In the Northwest Territories Judicial Internship, students are responsible to Justices of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. This Internship is an unparalleled opportunity for full-time learning with a Court. Students will earn fifteen credits toward their law degree over the course of the term. Internship placements are available in the Fall and Winter terms.
- One student per term is selected for this placement.
- Students may not complete additional coursework during this placement.
- Students must be able to be in the Northwest Territories for the entire term (September-December or January-April).
- Students spend most of their time in Yellowknife, but may also have the opportunity to travel to other courts across the territory.
- Although regular tuition applies for this Internship, funds have been allocated to cover some expenses incurred.
- Applications are collected in the Summer for the Fall term and in early Fall for the Winter term.
"The NWT Judicial Internship is like an extended intensive course in criminal procedure, family law and child protection, civil procedure, judicial reasoning, and the legal profession all-in-one. I had the unique privilege to learn under four experienced Justices. To anyone on the fence about applying, you should go for it. Despite the distance, the support of Windsor Law made me feel that no challenge was mine alone to bear."
Asvini Kulanayagam
Windsor Law, Class of 2024
2023 Northwest Territories Judicial Intern
Law 2 and 3 students who have completed their required courses are eligible for this placement. The Supreme Court of the NWT suggests that students complete Evidence before participating in the program.
The following documents should be prepared into one pdf file for your online application:
- A one-page cover letter addressed to Prof. Gemma Smyth, Externship Director, describing why you would like to be selected for the NWT Judicial Internship position. Provide highlights of your experiences and learning that would contribute to an Internship placement. Be sure to include information relevant to the placement;
- Your resume;
- Your transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice); and
- A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages, double-spaced. DO NOT use your Legal Research and Writing memo. DO NOT include co-authored pieces. Writing samples from previous undergraduate or graduate programs, blogs, short piece of writing from Access to Justice Course, and/or reflections for Indigenous Legal Orders are acceptable. Please note the context in which you wrote the selected writing sample.
- If you need any accommodations to apply for this program, please email externship@uwindsor.ca.
Apply via Symplicity
Fall 2025 applications are due in early June.
Students will receive 15 credits for the term
- 9 credits will be assigned to your work, which will be documented in a log book on a weekly basis. This portion will continue to be assessed by the Supervising Judge in consultation with the Externship Program Director as required, on a Pass-Fail basis, at the end of term.
- 3 credits will be assigned to a paper completed over the term. The paper will be assessed by the Supervising Judge with a numerical grade.
- 3 credits will be assigned to guided reflective exercises. These assignments will be assessed with a numerical grade.
This experience satisfies both the perspective course and research paper component for JDs.
Students are entitled to an $8000 grant to support the internship. In order to arrange for this, an invoice must be sumitted to UWindsor.
For all reimbursable expenses, receipts should be saved. The expeses should be recorded on the NWT Expense Tracking spreadsheet that is submitted monthly.
NWT Judicial Internship Student Manual
Gemma Smyth is the Externship Director and also directs the Judicial Internships.
Questions can be directed to externship@uwindsor.ca.
Thoughts from former Northwest Territory Interns
“I learned all about the inner workings of a Court that a text book could never provide.”
Alexander M. Voudouris
Senior Litigator, Pace Law Firm
Windsor Law, Class of 1989
1989 Northwest Territories Clerkship
“The Northwest Territories Clerkship program was unquestionably the greatest experience during my time at Windsor Law. My experience broadened my understanding of Canadian law, barriers to access to justice, and the skills necessary to be a successful and effective oral advocate.”
Madeleine C. Godard
Windsor Law, Class of 2012
2011 Northwest Territories Clerkship
"To have the opportunity to travel the north with the Judges, lawyers, court staff etc. was an absolutely once in a lifetime unforgettable experience. I completely fell in love with the North and would have most certainly stayed had I not had a child back in Newfoundland in University. I could spend hours talking about my experiences there and will certainly never forget that time in my life. What a gift to have been able to do that and especially while still a student. It is an experience that you would never get while traveling the North as a tourist."
Tina Baker
Windsor Law, Class of 2007
"The most memorable part of my UWindsor experience has been the semester that I spent in the Windsor Law-Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories Clerkships Program... The program, practical learning experience and exposure far surpassed anything that I could have imagined... I am confident that I will carry these experiences with me for the duration of my career."
Cheryl-Anne Pine
Windsor Law, Class of 2011