Civil Practice Externship

This is a single semester externship, available part-time or full-time, which provides opportunities for students to observe and participate in lawyering at government agencies and non-profit, public interest settings. Typical placements include legal aid services, city and county attorneys, state and local government agencies, school boards, and healthcare facilities. Participation enhances the development of a broad range of lawyering skills, advance personal career goals, enable critical reflection of the legal profession and legal institutions, encourage self-directed learning through reflection, and promote core competencies and professional values that produce skilled and ethical lawyers and professionals in our society. Those students whose placement requires a Certified Legal Intern status must have completed four semesters (a minimum of 48 semester hours) and have received Florida Bar Notice of Registrant Clearance.

Students are required to attend the weekly class component.

  • Prerequisites: Successful Completion of First Year
  • Co-requisites: None
  • Course Credit: 8 or 4
  • Grading: Pass/Fail
  • Minimum Hourly Requirement: Fall/Spring (8 Credits): 32 hours per week OR Fall/Spring (4 Credits): 16 hours per week; Summer (4 Credits): 32 hours per week
  • Eligible Students: 2L’s and 3L’s
  • Florida Bar Notice of Registrant Clearance: No
  • Clinic Location: Miami-Dade; Broward; Palm Beach counties
  • Faculty: Adjunct Professor Jeff James

Elizabeth Ruiz

“During my time at The Community Justice Project in Miami, I worked with the Right to Counsel Housing Eviction Defense Unit, one of the most meaningful parts of my law school experience. I worked directly with clients facing eviction during incredibly stressful moments, which showed me how essential a protected right to counsel is in housing cases. Many tenants must navigate a fast‑moving legal system alone, and the consequences can be life‑altering. Throughout my externship, I drafted motions and pleadings, conducted legal research, communicated with clients, spoke with opposing counsel, and participated in settlement negotiations. Contributing to work that directly affected whether someone could stay in their home deepened my commitment to public interest advocacy.”