Recognizing the heritage of the University of Alabama School of Law as a training ground for leaders of our state and nation’s legislative, executive and judicial branches, the Law School is pleased to offer its students the opportunity to obtain a certificate in governmental affairs. In order to receive the certificate:
- Students must successfully complete either the Federal Externship or a state government externship approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean shall not approve a state governmental affairs externship for purposes of completing this requirement unless a significant portion of the extern’s responsibilities relate to the process of policy development. Neither judicial externships nor externships with prosecutors will usually qualify to fulfill the externship requirement; and
- Students must complete (i) either Political & Legislative Processes or Legislative Drafting and (ii) Administrative Law; and
- Students must complete 12 credit hours from any of the following elective courses (These courses relate to the functioning of governmental institutions, acquaint the students with tools that are useful in doing policy analysis or provide important policy background to matters that are frequently the subject of legislation: Law School Courses:
- Antitrust
- Democratic Institutions
- Education Law
- Environmental Law Survey
- Health Care Law
- Health Care Liability
- International Human Rights
- Immigration Law
- Immunity Doctrine
- Judicial Opinion Drafting
- Law & Economics
- Law & Public Policy
- Law & Religion
- Perspectives on Citizenship
- Public International Law
- Securities Regulation
- Water Law
- Employment Law
- Students who wish to count courses not designated as elective courses may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The petition shall explain how the particular course relates to the government service the student wishes to pursue.