The goals of Externships are to provide students with opportunities to:
Some of these Externships require senior certification and others have course pre-requisites. For most Externships a student will get the best educational experience after having completed at least three semesters of law school course work before enrolling in the Externship. Course descriptions for available Interns can be found below.
Externships are graded on a "satisfactory"/"unsatisfactory" basis and are non-classroom hours. To satisfactorily complete an Externship you must:
If you have any questions about Externships in general, about any particular Externship, or about this information, please make an appointment with Professor Dickhute. If she is not in her office, you can reach her by e-mail at dickhute@creighton.edu or by phone at 280-5522 (leave a message).
The following externships qualify for 3 credit hours.
Alegent Health Operations Counsel, Regulatory Compliance & Privacy Office
LAW 504
The extern will participate in various opportunities in which the Privacy Office assesses applicable laws and standards [e.g., HIPAA, ARRA & HITECH, FACTA and various FTC guidance, FERPA, PCI, various state laws, Joint Commission standards, etc.], and develops, implements, and monitors organizational processes which address all facets of confidentiality and information security within the organization; impacting patient, client and resident privacy, as well as the privacy of employees and business associates. The extern will also have the opportunity to participate in investigating allegations of breach of confidentiality, learn the elements of a case, and help develop and implement immediate remedial measures - especially taking into account the technological advances in electronic record-keeping, the electronic medical record, and e-communication [including social media]. P: Administrative Law highly recommended.
City Attorney's Office Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 471
The externs work on the city's civil legal matters under the supervision of the City Attorney. Students are assigned to work in areas of employment discrimination; labor relations; housing and urban development; tort actions filed against the city; eminent domain; zoning; city politics; and administrative processes. P: Completion of three full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours).
Colorado Public Defender's Office, Fort Collins, Colorado
LAW 500-A
The Colorado Public Defender's Office in Fort Collins, Colorado, allows student externs the opportunity to work on criminal trials, prepare witnesses for direct and cross-examination, compile trial notebooks, research various criminal offenses, put together video depositions for use at trial, and attend criminal trials. This externship is available during summer session only. Students interested in this externship must apply by December. The supervising attorney at the site is solely responsible for the selection of the extern.
Creighton University Athletic Compliance Department
LAW 505
The anticipated job responsibilities for the externship at Creighton University Athletic Compliance Department include, but are not limited to the following: a) monitoring our student athletes' countable athletically related activities; b) drafting educational material regarding new legislation and NCAA official interpretations and positions; c) evaluating prospective student-athletes' applications and transcripts to ensure initial academic eligibility is intact; d) monitor student-athletes' academic progress as it relates to NCAA eligibility and progress-toward-degree requirements; e) drafting waiver requests, rules violation reports and institutional position statements as needed; f) ensuring that all camps and clinics held in institutional facilities meet NCAA and internal requirements; g) educating student-athletes and staff as needed on legal implications of behavior governed by NCAA rules and regulations; h) working with supervisor to re-draft our internal policies and procedures manual and the student-athlete handbook; i) updating all compliance related forms; and j) researching recently enacted legislation and case precedent involving academic, recruiting, eligibility, and financial aid issues.
District Court of Colorado, Fourth Judicial District, Colorado Springs, Colorado
LAW 500-G
This externship is available every summer to law students who have completed their first year of law school. Externs assist judges with research and writing tasks such as office memorandums, jury instructions, and case law updates. Externs observe trial court proceedings and attend field trips which have included visiting the El Paso County Probation Department, the Clerk of the District Court, the District Attorney?s Office, the Public Defender's Office, the County Jail and Forensic Lab and may include attending a court martial at the local Army base, meeting with the Office of the Guardian ad Litem, the City Attorney's Office, Municipal Court and the Office of Dispute Resolution. P: Interested students should apply directly to the Court during January of each year for the following summer. Contact Prof. Dickhute for information.
District of Iowa, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 466
The extern works in the office of the District Court Judge for the Fourth District of Iowa, researching issues before the court and writing memoranda for the judge and the judge's clerk. P: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours). Douglas County Attorney's OfficeLAW 475The externs work in the Douglas County Attorney's office on a variety of civil and criminal matters, including preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing; securities fraud; consumer protection; police reports; and coroners investigations. Externs are supervised by an Assistant County Attorney. P: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours). Douglas County CourtLAW 481Externs work as law clerks for the Judges of the Douglas County Court. They observe courtroom activity and do research on special projects and issues before the court.
