Students
Qualifying Placements
The Colorado Law Externship Program is offered year-round (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). Students may extern at governmental andÌýnon-profit organizations and agencies.ÌýStudents may work in all three branches of the government, including state and federal judicial chambers, executive agencies, and legislativeÌýoffices. As per the Law School Rules,ÌýColorado Law students may not externÌýat private, for-profit law firms or corporations. Due to a recent update to the Law School Rules, starting in Summer of 2023 students may now be paid and receive academic credit at approved externships.Ìý
Remote Externships
Due to the COVID-19 situation, students can nowÌýcomplete remote externships if their agencies will not allow them to work in the office, or if the student is not comfortableÌýattending in person. Please speak to theÌýProgram Director if you have any questions.ÌýExternship sponsors are not limited to agencies and organizations that have sponsored externs in the past. Students must be supervised by a licensed attorney at their agency.Ìý
Law School Credits
Students may receive 2, 3 or 4 credits for an externship in a semester, unless special approval has been granted for a single semester 7-credit externship in Colorado or a single semester 10-credit externship at a national or international placement. 50 hours of workÌýtime is required for each externship credit. ÌýStudents interested in seeking special approval for a 7 or 10 credit externship should consult with the Director of Experiential Learning about additional program requirements. ÌýStudents can only participate in ONE externship per semester (i.e., a student cannot complete a 2-credit externship at the Colorado Supreme Court and a 2-credit externship at the AG's Office in the same semester).
Application Deadlines
Externship Program Description Agreement documents must be receivedÌýno later than the deadlines listed below. We encourage students to being process of completingÌýexternship paperwork EARLY as background checks and other administrative processes can take a while.
- TheÌýdeadline to submit your SUMMER 2026 externship applicationÌýis Wednesday, May 20thÌýat 11:59 p.m. MST.
- ​We cannot accept late applications!
- ​The Summer Externship Session will run from Monday, May 26th through Friday, July 31st.
- TheÌýdeadline to submit your FALL 2026 externship applicationÌýis Tuesday, August 11thÌýat 11:59 p.m. MST.
- ​We cannot accept late applications!
- ​The Fall Externship Session will run from Monday, August 24th through Friday, December 4th.
- TheÌýdeadline to submit your SPRING 2026 externship applicationÌýis Tuesday, January 6thÌýat 11:59 p.m. MST.
- ​We cannot accept late applications!
- ​The Spring Externship Session will run from Monday, January 12th through Friday, April 24th.Ìý
Colorado'sÌýStudent Practice Act:
Law students who have completed at least two years of law school may appear in court pursuant toÌý.ÌýA student must file aÌýÌýthat they haveÌýcompleted two years of law school and is of good moral character.ÌýTo file this certification, print the form, complete the first two sections, and email the form toÌýlawreg@colorado.edu. The Registrar will thenÌýcomplete and submit the form.Ìý
The student must also provide the name of the supervising attorney and an anticipated graduation date. Work must be performed for an attorney in the public sector, i.e., the Public Defender's Office or District Attorney's Office; or on behalf of a non profit legal services organization where poor or legally underserved persons receives legal advice.
Please note: In addition to the Law School Rules, Externships are regulated by ABA Standard 304.Ìý
Academic Quick Links
ALL FALL 2026 EXTERNSHIP STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TOÌýATTEND AÌýMANDATORY EXTERNSHIP ORIENTATION SESSION
- Wednesday, August 26,Ìý2026
- Noon - 12:50 P.M. MST
- ZOOM Link PROVIDED VIA EMAIL
Fall 2026 Externship Key Dates
- Midsemester reflection is due WEDNESDAY, October 14th at 11:59pm MST
- End of semester paperwork is due FRIDAY, December 4th at 11:59pm MST
Fall 2026 Externship Classes
Externship studentsÌýareÌýrequiredÌýto attend externship classes that will be scheduled over the course of the semester in the subject area that is closest to the area of law where the student will be placed during the semester. ÌýStudents DO NOT have to register for the externship classroom component through the Law Registrar's Office. The Program Director will send all students enrolled in an externship additionalÌýinformation about the externship class during the first week of classes each semester.Ìý
While the General Topics class is suitable for students completing anÌýexternship focusing on any area of the law, we strongly recommend that students enroll in theÌýsubject-specific class for the practice area of their externship.Ìý
Students completing anÌýexternship in the same practice area as a previous externship (i.e., two externships with the Federal Government) may be eligible to take the Advanced Topics class.ÌýThe dates, timesÌýand instructors are as follows:
Ìý
Advanced Externship (repeat externs with same practice area) ()
- Wednesday, September 9, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
- Wednesday, November 18, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
Ìý
General TopicsÌýÌý(cross-cutting professionalism topics) ()
- Wednesday, September 2, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
- Wednesday, September 23, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
- Wednesday, October 7, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
- Wednesday, October 21, Noon to 12:50 p.m. –ÌýRoom 301
- Wednesday, November 11, Noon to 12:50 p.m. – Room 301
- Wednesday, December 2, Noon to 12:50 p.m. –ÌýRoom 301
Ìý
Federal Government ()
- Wednesday, September 2, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Remote
- Wednesday, September 23, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý – Remote
- Wednesday, October 7, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý – Remote
- Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý – Remote
- Wednesday, November 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Remote
Ìý
Judicial ()
- Wednesday, September 9, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý– ÌýRoom 206
- Wednesday, September 30, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý– Room 206
- Wednesday,ÌýOctober 14, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 206
- Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 206
- Wednesday, November 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 206
Ìý
Non-Governmental/Non-Profits ()Ìý
- Tuesday,Ìý September 8, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Room 411
- Tuesday, September 29, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. –ÌýVirtual
- Tuesday, October 13,Ìý 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. –ÌýVirtual
- Tuesday, October 27, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. –ÌýVirtual
- Tuesday, November 10, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. –ÌýVirtual
Ìý
ProsecutionÌý()ÌýÌý
- Tuesday, September 1, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 330
- Tuesday, September 15,Ìý 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 330
- Tuesday, October 6, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 330
- Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý –ÌýRoom 330
- Tuesday, November 3, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Ìý– Room 330
Ìý
Public Defender ()Ìý
- Wednesday,ÌýSeptember 2, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Ìý–ÌýRoom 421
- Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. –ÌýRoom 421
- Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. –ÌýRoom 421
- Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. –ÌýRoom 421
- Wednesday, November 11, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.– Room 421
Ìý
State/Local GovernmentÌý()ÌýÌý
- Wednesday, September 9, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Room 411
- Wednesday, September 30, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Room 411
- Wednesday, October 14, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Room 411
- Wednesday, November 4, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Room 411
- Wednesday, December 2, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Room 411

