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 still apply for a judicial externship in the spring.  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: Lewis M. Nixon, Circuit Court of Cook County

His Honor Lewis M. Nixon of the Circuit Court of Cook County is looking for externs in Spring 2025. He is the Supervising Judge of the Mortgage Foreclosure / Mechanics Lien Section therein and specializes in mechanic’s liens. He expects to conduct at least one bench trial in the summer and one bench trial in the fall. There is always a chance for the bench trials not to occur, as the cases may settle. If they go forward however, externs will have the opportunity to observe them and will likely be able to perform tasks associated with them.

In addition, the Law Clerk will teach externs mechanic’s-lien law in the same manner in which a doctrinal course would be taught. After that, externs will be asked to draft opinions or write bench memoranda.

Applicants should expect the externship to be rigorous. In terms of time commitment, there is a mixture of in-person work and remote work. Bench trials are typically spread into multiple sessions across multiple days. A session may last an entire day. Externs are expected to attend the entire bench trial unless excused. For example, students would certainly be excused if a bench-trial session conflicts with a class during Spring 2025, but the Court just needs to know in advance.

The Law Clerk would lecture on mechanic’s-lien law once a week. However, reading, writing, and drafting assignments would all be completed remotely. In addition, all other hearings that Judge Nixon conducts and that externs would observe are remote with very few exceptions.

Overall, externs should expect much more remote work than in-person work. What makes the externship rigorous is that many consider mechanic’s-lien law to be rather difficult. In addition, the reading, writing, and drafting assignments require exacting precision. This externship is for those looking for a challenge in exchange for some likely valuable experience in return.

Applicants should send a cover letter, a resume, and a writing sample no longer than ten pages to the Law Clerk Polatip Subanajouy at polatip.subanajouy@cookcountyil.gov.

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 Spring Semester can be done remotely or in person, but the Summer Semester is in person only. Please see this flyer for more information on the position, qualifications and how to apply.

Judicial Externship: Judge Horan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division

Judicial Extern applications for the Spring 2025 term are now being accepted for a position with the Circuit Court of Cook County in the Chancery Division, Judge Cecilia A. Horan and her two law clerks, Noah and Alex. Please send a letter of interest along with a resume and writing sample directly to Alex Mischke, Law Clerk to the Honorable Cecilia A. Horan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, 50 W. Washington Street, Courtroom 2008, Chicago, IL 60602.  If you are offered and accept the externship, please email Michael Oakes (moakes@kentlaw.iit.edu) so you can have a permit for registration.  

Judicial Externship: Sangamon County, 7th Judicial Circuit, Remote

The judges of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Sangamon County are in need of a law student(s) to conduct legal research and analysis. Sangamon County is one of six counties in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. The counties include Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott. This position is for Sangamon County only. The position is open to 2L or 3L students.

The externship consists primarily of conducting legal research by Westlaw, analyzing law relevant to cases assigned to individual judges, and summarizing results in well-reasoned, written memoranda. A successful extern must be able to support the judges’ work by focusing on thorough research, speed of delivery, and pragmatic application of the law. Should there be any interest from the student, s/he may be able to attend court proceedings remotely or in person.

The position would be remote, conducted by Zoom, telephone and email

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

Judge Allen P. Walker, Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County 

This externship position provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with a judge in a state trial court that handles General Chancery cases. These cases include class actions, administrative review, declaratory judgments, temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, actions for accounting, partition suits, and many other types of cases. 

An extern will function as an additional judicial law clerk and must possess outstanding writing skills and superior analytical abilities. This position is open to 2L and 3L students who are looking to gain practical legal experience during the Spring 2025 Semester. Externs typically work a hybrid schedule where they spend at least one day a week at the Daley Center. 

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

Judge Alison Conlon, Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County

Judge Alison Conlon is seeking to work with a Judicial Externs for the Spring 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.  

Judge William B. Sullivan, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, Mortgage Foreclosure Section

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.  

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 with K&L Gates

The K&L Gates and Chicago-Kent externship is for a part-time Law Clerk position in our Chicago office.  Students will receive hands on training and work experience directly on client projects both in Patent Litigation and Patent Prosecution. We will staff the student at a minimum of 16 hours a week, with an expectation that the majority of this work be done from our Chicago office. We are happy to consider any 2Ls or 3Ls as long as they are Patent Bar Eligible.  Applicant reviews will start on December 23 with interviews to be held starting the following week.  

Students can apply directly to this link with their resume, transcript, and cover letter:

klgates | Chicago Law Clerk (Chicago-Kent Law School Externship)Yello Enterprise

Legal Externship with Mérieux NutriSciences (Chicago, Illinois)

Mérieux NutriSciences (“MXNS”) is the leading multinational food safety and quality service provider. It is a private, US-company, operating more than 100 accredited laboratories in 27 countries. MXNS provides analytical testing, consulting, auditing, research, and training solutions to companies in the international food sector, and it has over 8,000 employees globally. The Legal Affairs Department manages and supports the business on a variety of matters, including commercial transactions, corporate governance, compliance, risk management, insurance, and mergers and acquisitions. The Legal Affairs Department is composed of ten full-time attorneys, two part-time attorneys, and two paralegal globally. For more information on the position, qualifications and how to apply, please download their full flyer.

