Program Details
Suffolk Law School has partnered with the University of Galway for an exciting program. In this program, Suffolk Law students will extern in the summer at various public interest organizations in Ireland in different cities in Ireland.
Suffolk Law students extern at various Irish organizations for approximately eight weeks. To the extent possible, our Galway affiliates will place students in organizations in Ireland which correspond with the students’ respective practice areas of interest. The externship placements will be predominantly in the public interest arena, including non-profits and government-related organizations. Students work full-time under the supervision of an attorney in the placement organization, as well as that of Professor Mary Sawicki.
Among other areas, past placements have included rights-based work associated with immigrants, women, children, disability, minorities, as well as dispute resolution, the environment, and international and comparative law. Practice areas are not necessarily limited to the aforementioned list, so students should indicate on their application their areas of interest for the externship.
Eligibility
DAY STUDENTS & HYBRID JD STUDENTS
Any day or hybrid JD student who meets all externship program requirements and has a GPA above 2.67 after the fall semester of their first year is eligible to apply for an externship to begin during the summer after their first year. Any day or hybrid JD student who has a GPA below 2.67 after the fall semester of their first year is ineligible to apply for an externship to begin during the summer after their first year. Thereafter, all day and hybrid JD students will be eligible to apply for externships, provided they meet all program requirements and are in good academic standing at time of their applications.
EVENING STUDENTS
Any evening student who meets all externship program requirements and has a GPA above 2.67 after their third semester is eligible to apply for an externship to begin during the spring of their second year. Any evening student who has a GPA below 2.67 after their third semester is ineligible to apply for an externship to begin during the spring of their second year. Thereafter, all evening JD students will be eligible to apply for externships, provided they meet all program requirements and are in good academic standing at the time of their applications.
ACCELERATED JD STUDENTS
Any day accelerated JD student who meets all externship program requirements and has a GPA above 2.67 after their first semester (summer) is eligible to apply for an externship to begin during the spring of their first full year (third semester). Any accelerated JD student who has a GPA below 2.67 after their first semester (summer) is ineligible to apply for an externship to begin during the spring of their first full year (third semester). Thereafter, all day accelerated JD students will be eligible to apply for externships, provided they meet all program requirements and are in good academic standing at the time of their applications.
Any evening accelerated JD student who meets all externship program requirements and has a GPA above 2.67 after their third semester (spring) is eligible to apply for an externship to begin during the following summer. Any evening accelerated JD student who has a GPA below 2.67 after their third semester (spring) is ineligible to apply for an externship to begin during the following summer.
How to Apply:
- Meet with Externship Director Professor Mary Sawicki
- Students submit a cover letter and resume to Professor Sawicki, indicating their particular areas of interest.
- Professor Sawicki forwards resume and cover letter to our Galway affiliates for consideration.
- Professor Sawicki schedules a ZOOM interview with the student and the placement if indicated by the placement.
- If a student is selected to participate in the externship, then Professor Sawicki provides to the student the online link to the externship application. Once the student submits the completed application Professor Sawicki notifies the student of the approval.
- Placements may be 3 credits. Students are responsible for all their own transportation and living expenses. Students must pay for academic credits in the summer. Scholarships/stipends may be offered to international summer externship students. Please consult with Professor Sawicki about possible scholarship/stipend requirements and availability.
- Students who are not participating in the Galway academic program are required to participate in a one credit externship class which is usually held virtually over three days the first week of the summer session. Please consult with Professor Sawicki about the details of the externship class.