Douglas County Attorney's Office
LAW 475
The externs work in the Douglas County Attorney's office on a variety of civil and criminal matters, including preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing; securities fraud; consumer protection; police reports; and coroners investigations. Externs are supervised by an Assistant County Attorney. P: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours).
Douglas County Court
LAW 481
Externs work as law clerks for the Judges of the Douglas County Court. They observe courtroom activity and do research on special projects and issues before the court.
Douglas County District Court
LAW 497
Externs work as law clerks for the Judges of the Douglas County District Court. They observe courtroom activity and do research on special projects and issues before the court.
Douglas County Public Defender's Office
LAW 472
The extern works under the direction of the Douglas County Public Defender researching and drafting motions, briefs, and appeals; interviewing witnesses; and participating in hearings. The student becomes familiar with criminal work by actually working in the area. P: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours).
Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County, Chicago, Illinois
LAW 500-F
Legal externs are exposed to a variety of legal scenarios that are not always available to them in a classroom setting. They have the opportunity to observe the practical application of legal principles in a courtroom. They will observe settlement conferences; arguments on Motion in Limine; jury selection; as well as the entirety of a trial and any post trial issues that arise. They will conduct legal research and writing on issues that arise during a trial. This externship is available only during summer session.
Immigration Customs Enforcement
LAW 450
This externship will expose the student to substantive areas of immigration law and regulations regarding removal, asylum, waivers, citizenship and family-based petitions, and how those are applied in actual cases. The student will be given insight into the structure and functions of a federal government law enforcement agency. The student will interact with immigration officers, immigration attorneys, and immigration judges and their staffs and learn the necessary skills to do so. The student will learn removal proceedings from the investigative, to the hearing phases, and through the appellate phases. Under the appropriate circumstances, the senior-certified student would learn and apply advocacy before immigration judges in bond and removal proceedings. P: Student must be a United States citizen to take this externship.
Areas of Concentration: International & Comparative Law
Iowa Legal Services, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 480
Under the supervision of Iowa attorneys, law students represent low-income Iowans in civil legal matters. The students are primarily responsible for interviewing clients, investigating facts of the case, settlement negotiations, drafting pleadings, motions and briefs; and representing clients in court appearances. Representative cases include consumer law, landlord/tenant law; administrative law (including hearings in unemployment compensation, social security disability, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government benefit cases); family law; torts; and a wide variety of other civil legal problems. P: Completion of at least three full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours). This course is a related course in the Litigation Concentration.
Iowa Public Defender, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 461
This externship provides the student with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the practice of law as a State Public Defender. The focus is exclusively on the representation of the indigent in criminal and juvenile court in Council Bluffs. It provides experience in criminal practice and procedure, evidence, trial advocacy, constitutional law, and juvenile law and procedure. P: Completion of at least three full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours), Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence. Juvenile Law would be helpful, but is not required.
Jennie Edmundson Hospital Counsel's Office, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 465
This externship will expose one student each semester to the many diverse legal issues of the health care setting, including contracts, malpractice, general liability, labor/employment, federal/state regulation, and antitrust; will give the student practical experience in preparing to defend a legal claim, from initial investigation to actual trial; will teach the student the techniques of contract negotiation, drafting, and review; will give the student experience writing legal memoranda, hospital policies and procedures for compliance with federal and state regulations, and various other legal documents such as consents, authorizations for release of information and hold harmless agreements; and will allow the student to acquire the abilities necessary to intervene in ethical disputes, where legal reasoning must be balanced with considerations of individuals rights and societal needs. P: Preference given to students who have completed at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours).
Judge Advocate General's Office
LAW 477
Externs work in various aspects of the legal office for Offutt Air Force Base, including criminal justice (prosecutorial only); tort/civil liability; administrative law (labor, equal opportunity, environmental); contract law; and providing general legal assistance to active duty personnel. A Deputy Staff Judge Advocate educates and works with the student extern. P: Limited to students with existing military clearance.
