The fields of practice include environmental protection, employment, government operations, administrative law, constitutional law, personal injury and medical malpractice, and general civil litigation. Externs practice trial, appellate and administrative law with some of the most well-respected litigators in Wisconsin, working on issues and cases of statewide importance. The assistant attorneys general in the DOJ units are charged under state law with representing the state, in all courts, state and federal, trial and appellate, as both plaintiff and defendant. The DNR attorneys appear in administrative hearings and develop administrative rules and policies. Attorneys in both agencies also review legislative proposals, respond to citizen inquiries, provide training, and advise state entities.
Externs work as partners with attorneys on their cases and related projects.
Assignments include drafting and responding to pleadings, including complaints, answers and motions, drafting trial and appellate court briefs, preparing discovery requests and responses, preparing memoranda on case-related issues, analyzing legislative proposals, attending negotiations, settlement meetings and court hearings, and participating in agency hearings and moot courts. Externs work with assistant attorneys general and agency attorneys and make contact with client agency officials, citizens, adversaries, legislators and other attorneys. Externs also attend a weekly seminar that addresses critical practice skills, trial and appellate advocacy, discovery and risk analysis, legislation and lobbying, and administrative law. Externs enroll for seven credits and must commit twenty-one hours per week to the program. Grading is pass-fail.