Levin College of Law Semester in Practice Information University of Florida Levin College of Law Semester in Practice Information Silvia Menendez, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning Sarah H. Wolking, Director of Externships

What is Semester in Practice? Semester in Practice allows third year law students to spend a full semester immersed in the practice of law, away from the law school. Semester in Practice is intended to help you develop academic and professional skills while also networking, and preparing for your career. This slide presentation outlines the rules for participating and answers common questions

How do I earn credit during SIP? To participate in Semester in Practice (SIP), you must be registered for at least 6 and no more than 10 externship credits. The cap for total externship credits taken during law school is 12. So, if you took 3 externship credits prior to SIP, you have 3 regular externship credits remaining. These 3 credits may be added to 6 SIP externship credits, so that you may register for a total of 9 externship credits during SIP. Additionally, as a SIP Participant, you are required to take the 2 credit Bridge to Practice course. You are automatically registered for B to P when you enroll in SIP.

What types of Externships are Appropriate for SIP? While participating in SIP, you may work for local, state and federal government agencies, public interest organizations, corporations, state appellate courts and judges, as well as federal judges and courts (trial or appellate). You may not receive SIP externship credit for work with private law firms or state trial courts. With limited exceptions, you may not participate in SIP while working in Gainesville.

May I work as a Certified Legal Intern (CLI) during SIP? If you have CLI clearance letter and your work site qualifies as a CLI placement, you may be eligible to work as a CLI during SIP. If you would like to work as a CLI, please contact Professor Wolking to verify that you have satisfied the necessary prerequisites and to confirm that the CLI placement is appropriate for SIP.

How do I find an Externship for SIP? Many positions that are appropriate for SIP are posted in Symplicity. Positions are added as they become available. Keep in mind that not all pre-approved or eligible externships are posted in Symplicity. Most students find positions based on either the area of law that they are interested in, or the location where they wish to practice law. You may want to meet with an academic and career advisor to discuss your options.

How many hours do I need to work for SIP? For each externship credit for which you are registered, you are required to work 45 hours (e.g., if you registered for 2 credits, you must work 90 total hours). Additionally, you are required to work for at least 12 of the 13 weeks of the semester, even if you are able to complete all of your hours sooner. If your externship site requests a shorter work period, you may request approval of a reduction in the number of weeks you work (but you may not reduce the hours requirement). Please determine your hours carefully. You may not change your externship credits after drop/add.

May I participate in SIP at a new externship site? You may request approval of a new SIP externship at a qualifying site. Approval is not guaranteed. For Spring SIP, you must submit an application for approval of new externship form on or before October 1. For Fall SIP, you must submit an application on or before May 1. The new externship site form can be found on the UF Law Externship web page. Please see Dean Menendez for more information.

May I be paid by my externship site? You may not be paid a wage or salary while doing an externship. However, with prior approval from the Dean Menendez, you may accept limited reimbursements, stipends, or fellowships from your site. You may also receive fellowships or other funding from a third party (a public interest fellowship). College of Law public interest stipends are not available during the fall or spring semester, and are only available if you are not registered for an externship.

How can I complete all of the credits and courses I need to graduate while doing a SIP? If you need to obtain additional credits during SIP you may: register for on-line classes through UF Law or the UF Graduate School; take classes as a visiting student at a law school near your externship; enroll in journal credits; or arrange for an independent study with a faculty member who is willing to help. If you plan to participate in SIP, you must confirm degree and credit requirements with the Office of Student Affairs. You will not be allowed to waive a graduation requirement in order to participate in SIP.

Important Deadlines To apply for SIP at a new externship site, you must submit a new externship site form no later than October 1st for spring SIP and no later than May 1st for fall SIP. To enroll in SIP during the spring semester, you must notify us of your plans to participate in an approved SIP externship no later than October 20th. For a Fall SIP, you must notify us no later than May 20th.

How do I Register for SIP or have an Externship approved? To notify us of your approved SIP plans, complete the questionnaire found here: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7qnnPfEkWIMnTn To request approval of a new externship site, email the completed new externship site form to: externships@law.ufl.edu Links to the questionnaire and the new externship site form are available on the law school externship page: https://www.law.ufl.edu/areas-of-study/experiential- learning/externships If your cumulative GPA is less than 3.0, you must meet with your Academic and Career Advisor and get approval of your schedule before you can register.

Contact Us!   Please contact Dean Menendez (menendezs@law.ufl.edu) or Professor Wolking (wolking@law.ufl.edu) with externship and Semester in Practice questions. If you have questions about your graduation requirements or the number of credits you need, please contact the Office of Student Affairs.