Illinois Attorney General’s Office

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Antitrust Bureau is currently seeking a law student intern for Summer 2025.  To be considered for this position, current law students may apply to the Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project, which is sponsored by the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section.  Below is a short description of the Steiger Fellowship Project, which can also be found on the ABA’s website along with further details and the application form.

The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project provides law students with the extraordinary opportunity to work in the consumer protection departments of state and territorial Offices of Attorneys General and other consumer protection agencies, as well as the National Association of Attorneys General and the Attorney General’s Office of the District of Columbia. The eight to ten-week paid Fellowships were initiated in 2004 by the ABA Antitrust Law Section, in cooperation with the National Association of Attorneys General, as a consumer protection outreach initiative to introduce law students to the rewards of legal careers in public service. Each selected student will receive a $6,000 stipend with the opportunity to earn law school credit through the Access2Practice Externship Program.  The Externship program is taken for 4 credits and you can expect to put in a minimum of 32 hours per week.

For students who are interested in antitrust and/or public service, this is a fantastic opportunity, and we would highly encourage students to apply to work with us.  The selected intern would receive broad experience in legal research, investigations, and discovery and would work directly with our bureau chief and assistant attorneys general in the Antitrust Bureau for ten weeks in Summer 2025.  Please note that the deadline to apply is November 29, 2024.

Law Offices of Ma & Li, P.C.

Attorney Isabel X. Li is looking for an extern to work in the area of immigration and appellate practice. The extern will be preparing all materials and filings needed for the Chicago Immigration Court hearings, BIA briefs, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals research and practices. Ideally, the extern needs to be preparing for a State bar exam, or has already passed one. It is a plus if the extern has some experience in general litigation.  

Hours: Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, flexible, above 2 days (16 hours) per week depending on the student needs.

To Apply:  please email your resume to Isabel Li, xli@lawma.us

Enova

Enova is a technology and analytics driven, web-based lending company. Our products are offered in the U.S., Brazil and elsewhere around the world. The Legal Department is responsible for all domestic and international legal matters, including corporate transactions, corporate governance, intellectual property, regulatory, employment and litigation matters. The Legal Department is composed of ten attorneys, three paralegals and two operations members, mostly located in the Chicago office.

The Legal Department is seeking to establish an externship program for law students in the Chicago area with an interest for in-house practice. The Enova Legal Externship Program is modeled after law firm summer associate programs but is designed to fit the unique rigors of an in-house legal department.

Qualifications: Applicants should be rising 2Ls and 3Ls only, 2Ls preferred, and rank in the top third of their class.

To Apply:  Students should send a cover letter, resume and transcript directly to Enova via email at the address listed below. The cover letter should be addressed to Josh VanBlaracum, Legal Support Specialist, Enova International, Inc. 175 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 6000, Chicago, Illinois 60606 USA (jvanblaracum@enova.com).

Please view the full flyer for more information on the company and the experience.

Levin & Perconti

Levin & Perconti is a nationally renowned Plaintiff’s law firm concentrating in all types of serious injury, medical malpractice, nursing home, and wrongful death litigation.  Levin & Perconti's Chicago personal injury attorneys are committed to protecting and vindicating the rights of people who are seriously injured by the negligence of others.

Levin & Perconti is looking for law clerks through the externship program for Spring 2025.   The ideal candidate will want to be a plaintiff’s personal injury trial lawyer, have strong legal research and writing skills, excellent oral communication/trial skills, and be detail oriented.    Each clerk will work with multiple attorneys at the firm.  

Responsibilities include, but not limited to, legal drafting of pleadings, motions and discovery,  client interviews and communication, legal research, preparing and assisting attorneys for mediations, depositions, and trials.

Candidates involved in a trial team, moot court or showing a strong interest in trial work are preferred.

Deadline:  January 3, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CST

Please send all resumes to mpb@levinperconti.com.

Please email Michael Oakes or Jon Decatorsmith with specific questions about the externship program. 

Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen 

Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen seeks talented, self-motivated rising 2Ls and 3Ls (2Ls preferred) with strong academic credentials, excellent writing & research skills, and a demonstrated interest in affordable housing & community development for its Spring 2025 externship program. Our externship program is our latest effort to identify & engage talent earlier in the law school process, evaluate potential summer associate candidates, and promote diversity, equity, & inclusion at the firm. To that end, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. 

The position is planned to be hybrid, with approximately half of an extern's time being spent in-person and half being spent remote. This is a part-time, unpaid position, though applicants are encouraged to seek external funding, work-study funding, or class credits. That said, outstanding externs will be invited to return to the firm the following summer as full-time summer associates eligible for a permanent, full-time attorney position upon graduation from law school. For more information about this opportunity and instructions on how to apply, please view their announcement.

If you need assistance/need to be pointed in the right direction in terms of where to find Legal Externships, contact Michael Oakes (moakes@kentlaw.iit.edu) 

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.

Opportunity:

Participating this Spring semester is the law firm of Segal McCambridge, a Chicago firm that focuses its practice on high-stakes litigation. 

All 2Ls and 3Ls who wish to apply for this externship can email a current resume and unofficial transcript to Michael Oakes (moakes@kentlaw.iit.edu), by the end of the day on Tuesday, December 3rd