Students' research and writing skills are enhanced by the drafting of legal memoranda, proposed rulings or jury instructions. Students come to understand the administrative pressures placed upon the judicial system and the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques as a method of docket control. Students gain a deeper appreciation of the need for legal representation of persons who cannot afford legal representation on their own. Students learn to interview and counsel clients and to identify and explain to the client the pertinent factual and legal issues, as well as available remedies. Students enhance both their oral and written advocacy skills using all necessary resources to present the case or argument most favorable to the client.
Students develop the ability to negotiate competently and successfully on behalf of the client.
Students obtain specific insight and particularized knowledge of the governmental office in which they work. Students learn the governmental policies served by the office, as well as the social and political forces that impact upon those policies. Students learn about and experience a governmental entity as a client whose legal standing and interests are both similar and dissimilar to the private client. Students enhance their oral and written advocacy skills presenting matters on behalf of the government unit. In addition to the foregoing list of recognized externship programs, it is possible for students to propose other externship placements that are analogous to those listed.