Externship Opportunities

Externship Requirements

Externship eligibility, credit, and placement requirements include the following:

Externships are available to second- and third-year students.
Students must complete 100 hours to earn two pass/fail credit hours.
First-time externs will also enroll in the one-credit Externship Seminar (three total credits).
Students may complete a second externship for an additional two credits.
Placements may be secured independently or with assistance from the externship director; all require approval.
Students may receive compensation for externship work.
Eligible students certified under the Alabama Rule for Legal Internship may appear in court as trial counsel.

Placements

Cumberland School of Law offers a wide range of externship opportunities designed to align with students’ interests and career goals. Each externship combines hands-on legal experience with academic oversight to prepare students for professional practice.

Externship I Seminar Corporate Externship I and II Government Agency Externship I and II Judicial Externship I and II Litigation Externship I and II
Public Interest Externship I and II
Summer Externships

How to Apply

Externship opportunities are posted on 12Twenty, Cumberland’s career management platform, and include specific application instructions. Students may also pursue externship opportunities independently, provided the placement aligns with their professional goals.

Once a placement is secured—either through 12Twenty or independently—students must submit the proposed externship for approval by the externship director. Detailed application instructions are available in 12Twenty.

Externship I Seminar

Externship I is a one-credit, graded seminar required for students completing their first externship. The weekly course provides structure and reflection while helping students connect fieldwork with professional development. Students explore key topics such as professionalism, legal ethics, effective communication, recognizing bias and building professional networks. The seminar is offered in the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Corporate Externship I and II

Corporate externships place students with in-house legal departments across a range of industries. These placements introduce students to the role of lawyers within corporate organizations. Students gain hands-on experience with contract review, regulatory compliance, internal investigations, risk assessment and corporate governance while working alongside in-house counsel.

Government Agency Externship I and II

Government externships allow students to work in federal, state, and local agencies while gaining insight into public-sector legal practice. These placements emphasize legal research, writing, case preparation, and courtroom experience. Students have externed with offices such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, state district attorneys and public defenders, and agencies including the IRS, NLRB and EEOC.

Judicial Externship I and II

Judicial externships give students the opportunity to work directly with federal and state court judges. Students gain exposure to judicial decision-making, courtroom procedures and case management. Externs assist with legal research, drafting, and case analysis, strengthening their writing and analytical skills. Federal judicial externships require demonstrated excellence in legal writing.

Litigation Externship I and II

Litigation externships at private law firms provide hands-on experience in civil and criminal practice. Students work in active litigation environments typical of private practice. These placements help students develop advocacy, legal writing and case analysis skills while gaining practical exposure to litigation workflow and client representation.

Public Interest Externship I and II

Public interest externships allow students to serve underrepresented and vulnerable communities through nonprofit and public service organizations. These placements emphasize client advocacy and access to justice. Students extern with organizations such as Legal Services of Metro Birmingham, Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham, the YWCA Domestic Violence Clinic and similar nonprofits while building essential practice-ready skills.

Summer Externships

Externships are also available during the summer for students working both locally and outside the Birmingham area. Summer placements provide flexibility while maintaining academic rigor. Students completing their first externship during the summer must take the Externship I Seminar, which is offered in person prior to the start of summer placements.

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