Justice For Our Neighbors
LAW 416
Justice For Our Neighbors is an outreach ministry of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. It provides high-quality, accessible, free, immigration legal services to non-citizens. Externs will work with clients of varying ethnicities and economic backgrounds in need of immigration services. They will complete client intakes, do research, complete immigration forms, compose letters for filings, attend court with the attorney, draft briefs and motions, and complete other types of case-related legal work. Externs will work primarily on removal defense cases, asylum applications, waiver applications and/or applications for immigration protection under the Violence Against Women Act. P: Preference will be given to students who have taken Immigration Law and who speak Spanish.
Juvenile Court Douglas County
LAW 476
The extern works under the supervision of Judges of the Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court. The extern observes Courtroom activity and researches special projects and issues before the Court.
Juvenile Court Sarpy County
LAW 476
The extern works under the supervision of the Judge of the Sarpy County Juvenile Court, doing research, writing, and other work deemed beneficial to the Juvenile court. The student will become familiar with juvenile process by actually working in the area.
Legal Aid of Nebraska
LAW 479
Under the supervision of Nebraska attorneys, law students represent low-income persons in civil legal matters. The students are primarily responsible for interviewing clients; investigating the facts of the case; settlement negotiation; drafting pleadings, motions and briefs; and representing clients in court appearances. Representative cases include consumer law; landlord/tenant law; administrative law (including hearings in unemployment compensation, social security disability, Medicare, Medicaid, and other governmental benefit cases); family law; torts; and a wide range of other civil legal problems. P: Preference given to students who have completed at least three full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours).
Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Phoenix, Arizona
LAW 500-D
Each extern is placed with a prosecutor who supervises the extern and assigns tasks for the extern to complete. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has over fifteen specialized bureaus. Externs remain in the same bureau throughout the summer. Responsibilities assigned to externs include such things as researching and preparing pre-trial memoranda, responding to criminal defense motions, and contacting victims and witnesses regarding interviews, trial dates and various other matters. Externs also prepare trial exhibits, observe felony jury trials, and handle some limited court matters under the supervision of a licensed attorney, provided the extern is certified under Rule 38 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona. P: Rule 38 Arizona requires that a student must have completed the equivalent of three law school semesters before he or she can be certified to appear in the courtroom under a licensed attorney's supervision. The externship site is available only during the summer session. Interested students must interview in person at the externship site. The site supervisor is solely responsible for selection of externs.
Marshall Center for Strategic Studies, Garmisch, Germany
LAW 500-C
The Marshall Center specializes in the teaching of security law and the law governing international terrorism. Externs have the opportunity to attend hearings at The Hague and the International Court of Criminal Justice; create teaching materials and web programs for classes on international security and terrorism at the Center, and participate in live discussions with both civilian and military attorneys and international policy makers about the war on terrorism and international standards for use of the death penalty. Externs may conduct research in numerous areas dealing with international human rights, and international collective defense. Externs can work on helping to develop course materials, attend conferences on international law, security and terrorism and continue to visit and attend international law proceedings. P: Classes in international law are highly recommended. The externship site is solely responsible for the selection of externs. Applications must be made at least three months in advance of the externship semester.
Methodist Health Systems
LAW 494
This externship provides students an opportunity to work under the supervision of the Vice President of Administrative Affairs/Corporate Compliance at Methodist Health System. The extern will be exposed to diverse legal issues in the health care setting, including Medicare/Medicaid; antitrust; labor/employment; and, federal/state regulation. The extern will gain practical experience in preparing to defend a legal claim, from initial investigation to actual trial. The extern will attend a variety of operational meetings on legal compliance issues. A student who has taken Administrative Law and/or Health Care Law or who has prior work experience in the medical area will get the most benefit from this externship.
Mosaic, Inc.
LAW 502
Mosaic, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Omaha that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Presently Mosaic has offices in 14 states and four countries. The student externs at Mosaic would work with the vice-president for legal support a) conducting legal research on various topics including federal and state statutes which affect developmentally disabled individuals, b) helping to create a monthly newsletter by drafting regulatory compliance-related articles, c) working to manage and resolve claims filed against the organization or potential claims including interviewing witnesses, conducting investigations and drafting discovery responses.
Near East South Asia (NESA), Washington, D.C.
