Summer Externships Provide Hands-On Legal Training
Every summer, Villanova Law students participate in law-based externship positions. Externships offer law students the crucial opportunity to further their legal education with hands-on experiences in professional settings throughout the United States and even abroad.
Externships help students practice numerous skills, including legal research and writing, case analysis, court proceedings and working directly with clients. They can also help law students determine what legal field they would like to pursue in their careers.
Four Villanova Law students discussed their summer externship experiences.
Kayla Martin ’25
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Washington, DC
“The mission of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is to ‘provide and promote quality legal representation to indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia.’ My externship experience in the trial division allowed me to gain experience researching legal topics, drafting motions, reviewing case evidence and canvasing crime scenes with investigators. Being able to assist with complex defense cases and legal matters in a challenging yet rewarding work environment was an invaluable experience. I have always been passionate about advocating for social change and making a positive impact. My time working at PDS confirmed that I can continue to pursue this passion through a career in litigation.”
Victoria Rosario '25
Raynaud Avocats, Lyon, France
“The biggest takeaway from my externship at Raynaud Avocats is that it further solidified my desire to pursue a legal career practicing international law. I loved every aspect of my experience: translating documents and communications, reviewing contracts between businesses in EU countries and examining how laws vary by each country. The whole experience solidified that this is what I want to do. I think this all will positively impact my success at Villanova Law – I feel that I have a better understanding of how the law all comes together in the bigger picture from this experience.”
Madison Ross '25
Lupton Law, West Chester, PA
“Throughout my externship at Lupton Law, I worked on various assignments pertaining to different aspects of immigration law. This experience taught me the importance of gaining hands-on experience and offered me a better understanding of what I value when considering my future legal career. I also gained an understanding of how our work in the classroom translates into a real-world setting. I was tasked with assignments that were similar to those completed in my legal writing course, and I am beginning to understand how the classroom piece of law school fits into the larger puzzle of having a successful legal career.”
Noah Swanson '25
Federal Public Defender for the District of Connecticut, New Haven, CT
“My summer externship experience at the Federal Public Defender’s office really helped me understand how lucky I am to be able to study law. The externship was similar to a mentorship/apprenticeship where I was paired with an assistant federal defender within their office. My job involved helping a mentor attorney conduct legal research, review documents, survey evidence and write motions and memorandums. This experience will help me in my future at Villanova Law, not only was I able to hone my skills in client relations and legal writing, but I also realized that I enjoy working in litigation law.”