LAW 733 | 6-12 Hours
Students participating in federal externships obtain or enhance valuable practical skills by working full-time in Congressional or federal executive branch placements. These skills include legal research and writing, knowledge of substantive and procedural law, appreciation of professional responsibilities, and knowledge of the federal legislative or administrative system, among others. Students will also complete a classroom component and submit written coursework related to the experience.
All externs will also take the accompanying 2-hour course, Legislative and Political Writing (Law 638), taught by Alabama Law alumni living in DC and offered specifically for students participating in the externship program. The externship placement plus this companion course allows students to earn a total of 14 credit hours for the semester.
Both the externship and the associated course help students fulfill the requirements of the Law School’s Certificate in Governmental Affairs.
Examples of past placements include:
- AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)
- AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee)
- CEJIL (Center for Justice and International Law)
- Department of Defense
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor
- Department of Transportation
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Federal Trade Commission
- House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform
- Human Rights Campaign
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Office of the White House Counsel
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Senate Budget Committee
- Senate Legislative Counsel
The Washington DC Externship Program is directed by Assistant Dean Megan Walsh. The Legislative and Political Writing course is taught by Adjunct Instructors Michael Taylor, John Cox, Johnjerica Hodge, and Clint Brown. Professor Taylor is a partner at King & Spalding, Professor Cox is the Executive Vice President of Verto Solutions, Professor Hodge is a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, and Professor Brown is an Executive Director of the U.S. Senate Steering Committee.
“The DC Externship Program was by far the BEST way for me to spend my last semester of law school! The lawyers at my placement treated me just like they would an entry-level attorney. That level of full-time exposure to legislative and policy work really enhanced my resume and jump started my legal career!”
–Akiesha Anderson (2017, Human Rights Campaign)
“This program is life-changing and a hidden gem of UA Law. Law school teaches you about the law, the D.C. Externship program teaches you how to apply the law, operate in the real word, network, understand policy, and become a well-rounded professional. Even if you do not plan on working for the government or in D.C., this program will still benefit you exponentially.”
–Steven Arango (2018, Department of Defense)
“The DC Externship Program is the most valuable experience I have had in law school. I learned more working full-time in my field for a semester than I possibly could have in a classroom.”
–Kyle Campbell (2019, AFSCME)
“The DC Externship Program was by far the best thing I did in law school. The opportunity to work full-time in a federal agency where I was treated like a fellow staff attorney was absolutely invaluable, and I wouldn’t have traded that experience for anything.”
–Tamara Imam (2019, Department of Labor, Civil Rights & Labor Management Office)