LAW 503
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies in located at the University of National Defense in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the NESA Center is to further communications and understanding between military and civilian representatives of the governments and private sectors of the countries in the Near East and South Asia dealing with international security and the law of terrorism. A student extern would be working with a permanent member of the faculty at the NESA Center to create conference materials and conduct research on a) politically-motivated violence, b) legislation designed to combat violence and terrorism, c) security issues affecting counties in the region, and d) recent opinions of the International Court of Justice dealing with security and terrorism. The externship site is solely responsible for the selection of externs.
Nebraska Innocence Project
LAW 400
In working with attorneys to identify and exonerate individuals who have been wrongly convicted of serious crimes, externs will perform five primary types of work assignments: intake screening, case reviews, factual investigations, legal and scientific research, and legal writing. Potential clients are incarcerated individuals who allege innocence and who no longer have a right to court-appointed counsel. Externs will screen inmate claims by reading and reviewing pre-trial and trial transcripts and post-conviction decisions and records to determine whether inmates have believable, provable, and procedurally viable claims of innocence. They will present "good cases" to the Project Board. Externs will work on cases the Project accepts. Externs will investigate claims, research issues, and prepare documents. Externs may have opportunities to visit clients in prison, to visit the forensic lab, and to prepare and present legal arguments to the court. P: Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure. (Students may be enrolled in these courses concurrently with the Externship, but preference will be given to students who have completed these courses and who have also completed or are enrolled in Scientific Evidence and Post-Conviction Relief). Areas of Concentration: Criminal Law & Procedure
Nebraska State Legislature
LAW 498
The extern works under the supervision of a state senator doing substantive legal research in conjunction with legislative bills. The student will examine legal precedent, case law, and the statutes of other states for use in the development of public policy. This externship is available only in the spring semester.
Omaha City Prosecutor's Office
LAW 473
The extern assists the City Prosecutor in the preparation and presentation of criminal cases. Students do research on police work and all aspects of criminal procedure. They observe various court proceedings including bond settings, arraignments and trials. For the best learning experience, the student should have blocks of free time on Tuesdays and Thursdays to be spent at the externship.
Pottawattamie County Attorney's Office, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 489
In the Pottawattamie County Attorney's Office externs work mostly on criminal, and occasionally, civil issues. Externs handle hearings, trials and sentencings mainly on misdemeanor cases, and do research and briefs on all cases, including major felonies. Externs occasionally are permitted to do jury trials on misdemeanor cases. Externs are supervised by the county attorney and assistant county attorneys. P: Completion of at least three full-time semesters of law school.
Sarpy County Court
LAW 464
Externs work as law clerks for the Judges of the Sarpy County Court. They observe courtroom activity and do research on special projects and issues before the court. They visit the Sarpy County District Court and Juvenile Court as well as administrative agencies within the Sarpy County Court System.
Sarpy County Attorney's Office
Law 506
The extern will work in the Sarpy County Attorney's office on a variety of civil and criminal matters:
Criminal Division: In court assignments such as arraignments, preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencings; Out of court assignments such as research and writing of briefs and memoranda, case preparation, working with PowerPoint to create presentations for trials
Civil Division: Assignments will include topics related to securities fraud, consumer protection, zoning, land use planning, civil litigation support, and coroner investigations.
Externs are supervised by a Deputy County Attorney. Prospective candidate qualifications: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours) or "Senior Certified".
United States Attorney's Office, Council Bluffs, Iowa
LAW 483-Section B
The student at this externship will conduct legal research and writing on primarily criminal and some civil matters pending in federal court, observe court proceedings and once senior-certified, represent the United States in matters pending before federal courts. The extern will participate in factual investigations, prepare discovery and responses to discovery, and work on grand jury matters as appropriate. Prerequisites: Extern must be a U.S. citizen, and have completed three full-time semesters, or their equivalent. Extern must have successfully completed classes in Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Professional Responsibility and be in the top third of the class.
United States Attorney's Office, Omaha NE
LAW 483-Section A
Under the rules of practice for the United States Court for the District of Nebraska, the student externs are allowed to hold consultations, prepare documents for filing and make limited appearances in court under the supervision of the United States Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney while representing the United States in any civil or criminal matters. Students participating in this program are required to receive FBI clearance. P: Completion of at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours). United States citizenship is a pre-requisite.
