externships

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UBalt Law has allowed paid externships since 2022. Paid externships include direct payments from the employer, or third-party grants and tuition scholarships. Reimbursement for out-of-pocket travel, parking or other costs are not considered paid externships.  


Our paid externship program is intended to enable all students, regardless of their economic circumstances, to gain the benefits of externships while earning money to meet their daily needs. As of 2024, over 80% of UBalt Law externs receive some type of financial compensation for their externships. We encourage all field placements to consider paying students to increase diversity and equity. 


Unpaid externships will still be permitted, particularly in judicial and public service placements. In some cases, third party funding may be available to assist students completing unpaid placements. For-profit sector placements are strongly encouraged to pay.


Any compensation is solely between the student and employer/funder. The Law School will not become involved in any negotiations or disputes around payment.  

  • The goal of the pre-approval meeting is to ensure that the placement is appropriate for credit and that it is well-suited to that student's professional development. 
  • Supervisors in directly paid placements must sign the Paid Externship Supervisor Rider Agreement.
  • Students should complete the  Proposed Schedule Form. Externships are three credits, and the field placement hours should be reasonable and in proportion to the credits received. Full-time law students should not work more than 20 hours per week in their field placement.
    Students should bring a copy of their resume and position description and be prepared to explain how this externship will help them meet their professional goals.
  • All externships must be centered around the education of the student. To ensure the integrity of the program, additional safeguards apply to directly paid externships.  

  • To qualify for externship credit, the field placement experience must be a substantively new learning experience for the student. A student cannot gain experiential learning credit for performing a job they already have done or are doing. Externships support a student's professional identity formation by diversifying a student's legal experiences, professional competencies, and networks. For many students, externing at an existing employer could be a wasted opportunity to explore another professional path or expand their professional networks. However, in some cases, an externship with an existing employer may be an ideal opportunity for a student to learn relevant legal skills in a field they are already working in.

  • Requests to do a paid externship at a former or existing employer will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Relevant factors include the size and structure of the placement, the diversity of the placement's work, and the student's work history.

  • Students wishing to craft an externship at a past/current employer must work with their employer to craft an appropriate placement by:

    1.Reviewing and signing the Externship Approval Policy for Paid Placements at an Existing Employer
    2.Completing an Educational Plan setting forth how the externship will be a new learning opportunity.

  • After these steps are complete, the student should schedule a pre-approval meeting with the Director or Assistant Director of Externships. The student should also have the signed Paid Externship Supervisor Rider Agreement, as well as their proposed schedule, and resume.