Legal Externships

In addition to the Legal Clinic, UK Law offers four externships in which you can obtain experience outside the College in applied research, fact gathering, interviewing, counseling, investigation, negotiation, working with outside experts and trial advocacy. All afford academic credit on a pass/fail basis.

Innocence Project Externship: This program places you with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy's Innocence Project, where you would work on appeals for serious criminal cases involving claims of factual innocence. You will learn practical legal skills such as conducting investigations, interviewing clients and witnesses, researching and drafting legal documents and working with experts.

Judicial Clerkship Externship: In this program, you are assigned to a local state or federal judge and work as part of the judge's staff for the semester. Participating judges are very experienced in working with students, and will see that you are exposed to every aspect of motion and litigation practice.

Prison Externship: A unique program at the Federal Correctional Institute-Lexington, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, permits you to counsel inmates in civil and criminal matters. It is conducted by an adjunct instructor experienced in the legal problems of incarcerated people.

Prosecutorial Externship: If you are interested in criminal law, as a third-year student you can be placed with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office in Lexington. Under the Kentucky Supreme Court's limited practice rule, you are able to participate in criminal prosecutions in court under the close supervision of an attorney.