Elon University School of Law Announces New Partnership

Elon University School of Law Announces New Partnership

March 2, 2012 | Keri Brown

Elon University School of Law and The Washington Center have announced a partnership to provide law students with legal externship opportunities in the nation's capital.

Margaret Kantlehner, associate professor of law and director of the externship program at the university, said the program will provide a wide variety of learning opportunities.

“The new Washington Center - Elon University School of Law Externship Partnership Program allows students to spend a semester in residence in Washington D.C. working in a government law office or in a non-profit in- house councils office, 36 hours or more a week. They will also take evening courses that will augment what is happening during the day and allow them to get a full semester's credit for the program,” said Kantlehner. Students will also produce reflective writing pieces about their experiences.

Under American Bar Association rules, the law students can’t be paid for their academic credit externships.

Kantlehner said some of the participating agencies include the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Canadian Embassy. The schools current externship program offers opportunities for students to serve in dozens of state offices, as well as in a number of nonprofit organizations in North Carolina.

But Kantlehner said the new partnership with the Washington Center will include students from other law schools across the country.

“The faculty member in D.C. will be our adjunct faculty member - so we are offering that as our part of the partnership. The Washington Center and Elon will then invite 16 to 20 schools to join a consortium and send their students to the program, so not only are they being exposed to D.C. and new opportunities to public service but also to colleagues from different parts of the country with different backgrounds," said Kantlehner.

The first group of law students will begin the program this summer.