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Externships

Windsor Law Externship Program

Windsor Law’s Externship Program places students in law firms, non-profits, non-government organizations, courts, and community collectives under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. Students participate in a preparatory seminar and are provided both on-site and academic supervision throughout the term. The Externship Program incorporates work-integrated and skills-based learning alongside critical reflection, self-directed personal and career planning, focus on ethical and professional practice, and engagement with access to justice in theory and practice.

Windsor Law’s Externship Program consists of two distinct but complementary portions: a seminar course titled “Learning in Place” and the placement itself entitled “Externship Placement”.  The seminar will consist of pre-placement training, ongoing support and a final placement showcase. The Externship Program includes a competitive application process, an array of placement sites, and a seminar that integrates the academic and work-based components of the program. Placements will vary from term to term. Students must enrol in both the seminar and work portions simultaneously.

Windsor Law Externship Program Application (Winter 2025) 

Applications are now open for placements in Windsor Law's Externship Program Winter Term. The Externship Program places students for credit in clinics, firms, NGOs and other law-related placements. Students get hands-on experience in a supportive environment (4 credits), alongside an integration seminar (2 credits).  The course and placement take place simultaneously. Placement hours are negotiated directly with the supervising lawyer. Each placement is a unique experience; as such, please read placement profiles carefully. 

To view all the Placement participating in Winter 2025 Term please check out the Profile summaries on Symplicity and/or under the Placement Tab.  

Applications will be reviewed by the Externship Director in consultation with the Placement Supervisor. Successful applicants will be asked to complete an interview before they are selected for a position. Contact Professor Gemma Smyth with questions about this experience: gemma.smyth@uwindsor.ca.  

Apply via Qualtrics: Windsor Law Externship Program Application  (going live on Monday, October 7, 2024)

Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file when submitting: 

  • 1 page cover letter addressed to Professor Gemma Smyth describing why you would like to be selected for an Externship position. Provide highlights of your experiences and learning that would contribute to an Externship placement. If you are selected for a particular placement, you will be asked to edit your cover letter for next stage of the process. Please ensure you meet all requirements of the placements you choose;  

  • Your resume; 

  • Your transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice); and 

  • A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages. The 10 pages can be an excerpt from a longer piece. DO NOT use your Legal Research and Writing Memo. DO NOT use work that has been co-authored. Writing samples from previous undergraduate or graduate programs, blogs, short piece of writing from the Access to Justice course and/or reflections completed for Indigenous Legal Orders are acceptable. Please note the context in which you wrote the selected writing sample. 

 

Deadline for application is October 18th, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.    

Students must simultaneously enrol in both the seminar (5932-01) and placement (5933-01) portions of the program for a total of 6 credits (2 for the seminar, 4 for the placement).

In order to be prepared for success, please take a moment to review the documents on this page.

Weekly Submission of Hours

Externship Student Manual

Anti-Requisite Practice Exception Form

Insurance Form

Learning Agreement

Mid-term Self-Evaluation

End-of-Term Self-Evauation

Mental Health & Wellness at Windsor Law

Withdrawal Policy

 

 

A special thank you for your generous support

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Thank you for hosting a student extern from Windsor Law. In order to be prepared for success, please take a moment to review the documents on this page.

 

Professor Gemma Smyth is the Externship Director. 

You can contact the Clinical and Experiential Learning Coordinator at externship@uwindsor.ca.

Please fee free to reach out with any questions!

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