United States Bankrupcty Court
Law 484
The Bankruptcy Court externship requires the extern to read and summarize Bankruptcy Court decisions by drafting short summaries or abstracts of each opinion written by the Court, incorporating Bankruptcy Code sections, key legal terms and other words likely to be used in a text search by practitioners conducting research on the issues raised in the opinion. The extern would also have an opportunity to attend court hearings and conduct other legal research as needed by the Bankruptcy Court. P: Student must have taken Debtor-Creditor Relationships.
United States Bankruptcy Trustee
LAW 469
The extern works under the supervision of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee for the District of Nebraska, doing research and preparing memoranda on selected questions of bankruptcy-related law; reviewing potential criminal referrals; reviewing financial information of debtors to determine compliance with the Bankruptcy Code; and observing courtroom proceedings. P: Secured Transactions in Personal Property; Debtor-Creditor Relations.
United States Court of Appeals
LAW 490
The externship is limited to one law student each semester. The extern will work in the office of the Honorable William J. Riley of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, researching issues before the court, preparing bench memoranda and indexing opinions.
United States District Court, District of Nebraska, Omaha
LAW 491
The externs work in the offices of Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, researching issues before the court, writing memoranda for the judges and their clerks, and observing courtroom procedures including civil and criminal cases.
United States District Court, District of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada
LAW 500-E
The externship with the United States District Court, District of Nevada, requires the extern to review case files and conduct research on legal issues raised in both criminal and civil cases. The extern will report the results of his or her research in the form of office memorandum or face-to-face discussions with the supervising judge. The extern may also contribute to draft orders as requested by the judge. The extern will attend court hearings and trials, conduct research on questions raised during these proceedings, aid in the creating of jury instructions and may contribute to the judge's trial notebook as needed. (Available in summer only by application to court directly. The court determines if any applicant will receive the externship.)
United States Immigration Court, Omaha
LAW 501
The judicial extern at this site will assist two immigration judges by 1) writing legal memoranda, 2) conducing in-depth legal research and analysis on issues raised by parties before the court and 3) drafting judicial decisions. The externship offers extensive exposure to asylum and removal law and courtroom procedure. Coursework and/or experience in immigration law preferred. P: United States citizenship required. The externship site is solely responsible for the selection of the extern.
United States Magistrate's Office
LAW 493
The externs work in the offices of the United States Magistrate Judges and are involved in research, writing and dialogue with the magistrates on the full range of civil and criminal cases referred to them under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 636.
United States Public Defender
LAW 462
This externship provides students with a thorough practical knowledge of the legal work performed by attorneys in the Federal Public Defender's Office on behalf of indigent persons accused of federal crimes. Duties may include meeting with clients and witnesses, investigating crimes and possible defenses, researching and writing motions and briefs, drafting correspondence, reviewing discovery and preparing for court appearances. P: Preference will be given to students who have completed at least four full-time semesters of law school (or the equivalent hours); Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure.
UNO Athletic Compliance
LAW 507
The University of Nebraska Omaha is an NCAA Division I member institution, which sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, and is a member of the highly competitive Summit League Conference. Our goal is to enhance the regional and national reputation of UNO by demonstrating excellence in academics and athletics while operating our program with integrity. From this externship experience, law students will gain an appreciation for the role of an attorney within an intercollegiate athletic department. Law Externs will work under the direct supervision of the Director of NCAA Compliance, and will receive practical experience in the area of sports law and intercollegiate athletic administration. To that end, Externs should expect to be involved with issues concerning ethical conduct, amateurism, recruiting, student-athlete eligibility, athletic scholarship awards, sport playing and practice seasons, the NCAA legislative process, and NCAA division classification requirements. These issues will be addressed by interpreting NCAA and Conference bylaws, drafting and presenting educational material, investigating rules violations, as well as monitoring the day-to-day activities of the athletic department.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of 1L year; Strong academic record and research and writing skills.
Preferred Qualifications: Successful completion of: Contracts, Administrative Law, Sports Law, Entertainment Law, Labor Law, and/or Employment Law; Former student-athlete or students with athletics background strongly encouraged to apply.