Academics

Course Descriptions

Externships

Externship programs offered for credit are supervised by members of the faculty. These Externships require 60 hours of field work for each credit hour earned (120 hours for 2 credits, which is 8-10 hours per week). In addition, Externships require attendance at classes or consultations conducted by the faculty supervisor. A written work product, time logs, or a research paper may also be required. Most Externships have limited enrollments. Students should contact faculty supervisors to determine the requirements for specific Externships. Consult the Schedule of Classes to determine the faculty supervisor for an Externship.

With the exception of the International Human Rights Law Internship and the Program on Law and State Government, Externship programs may be offered for 1 or 2 credit hours at the discretion of the faculty advisor. Grading is on a Satisfactory/Fail (S/F) basis. Externship offerings and credit arrangements frequently change. Interested students should contact the advisor of each Externship to determine the availability and credit arrangements for Externship offerings in a given semester.

Limits apply to the maximum number of credit hours that may be earned in Externship programs. If necessary to help resolve scheduling conflicts, students enrolled in Externships offered for credit may register for any day or evening course regardless of full-time or part-time status.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following Externships may be offered for 1 or 2 credit hours, depending on the availability of faculty sponsorship and approval by the faculty:

American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs are assigned directly to the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana cooperating attorney. They may perform a variety of tasks, including investigations, legal research, and litigation support work such as drafting pleadings and preparing witnesses. (Application(s): Spring 2010)

Environmental Advocacy Externship (2 cr.) D802 The externship placement is with the HEC Legal Defense Fund, Sierra Club and Indiana Kids for the Environment (IKE) which provides public interest representation for a number of environmental issues and pursues those issues before administrative agencies, state courts, and federal courts.

Federal Court Externship (2 or 4 cr.) D802 (Students may earn up to 4 credits in the summer) Students serve as law clerk interns in the chambers of one of the federal judges or magistrates in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis). Students are required to spend approximately one day each week in their placement and attend three class meetings and two individual meetings with the professor. (Application: Spring 2010 | More info: Clinic web site)

Hospital Legal Department Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs work in legal and/or ethical departments of a hospital or with the Marion County Health Corporation on issues concerning health care, public health, guardianships, and the development of hospital policies required by federal and state laws, including ethical considerations in the treatment of patients.(Application(s): Spring 2010)

Indiana Board of Tax Review Externship (1 or 2 cr.) D802 This externship introduces students to work in the Indiana Board of Tax Review under the guidance of a supervisor and work with professional staff, specifically with Senior Administrative Law Judges. Depending on the needs of the IBTR during a particular semester, this externship involves learning the practices and techniques utilized in handling property tax appeals throughout the State of Indiana. The minimum qualification for participation in the program is successful completion of at least 12 semester hours of law school credit. Externs will be involved with corresponding with legal representatives, research, administrative hearings, and writing briefs and opinions.

Indiana Court of Appeals Externship (2 cr.) D802 Students serve as law clerk interns for one of the judges of the Indiana Court of Appeals. Students are required to spend approximately one day each week in their placement and attend three class meetings and two individual meetings with the professor. (Application: Spring 2010 | More info: Clinic web site)

Indiana Department of Revenue Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs work on a variety of Indiana Department of Revenue issues.

Indiana Supreme Court Externship (2 cr.) D802 Students serve as law clerk interns for one of the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court. Students are required to spend approximately one day each week in their placement and attend three class meetings and two individual meetings with the professor. (Application: Spring 2010 | More info: Clinic web site)

In-House Corporate Counsel Externship (Eli Lilly and Company) (1 or 2 cr.) D802 This externship placement provides students with the experience and insight derived from working in the in-house legal department of a business corporation. These include drafting and reviewing contracts, engaging in legal research and preparing memoranda regarding business law issues confronting the corporation, and otherwise assisting in legal work typical of that performed by corporate counsel. P: Closely Held Business Organizations (DN645) or Publicly Traded Corporations (DN646). (Application(s): Spring 2010)

In-House Corporate Counsel Externship (Finish Line) (1 or 2 cr.) D802 This externship placement provides students with the experience and insight derived from working in the in-house legal department of a business corporation. These include drafting and reviewing commercial leases, engaging in legal research and preparing memoranda regarding federal, state and local regulatory issues confronting the corporation, reviewing marketing approaches for law compliance, and otherwise assisting in legal work typical of that performed by corporate counsel. P: Closely Held Business Organizations (DN645) or Publicly Traded Corporations (DN646). (Application(s): Spring 2010)

Internal Revenue Service Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs work on a variety of Internal Revenue Service issues relating to federal and state taxation, including research on estate and gift tax law and review of trusts and wills to determine tax consequences. Externs also assist IRS staff attorneys in the valuation of assets included in tax returns.

International Human Rights Law Internship (4 cr.) D802 Interns spend 10 to 12 weeks, usually during the summer, working at International Human Rights law organizations at a variety of locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, or North, South, and Central America. Students work approximately 40 hours per week on a wide range of assignments, depending on the nature of the host organization.

