Health Law Externship FAQ
What is the benefit of a health law externship?
1. Perspective. The largest benefit of a health law externship is for students to learn what it is like to practice health law or to practice other types of law in a health-care environment.
2. Resume Value. Legal employers respond favorably to externships. The experience serves as a reliable discussion topic during interviews.
3. Networking. The best contacts made during an externship are with the supervising attorneys and staff.
What do externs do?
It depends on the organization for which you extern. Most students can expect to do some legal research and writing, observe proceedings, and attend meetings with the supervising attorney.
How do I get a health law externship?
Students apply directly to the hospital or other health care organization for these externships.
Students must have their externship arranged before applying for academic credit. As a general rule:
For fall externships, it is best to send out your applications by June 15.
For spring externships, it is best to send out your applications by November 1.
For summer externships, it is best to send out your applications by February 15.
When should I apply for an externship?
Apply for enrollment in the Health Law Externship Clinic I and the Public Interest Workplace courses with the on-line application located on this website.
Once your application has been approved by Prof. Bonadero, she will register you for both the Health Law Externship Clinic I and the Public Interest Workplace courses.
Students must have secured their externship and applied for the courses PRIOR to the normal semester enrollment deadlines.
When applying for a Health Law Externship for the SUMMER semester(s), note that the Public Interest Workplace course is offered in a concentrated workshop format the week immediately after spring finals, and is conducted online thereafter for the remainder of the semester(s). Please plan accordingly for any vacations you might wish to take, as well as the start date of your externship field work.
What organizations should I consider?
First, determine the type of experience and exposure you want. The clinic has binders containing previous extern evaluations of their externship experiences. This is a valuable tool for students in determining which organizations might be of most interest.
Can I only get credit for externing with local organizations?
If you are interested in a placement that is not on this list, please contact Professor Erma Bonadero at ecbonade@central.uh.edu to ensure the placement meets the Law Center’s requirements for academic credit.
What will the interview be like?
Depending on the organization, you may interview with one attorney or with several attorneys. No matter who interviews you, always display respect toward the staff and be sure to conduct research on the organization prior to the interview.
What should I wear to an interview?
Always wear formal business attire when interviewing. The key is to dress conservatively. This includes dark suits, white shirts, and conservative ties for men, and dark suits, collared shirts, and panty hose for women.
What do I have to do to get credit?
- You must have finished your first year of law school and you must have a minimum 2.7 GPA at the time you apply for credit.
- Secure your position with the placement of your choice.
- Apply for enrollment in the Externship and the Public Interest Workplace courses with the on-line application located on this website. Applications will be reviewed and you may or may not be called for a personal interview. You will be notified of admission to the courses via email prior to the deadline for enrollment.
- Once accepted, you must, at a minimum:
a) Perform legally substantive work during the course of the semester (which may include a certain amount of observation of proceedings)
b) Attend, participate in and complete requirements of the 1 credit, graded course
c) Spend a minimum of 60 hours per credit hour working at your placement and provide a detailed log of your time.
How do I register for the courses?
Once your application has been approved by the externship supervisor, we will register you for both the Externship and the Public Interest Workplace courses. Students must have secured their externship and applied for the courses prior to the normal semester enrollment deadlines.
How many credits are the courses?
Students must be enrolled in the 1-credit, graded Public Interest Workplace course in conjunction with their externship. Students may receive 3 or 4 credit hours for the externship, which is a minimum of 180 hours or 240 hours at the placement, respectively. Keep in mind the externship credits fall within the non-substantive credit cap; the 1-credit course does not. If you have questions about the cap for non-substantive hours, please contact Derrick Gabriel.
When is the classroom component scheduled?
Schedules will be announced as they become available. In general, the course meets for at least seven weeks during the fall and spring semesters. The course is offered in a concentrated two-day session the week after finals for the summer.
Still feel like you need more guidance or information?
Stop in and talk with the externship supervisor:
Professor Erma Bonadero
(713) 743-2531
ecbonade@central.uh.edu.
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