoranda and draft opinions.

Legal Externships allow you to work in civil or criminal practice in a specialized area of your choice with supervising attorneys in federal, state, and local government agencies; private law firms of all sizes; corporate legal departments; or public interest organizations." 

The Semester Law Firm Associate Program is a unique six credit program during which students have the opportunity to work for academic credit as “associates” for prestigious Chicago-based law firms.  This program is only offered in the spring and fall semesters.

Judicial Externship Program

Judicial Externship Program (JEP) is a four credit hour, pass/low pass/fail program open to students who have completed at least their first full year of law school and want to do legal research and writing for a federal appellate, district or magistrate judge, or designated Illinois appellate or circuit court judges.

JEP enables a student to become involved in particular legal problems through research and writing, and to contribute to the resolution of those problems by participating in drafting memoranda and opinions. 

Depending upon the judge, an extern may also have the opportunity to observe the judge’s day-to-day routine and discuss with him/her the issues and problems that judges confront. Take advantage of this prestigious learning opportunity while enhancing your marketability in the legal world.

Application Process:  The deadline for Spring 2025 Judicial Externship applications has passed but you can apply for a judicial externship in the summer.  We will post opportunities below or you can find one on your own through 12Twenty (see below).   If you do obtain an externship through an outside source, please email Professor Decatorsmith and Michael Oakes as well as fill out this form

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 32 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@kentlaw.iit.edu).

Find your own judicial externship:  Students can find their own externship through posts made by individual chambers on the Career Services Management System 12twenty* or get placed with judges in various divisions via the Cook County application. In the Summer, students can also apply to judges via the Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization, and applications typically close by the end of January each year.   We will also post any opportunities for externships below.  

Cover Letter and Resume Guidance  

Below are short guides on to help you prepare your cover letter and resume:

Cover Letter Guide

Writing Sample Guide

Judicial Externship Opportunities

Judicial Externship:  Judge Alison Conlon, Summer 2025

Judge Alison Conlon is seeking to work with a Judicial Externs for the Summer of 2025. To ensure that the administration of justice can continue during this time, Judge Conlon is conducting court both in-person and via Zoom.

About Judge Conlon and her Court:  Judge Conlon sits in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Chancery Division handles civil cases involving equitable remedies. Judge Conlon’s court call sees a variety of complex cases, often including TROs, FOIA issues, administrative reviews, and class actions. In addition, Judge Conlon often hears compelling “business divorces,” such as LLC break ups, and other elaborate business disputes, making the position a particularly good fit for those interested in business cases. There are also many emergency motions filed in front of Judge Conlon, such as TROs, which are exciting and provide extra opportunity for externs to observe.

Please download the full flyer for more information on the experience and how to apply.  

Judicial Externship: Judge William B. Sullivan, Summer 2025 

Judge Sullivan is looking for a summer extern in the Cook County, Chancery Division. As a judicial extern, the student will be working directly under Judge Sullivan’s Judicial Law Clerk. The student will be assigned cases, will read the parties’ arguments on motions before the Court, will research applicable law, will write memoranda of the arguments presented, will orally present opinions on the assigned case, and will discuss the cases with the law clerk and Judge Sullivan to prepare the Court for oral arguments. Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to write opinions and orders. The student may also be assigned to review Judgment of Foreclosure or Order Approving Sale courtesy copies to ensure statutory compliance. Finally, the student will be able to attend the court call (via Zoom until further notice) daily to hear attorneys argue a variety of cases, including cases the student prepared. Court calls are M/W/Th/F at 10:30 AM (non-contested hearings) and M/T/W/Th at 2:30 PM (contested hearings). 

Please download the full flyer for more information on the experience and how to apply.  

Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County 

The judicial extern will work with the judge, judicial law clerk, and other legal and non-legal personnel in the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago in the Chancery Division/ Mortgage Foreclosure Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The judicial extern shall conduct legal research, analysis and writing, prepare bench memoranda, edit court opinions, review motions, and other court pleadings. The judicial extern will also assist the judge with the preparation for an array of matters, including, hearings on contested summary judgment motions, motions to quash service of process, motions for appointment of receiver, evidentiary hearings, pre-trial settlement conferences, and trials. The Summer Semester is in person only. Please see this flyer for more information on the position, qualifications and how to apply.

Legal Externship Programs

Access2Practice (A2P) Legal Externship is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail class which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to gain supervision and mentoring in a wide variety of legal areas – both civil and criminal.  Externs must work a minimum of 16 hours per week during the Fall/Spring semesters and 32 hours per week in the Summer semester, as well as attend the weekly classroom component, among other academic requirements associated with the course. 