Possible host organizations include intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations (Geneva, Switzerland; Arusha, Tanzania; or New York); governmental organizations (such as the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission in Sydney or the Equal Opportunities Commission in Hong Kong); and private human rights organizations (such as local advocacy groups in Asia, Central America, Europe, Australia, India, or Africa). Opportunities are also available for students to work for organizations other than those listed, depending on the background and interests of the students. internships are arranged based upon a match between the students' interests and desires, and the needs of organizations.

Projects of recent interns have included reviewing claims made to the United Nations that human rights have been violated in numerous countries around the globe; drafting official U.N. appeals to offending countries to cease violations; drafting manuals advising human rights workers in India of their internationally recognized rights upon arrest; assessing human rights claims of Aborigines in Australia; studying the application of international human rights principles to the operation of health facilities during the apartheid period in South Africa; and assessing the application of international human rights law in post-British Hong Kong.

Students complete written exercises during their internships, participate in briefing sessions before departing for their internship, and file an internship report upon completion of the internship. Preference is given to students with demonstrated interest in public interest law and/or international law. The International Human Rights Law course is not required prior to an internship. However, students who extern before taking the course are required to take it following their internships.

Marion County Public Health Externship (2 cr.) D802 Student externs will assist health department attorneys in enforcement of the Marion County Public Health Code in environmental court and drafting of health department regulations and contracts. (Application(s): Spring 2010)

National Labor Relations Board Externship (1-2 cr.) D802 This externship will require 120 hours per semester at Region 25 of the NLRB performing extensive duties relating to conducting National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections and enforcing the National Labor Relations Act through unfair labor practice procedures. Students who have taken Labor Law and achieved a grade point average of 2.7 or higher will be given priority in the selection process for this externship.

NCAA Externship (2 cr.) D802 Students provide assistance to either the membership or enforcement divisions of the NCAA, a national governing body for intercollegiate athletics. In the membership division, students will be involved in the interpretations of NCAA legislation and legislative research. In the enforcement division, they will work with attorneys in the investigation and prosecution of rule enforcement. Students spend sixty hours for each credit hour earned, which is approximately eight hours per week working under the supervision of attorneys. Students meet with the law school faculty supervisor during the semester and submit a paper summarizing their experience at the end of the semester. (Application(s): Spring 2010)

Not-for-Profit Corporations Externship (Community Development Law Center) (2 cr.) D802 Students provide assistance to nonprofit organizations in corporate matters such as preparing articles of incorporation, filing for tax-exempt status, and a variety of other issues. Students spend approximately eight hours per week working under the supervision of the attorneys. Students meet with the law school faculty supervisor during the semester, and submit a paper summarizing their experience at the end of the semester. (Application(s): Spring 2010)

Program on Law and State Government Externship Course (3 cr.) D802 Allows students the opportunity to learn about the practice of law within the state government setting with a combination of traditional classroom learning and an externship placement at one of a wide variety of law offices and agencies within the executive and legislative branches of Indiana's state government. The class meetings explore topics such as ethical considerations for the public lawyer, rulemaking and the administrative process, federalism and state sovereignty, state supported speech, and state budgeting issues. (Two of the course credits will be graded S/F, based upon satisfaction of externship requirements, with the remaining credit carrying a course grade based upon performance in the classroom component of the course.) http://indylaw.indiana.edu/programs/law_state_gov/externships.htm

Prosecution Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs work in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office gaining hands-on experience by working under the direction of supervising prosecutors. Students who are eligible for certification as legal interns may carry an actual case load and represent the State in court. Non-certified students may conduct legal research, draft motions, observe and critique trials, take witness statements, and participate in the fact investigation process. Through the externship placement and classroom discussions with other interns, students will gain a better understanding of the major legal, practical, and ethical issues associated with criminal law practice.

Public Defender Externship (2 cr.) D802 Externs work 120 hours during the semester under the supervision of public defenders in various local, state and federal courts of criminal jurisdiction interviewing clients and witnesses, investigating facts, and drafting legal documents. Students may also assist in trying criminal cases. There will be biweekly class meetings with faculty supervision. (Application(s): (Spring 2010)

Superior Court Externship (2 cr.) D802 Students serve as law clerk interns for one of the judges of the Marion Superior Court. Students are required to spend one day each week in their placement and attend three class meetings and two individual meetings with the professor. (Application: Spring 2010 | More info: Clinic web site)

The Julian Center Externship (2 cr.) D802 Students work at The Julian Center, a non-profit organization which provides assistance to survivors of domestic violence in family, consumer and immigration law cases. Students spend approximately eight hours per week working for the placement under the supervision of The Julian Center attorneys. Students meet with the law school faculty supervisor during the semester and submit several short papers summarizing their experience throughout the semester. Preference may be given to students with foreign language speaking ability, notably Spanish. (Application(s): Spring 2010)

U.S. Bankruptcy Law Externship (1or 2 cr.) D802 The externship is with the Office of the United States Trustee of the U.S. Department of Justice. Students will receive exposure to consumer bankruptcy law through examining basic bankruptcy case documents and observing meetings of creditors and court hearings in consumer cases; students will receive exposure to corporate reorganization law through examining Chapter 11 case documents and pleadings and observing meetings of creditors and court hearings in Chapter 11 cases. (Application(s): Spring 2010)