JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIPS

Have you ever wondered how a judge decides cases? Each year, Villanova Law judicial externs gain a behind-the-scenes look at the judicial process where their classroom cases become real-life. A judicial externship is an insider’s view of a judge’s work process, deliberations, and ultimately, decision on cases that go on to shape the US justice system.

Judicial externs earn course credit and acquire valuable insight through semester-long practice experiences in the chambers of federal and state judges in eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Interested students are matched with participating judges, gaining invaluable skills in case and statutory analysis, legal research and writing, as well as procedural rules and substantive law principles.

As a judicial extern, your work closely mirrors the work given to a judge’s regular law clerk, and usually is a progression of challenging, varied, and increasingly complex legal projects. You will be assigned a faculty adviser who will conduct an orientation at the beginning of the semester.

You will also participate in a classroom component with other Villanova judicial externs. Your practice experience will be supported by classroom sessions introducing you to judicial writing, ethics, and other court-related topics. The classsoom meetings also provide a place where students can discuss the judicial process and receive guidance on professional, ethical or other issues that may arise.