The program does not assign students to particular practice placements. Instead a student must first independently obtain an externship placement before applying to participate in and register for an Access2Practice Legal Externship. Each placement is independent and external to the law school and will have its own independent selection and screening process. 

Application Process:  Externships can be found via Chicago-Kent’s extensive legal network.  For information on how to do this, follow our document on How to Apply for a Legal Externship Placement. Students can find their own externships through 12twenty*, the Career Services Management System. Newly posted externships will also be featured below and in The Record.  

Once a student has secured an externship, he or she must apply to the externship program by (1) informing Professor Decatorsmith via email (jdecator@kentlaw.iit.edu) and (2) filling out this Google Form.  This information allows us to keep track of student placements as well as give us the information needed to reach out to firms and confirm student placement, as well as discuss our expectations with regard to the student's supervision.  

Note:  Before you apply, be certain you are able to commit 16 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters, or 32 hours/week in the summer, as well as attend the weekly classroom component and other requirements of the course during the semester.  If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@kentlaw.iit.edu).

LEGAL EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Legal Externship:  Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital - Summer 2025

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago ("Lurie Children's") gives students an opportunity to explore the practice of law from the perspective of in-house counsel at a premier pediatric academic medical center.

Requirements: Open to 2L-3L students. Time commitment is flexible but anticipate approximately 20 hours per week, on-site. Students must receive school credit.

Please download the full flyer for more information on the experience and how to apply.  

Applications are due by 5 p.m. February 19, 2025.

Legal Externship:  Verano Holdings - Summer 2025

The in-house legal department at Verano Holdings is seeking Legal Interns for full-time internship positions for the summer of 2025. The Legal Interns will gain legal experience and training working under the supervision of Verano attorneys in a variety of practice areas of interest, including corporate transactions, securities, compliance & regulatory, and labor & employment. This position is expected to work approximately 40 hours/week in-person at Verano’s Chicago office and is unpaid. The internship duration is expected to last eight weeks from June 2025 through the end of July 2025, although specific dates are flexible. Academic credit may be received subject to approval by the Legal Intern’s academic institution.

This internship provides current law students with the opportunity to work at an in-house legal department and gain valuable work experience across a breadth of practice areas. The Legal Interns will receive ongoing guidance, training and direction from attorneys and other professional staff members on matters relating to their professional growth and career goals.

Please visit Verano's LinkedIn page for more information and a link to the application. 

Legal Externship:  Life Span Legal Clerkships - Summer 2025

Life Span (https://life-span.org/) is seeking enthusiastic law students interns for Summer 2025 to assist our team of attorneys to provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault – including Orders of Protection, Civil No Contact Orders, Divorce/Dissolution of Marriage, Parentage & Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and more!

Clerks and/or interns may be based out of either our Chicago or Des Plaines offices – 1L, 2L & 3L law students all eligible to apply.

While these are unpaid internships, Life Span accepts applications from law students:

• who have external funding;
• who are seeking academic credit or participating in an externship through their law school; and
• who do not have funding.

INTERN/CLERK DUTIES

Clerks will gain invaluable hands-on legal experience by working on complex and diverse cases and projects with our civil Family Law attorneys. Clerks will participate in client intake, discovery, negotiations, client advising meetings, drafting pleadings, and appear in Court with their 711-law student license. Clerks will also have the opportunity to conduct legal research and analysis on changes in the law and novel legal questions related to client representation.

ABOUT LIFE SPAN

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement and systemic advocacy. Life Span values diversity-in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences. It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve. We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

Our agency has two sites, and services are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic.  All services are free of charge.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and cover letter, via email attention: Victoria Bell, Senior Staff Attorney, to hiring@life-span.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all Summer clerk positions are filled, through Friday, February 28, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Please, no phone calls!

Semester Law Firm Associate Program (6 credits)

The Semester Law Firm Associate Program.  Chicago-Kent’s Semester Law Firm Associate Program (SLFAP) is a unique for-credit non-graded program open to 2Ls and 3Ls. Semester Associate externs work for academic credit (without pay) as “Associates” for the designated and prestigious law firms..

Semester Associate externs receive 6 credits and devote 24 hours a week during the semester to the fieldwork component. Students gain experience, skills and perspective from work on different aspects of litigation and transactions. The firms strive to expose students to a range of legal problems demanding varying skill sets and competencies. In conjunction with the fieldwork, there is an accompanying classroom component, scheduled at a designated time TBD

This is a terrific opportunity to learn about life in a law firm, substantive law from highly qualified practicing attorneys, more about your own strengths and interests, and to make an impression on the lawyers with whom you come into contact (even though there is no expectation of future employment).   This program is only offered in the spring and fall semesters.