UC Davis School of Law - Academics & Clinicals - UC-DC Law Program: Program Description

Academics and Clinicals

Program Description

Full Time Externship and Seminar

Students will receive 13 units for successful completion of the Program: 10 units (Credit/No Credit) for the full-time field placement and 3 units (graded) for the required companion seminar, “Law-Making and Law-Changing in the Nation’s Capital.” The Program is open to 2L and 3L students.

The Program helps students identify quality placements and apply to them. A sample list of 2009 placements is here <http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/academics-clinicals/files/UCDC-placement-list-Davis-Oct-09.pdf>. The Program also helps prospective and current UCDC law students connect with alumni of the program as well as with alumni of the participating schools who have made their careers in Washington. The Program Director visits each participating law school at least once a term, and is available from D.C. at other times for individual consultations with students considering applying.

NOTE: The Law School Regulations, and all policies and procedures pertaining to King Hall externships generally, will pertain to the UCDC Program <http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/current/registrar/files/law-school-regulations.pdf>.

Seminar Description

Students’ externships in the UCDC Law Program have two main components: the full-time lawyering they do at the externship site, guided by their externship supervisor, reflected on in their journal and monitored and supported by the Program; and the companion course, a 3-credit once-a-week evening seminar with frequent guest speakers, lively class discussions, and a major paper by each student on a legal topic relevant to their externship.

The seminar is designed to enhance the externship experience in three principal ways:
1.   Teach students about the process of federal lawmaking directly from leading government lawyers, lobbyists, public interest advocates, and journalists.
2.   Allow students to explore new career opportunities unique to the lawyering in Washington as they enhance their skill sets for success in any career path.
3.   Have students investigate the unique roles of lawyers in making and changing federal law and policy.
Class sessions generally include guest speakers and class discussion based on students’ questions submitted in advance. Part of each session will be devoted to a “grand rounds”-style exchange to facilitate peer-to-peer learning about lawyering at the broad range of externship sites. Each student will write a final paper, typically on a legal topic selected in consultation with the instructor and the externship supervisor for educational value and salience to the office. The final classes of the term will be devoted to presentation of papers in progress. Each student will make detailed written comments on one fellow student’s draft paper, and where possible will share those comments as a discussant when that paper is presented in class. A sample syllabus for the seminar is available at [http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/academics-clinicals/files/UCDC-Syllabus-fall-Sept-09-11p.pdf.

*** The UCDC Law Program is subject to approval by King Hall faculty. It is anticipated that a decision on approval will be made prior to the start of the Spring 2010 semester. Students may apply for the Program in the interim period.