MSU Law Externship Program

Externship Application Process Instructions

Directions

  • Before beginning this process, read these directions completely.
  • Follow these steps IN ORDER.
  • All forms linked here are accessible in CASE (after Step #5 is complete)
  • Externships are 3 or 6 credits (with the exception of Talsky Center Externships). To request an exception, students must submit the “Request for 9-credit Externship” form located in CASE. Please note that due to ABA limitations, 9-credit externships are not available during the summer term.
  • Students requesting a deviation from this process must contact Professor McNally, Externship Director at valent29@law.msu.edu before the current semester’s deadline for submission of forms.
  • Applications must be submitted 21 business days before the first day of the semester.
  • Fall and spring externship dates follow the academic calendar. Summer externship dates begin on the first day of summer classes and extend eleven weeks. Students are required to work ten out of eleven weeks.


#1 - Review Externship Handbook (PDF)

DOWNLOAD and READ carefully.  Refer to this handbook of externship rules and guidelines. You are responsible for the information provided in it.

#2 - Review Navigating CASE for Externship Application & Enrollment (PDF)

DOWNLOAD and READ carefully.  You will refer to this information about CASE throughout the process.

#3 - Obtain an Externship Position

Students can find jobs through postings in CASE or through their own research.

For potential opportunities, consult the Recent Externship Placements (PDF) or in the CASE Resource Library.

NOTE: Any job listing in CASE with a job title of “intern” can become an externship if the student requests it of an employer and the employer agrees to the requirements of the externship program in the next step. The Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning must also approve the request.

NOTE: On the Job Listings page in CASE, find the “Sort By: Application Deadline” filter and click the green arrow to reverse the deadlines to see all jobs that are open at all times for externships.

#4 - Send Externship Site Information Packet (PDF) to Employer

(For Information Only)

DOWNLOAD, READ, and SEND the Externship Site Information Packet to your supervisor. This packet is for INFORMATION ONLY for you AND your supervisor. It contains introductory materials to help your supervisor understand their externship responsibilities before they sign the actual document.

NOTE: This is NOT the version of the form that the supervisor should sign - that will come later in Step #7 below.

#5 - Complete New Experience Form

LOG INTO CASE and FILL OUT the New Experience form in the Experiential Learning tab.

  • This becomes the Experiential Learning Record in CASE used all throughout the externship.
  • This form will become the Enrollment form (See Step 9).

WATCH your status bar in your Experiential Learning Record in CASE. See Navigating CASE for Externship Application Enrollment, pages 9-11 (PDF).

STATUS BAR: GRAY

  • Will say “Draft”
  • Click Submit

STATUS BAR: YELLOW Pending Initial Approval

  • Will say either  “Pending Initial Approval” OR “Needs More Information” through Steps #6-8 below based on communication with CSO through CASE and/or your msu.edu email.

#6 - Obtain Preliminary Site Approval

WAIT and WATCH your msu.edu email until you hear back from the CSO telling you that you have preliminary site approval based on the information provided in your New Experience Form in Step #5 above.

#7 - Send Employer Externship Agreement Form (PDF)

AFTER you receive the Preliminary Approval Email (See #6 above), SIGN and then SEND the Externship Agreement Form to your supervisor.

Direct your supervisor to send this executed form to law.extern@law.msu.edu.

#8 - Await Approval

WAIT and WATCH your msu.edu email for updates on the status of your Employer Agreement Form.

NOTE: The fully-completed, signed Employer Agreement Form must come from your supervisor AND must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning before your Externship is fully approved.

WATCH your status bar in your Experiential Learning Record in CASE. See Navigating CASE for Externship Application and Enrollment (PDF) page 9-11, if needed.

STATUS BAR: GREEN

  • Will say in Progress
  • All documents have been submitted by you and received by CSO and your externship has been approved.
  • WARNING: From this point forward, do not hit “Submit for Approval” button until the end of the semester when all of your hours have been logged in. Otherwise, you will be unable to enter hours!!
#9 - Await notification of Approval

WATCH for an email notification regarding approval.

  1. CSO will submit your Enrollment Form to the Registrar. You will see the credits appear in 1-2 weeks.
  2. WAIT UNTIL the end of the semester after you have logged all of your hours to click the “Submit for Approval” button.
#10 - Await Email Regarding Externship Seminar Information
  1. From this point, all questions regarding the externship seminar should be directed to Professor McNally at valent29@law.msu.edu.
  2. YOU WILL HEAR from your seminar professor regarding class requirements. The CSO has no information about seminars.