Regional, National and International Externships

Students have the option to complete an externship for academic credit, either before or after their Residency-in-Practice. As in their residencies, students who complete an externship engage in a substantial lawyering experience reasonably similar to the experience of a lawyer advising or representing a client or engaging in other lawyering tasks, under the supervision of an attorney or judge. An externship takes place part-time, either in the summer or during a non-Residency trimester. Students arrange their own externship in consultation with the externship director.

The General Externship course is open to all students after successful completion of the 1L year. Leadership Fellows, Business Fellows, and Advocacy Fellows take a summer externship course with a stipend that covers the summer session tuition.

Instructions for current Elon Law students interested in pursuing an externship may be accessed by logging in to the secure page using the button below.

“I learned a great deal about how law is actually practiced on a day-to-day basis. My externship experience expanded my horizons and helped to formulate my career goals.”

Student & Alumni Reflections on the Value of Elon Law Externships

“This position was a vital stepping-stone in elevating me into my current career. The experience enabled me to acquire skills necessary to be successful in healthcare and government regulation.”
— Phillip Clontz L’12, Risk Management and Compliance Officer at Pendleton Financial, Raleigh, N.C., regarding his externship with the U.S. Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Regional Counsel in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“Elon Law sharpened not only my academic and analytical skills, but my leadership skills as well. Learning through an institution that highlights and focuses on leadership prepares you for not only the academic aspects of an externship, but the office dynamics as well. I felt exceptionally prepared to converse with those in my office and to take leadership of my own learning experience to get the most out of every day in the office.”
— Katherine Koone L’14 Externship for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

“I expected my externship experience to be a great legal learning opportunity, and it was even better than that. I learned so many invaluable lessons about criminal law and procedure, evidence and the court system through a great amount of daily practical experience and through observation of district attorneys, defense attorneys, judges and clerks.”
— Hannah Davies L’14 Externship with the Burke County District Attorney’s Office

“The FINRA externship gave me an opportunity to work closely with enforcement attorneys on a variety of cases at many different stages, from researching facts relating to initial complaints all the way through to assisting counsel in depositions and hearings. I was able to see the whole process from the investigation to the decision to file a formal action, and what the enforcement division’s considerations are at each step of the way.”
— Katherine Lester L’15 Externship at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in Woodbridge, N.J.

“I had observed court before, but working with Judge Davis gave me insight into the legal process form a different vantage point.”
— Julie Dogan L’15 Externship with the the Honorable Lindsay R. Davis, Jr., Senior Resident Superior Court Judge.

“Working in the chambers of the Business Court provided me a great perspective on how the North Carolina legal system processes complex business matters. I learned the process by which a court makes decisions, which will help me in my future practice before a court.”
— Andrew Realon L’14 Externship for Judge James L. Gale, North Carolina Business Court

“The rigorous demand for in-depth legal analysis that is required at Elon Law helped significantly in addressing complex problems and coming up with creative solutions in my summer externship.” — Chris Genheimer L’15 Externship with the Triad-area Inception Micro Angel Fund and the Small Business and Technology Development Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“Working on real life cases, even on the background work, is tremendously interesting and satisfying.”
— Murphy Townsend L’14 Externship with the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office in High Point, N.C.