Externships, Clinics, Etc.

I want to try everything at Loyola Law School.

Assuming I work hard and smart, this is my game-plan: this summer, I extern at the Los Angeles Superior Court. This fall, I extern in United States Federal District Court. Next spring, I extern at the 9th Circuit of the Federal Court of Appeals. Next summer, I extern at the California Court of Appeal.

In other words, I want to building a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of our legal system by seeing it from multiple points of view. I want to develop my legal writing, continually. I want to be a legal activist.

After that, I work in public interest at a Loyola clinic: preferably civil rights, juvenile justice, and landlord-tenant law. Loyola requires forty hours of pro bono work—a wonderful excuse to do good.

I want to author amicus briefs, participate in Scott Moot Court, and other Loyola academic teams.

After graduation, I want to apply for clerkships. Then, I’ll practice real estate law. Then, after a few decades, I judge for a few more, and become a professor. I write books, textbooks, and highly acclaimed articles on many topics.

Remember, this game-plan presupposes discipline, diligence and luck. I can’t control the future. But I can control my present actions, and Loyola has given me the resources to succeed.

Loyola gives its students opportunities. Loyola hires distinguished professors, who are interested in social justice. Loyola helped me apply for externships. Loyola has almost weekly events, and vibrant on-campus clubs. Loyola alumni stick together.

Work hard first year, because 1L classes are common language to all lawyers. If you find the stuff interesting, good. If not, then don’t worry. Excellent lawyers don’t require excellent grades.

Classes can be challenging, but nothing worth striving for is easy. Pay attention in class. Ask questions to classmates. Read every page of assigned reading. And never sell yourself short. The opportunities are fertile at Loyola.

Glossary

• “Amicus Curiae” briefs are “friend of the court” briefs by interested, non-parties to the lawsuit.

• California state court includes the Los Angeles Superior Court, and the Court of Appeal [sic] for the Second District.

• “Clerkships” are judges’ lawyers. They write decisions for the Judges, as a paid court employee.

• “Clinics” are small service organizations, which specialize in specific areas of law.

• “Externships” are legal internships.