1. The Individual Field Placement Program
Experiential Learning
Tailored for You
Professor Jennifer Mailly
Field Placement Program Director

2. What is an Individual Field Placement?
Experiential learning opportunity in which the student
Observes and performs legal work at a legal practice venue under supervision of an experienced attorney,
Receives feedback and opportunities for self-evaluation,
Reflects on that experience with guidance from a member of the faculty, and
Earns law school credit corresponding to the hours of work performed
Differs from other field placement courses in that there is no required classroom component (except for students seeking PBLR)

3. Credits Correspond to Hours Worked
Credits are earned at rate of 56 hours of individual field placement (IFP) work per credit
Academic year IFPs are generally 2 or 3 credits, 1 under limited circumstances
PBLR-satisfying IFPs must be at least 3 credits
Summer term IFPs may be up to 4 credits

4. Enrollment Restrictions
1L students may not enroll in an IFP until completion of first two semesters
Students may earn no more than a total of 8 credits for IFP and SRP combined, and no more than 3 IFP credits during an academic semester and more than 4 in summer
IFP credits are ungraded and count toward the maximum of 12 ungraded credits allowed toward degree
Students on F-1 and J-1 visas must obtain work authorization from UCONN’s ISSS

5. Satisfying the PBLR Individual field placements will satisfy PBLR if:
Student enrolls in IFP of at least 3 credits;
Student is concurrently enrolled in the one-credit Individual Field Placement Seminar
Seminar enrollment occurs during course selection, but field placement enrollment may occur later
Student does not need to have field placement secured when enrolling in seminar
Seminar enrollment triggers counseling meeting with Field Placement Program Director

6. Starting the Individual Field Placement Selection Process
Consider how an IFP fits into your overall course of study, your interests, and/or career plans
Practice areas
Legal skills
Practice venues
Geographical considerations

7. Identifying a Suitable Field Placement
Pursue field placements that meet your educational and career goals
Brainstorm plan of action with Field Placement Program Director
Review list of approved/prior field placements
Review other volunteer legal opportunities posted on Symplicity
Network at Career Center and CBA events, and at Law School symposia and conferences
Talk to faculty members and practicing attorneys

8. Field Placement Sponsors
Public Sector
State and federal court clerkships, administrative agencies and departments, municipal legal departments
Criminal Justice
US and state’s attorneys, public defense
Public Interest Organizations
General and specialized legal services
In-House Legal Departments
General counsel for corporate and institutional clients
Law Firms
General and specialized practices, mostly small

9. Securing a Field Placement
Contact potential field placements/supervisors
Explain your goals, interests, and availability
Provide any requested information: CV, writing sample, cover letter, transcript
Follow selection procedures – interview, references
If offered a position
Understand the practice opportunities available
Set a schedule maximizing your educational experience
Ensure that the field placement meets UCONN Law policies and new ABA Standards
Handle contacts/communications professionally

10. ABA Standards for Field Placement Courses (Formerly “Externships”)
A field placement course provides “substantial lawyering experience” that “is reasonably similar to the experience of a lawyer advising or representing a client or engaging in other lawyering tasks” under “the supervision of a licensed attorney” or person “otherwise qualified to supervise.”
Must also include
Opportunities for student performance, feedback and self-evaluation;
Written understanding setting out the roles of student and supervisors;
Faculty oversight of and communication with site supervisors;
Classroom component or other means of “ongoing, contemporaneous, faculty-guided reflection”; and
Evaluation of student’s educational achievement by a faculty member.

11. Field Placement Program Statement of Course Expectations
Sets out the roles and responsibilities of Student, Site Supervisor and Faculty Supervisor in assuring the educational quality of the field placement experience.
All participants in a field placement must certify to having read and understood the Course Expectations.
Incorporated by reference on the field placement approval form required for enrollment.

12. Enrollment Process and Deadlines
Enrollment requires a Field Placement Approval Form signed by the student, site supervisor and faculty supervisor.
Signatures indicate that parties have read and understood the Field Placement Course Expectations.
Approval forms must be submitted to the Field Placement Program Director no later than the end of the first week of the semester in which the student will enroll.
Late applications may be accepted but students may not earn credit for hours worked prior to the submission of a complete approval form.
Summer deadlines are more flexible, but the restriction on earning credit prior to submitting completed approval form still applies.

13. Securing a Faculty Supervisor
All IFPs must be supervised by a member of the full-time faculty.
For students taking the IFP seminar, the faculty supervisor is the seminar instructor.
Non-seminar students must contact faculty members they know through classes or other activities or organizations, or who teach in the areas of law relevant to the field placement.
The faculty supervisor must approve the student’s proposed field placement and the type of work that the student will be assigned (specific on placement approval form).
The faculty supervisor and student agree on the method by and frequency with which the student will submit journals and meet with the faculty supervisor during the field placement.

14. Orientation Program
All IFP students must attend an orientation program before beginning work at the field placement
Program covers
Enrollment process
Record-keeping and reporting requirements
Ethical and professional obligations
Student practice rules
Policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment and inappropriate romantic relationships
Strategies for success in the workplace
Evaluations

15. Recordkeeping Requirements
Weekly Work Logs
TWEN submissions describing time spent and nature of work done
Reflections or Journals
Seminar and non-seminar students must engage in “ongoing, contemporaneous, faculty-guided reflection”
Seminar students have periodic reflections built into seminar
Non-seminar students must submit quarterly journal entries to faculty supervisor, with copy to Field Placement Program Director

16. Receiving Credit for the Individual Field Placement
Complete work hours correlating to credits sought
Make timely submission of worklog and reflection requirements
Submit to Field Placement Program Director three evaluations:
Student
Placement Supervisor
Faculty Supervisor

17. Why do an Individual Field Placement?
Provides practice-based learning in substantive law, skills, and professional values
Provides bridge from law classroom to legal practice
Provides insight into career goals/preferences
Provides work references/letters of recommendation
Provides networking opportunities
Provides potential employment opportunities
Many students rate their field placement experience as a highlight of their legal education

18. Other Field Placement Options
The Semester in DC and Semester in NYC Programs offer full-time field placements and evening seminars in DC and NYC each Spring semester.
Other field placement courses:
The Center for Energy and Environmental Law
Legislative Field Placement Course
State’s Attorney’s Office
Some clinics, like CULI, may allow students the option of an individual field placement.
Some clinics and other field placement courses permit students the option of working at the practice site as an individual field placement
All partnership and specialized field placement courses have a specialized classroom component and satisfy PBLR, but may be offered only once a year and not in

19. Questions? Consult Individual Field Placement Program Webpage
Approval Forms, Course Expectations, and Answers to FAQ’s
Contact Prof. Jennifer Mailly, Field Placement Program Director

20. Go Explore the Field!