How are my hours tracked?
You will track your hours using the Hour Log function in 12twenty. See the separate Guidelines for Logging Externship Placement Hours and 12twenty instructions.
Can I carry over hours from one semester to another?
No, hours cannot be carried over. Hours must be accrued during the semester, from the first day of the semester to the last day of classes.
Can I work more hours in my placement than what I enrolled for? And can I work outside the semester dates?
Yes, you can work more hours if your placement allows you to and you can work outside the semester dates. As noted above, these hours will not count towards your externship hours. However, depending on the type of placement, additional qualifying hours that are not for credit may count towards the Syracuse College of Law Pro Bono Recognition Program. If
you find yourself working a lot more hours than you anticipated, you can add additional placement credits during the semester (but before the last day of classes).
Note that as a JDi student, you need to remain under 12 credits total (unless you have a waiver) and you will pay additional tuition for each credit. As an on-campus J.D. student, you need to remain under 17 credits total.
Can I work less hours in my placement than what I enrolled for?
No, you will not be able to work less hours because you will not meet the credit hour requirements. If you do not think that you will be able to meet the required number of hours, you need to drop credits before the financial drop deadline (posted in the academic calendar). This is done using the online student service request form (Registrar’s Office).
Do my externship hours need to be on a fixed weekly basis?
No, your hours for the externship are determined between you and your placement supervisor. You must meet the hourly requirement for the credits you have registered for by the end of the semester. The cumulative total is what counts, not the weekly totals. Example: one week you may have 0 hours while another week you may have 25 hours. Your hour logs should reflect this.
How do I secure an externship?
- Through opportunities posted on 12Twenty (Job Postings and Spring and Fall OCIs)
- Through your own research, outreach and connections.
- Need help securing a placement: e-mail lawexternships@syr.edu
What is the externship seminar?
The externship seminar is the one credit, faculty led component of the experience. It is a majority asynchronous course, with at least two-four live class sessions. The purpose of the seminar is to encourage goal setting and reflection on issues that arise in a practice setting. Seminars are the same for every externship placement and graded as Pass/Fail. The seminar is
required every semester you take an externship.
How is the externship placement graded?
The placement is graded as Pass/Fail. The grade is based on the achievement of the required hours, your timely submission of timesheets, and evaluative feedback provided by your supervisor.
Can I extern with my current employer?
Yes, as long as the work is different and is “substantial lawyering.” In the justification section of 12twenty, describe your current job responsibilities and title, and the name/contact information of your current direct supervisor. Delineate the number of hours you plan to carve out from your typical employment on a weekly basis to account for the additional
externship duties and identify the additional externship duties that will be “substantial lawyering” work. Provide the name and contact information of your externship supervisor (who needs to be an attorney).
Does an externship count towards the experiential learning requirements for the NYS Bar?
Yes, both the externship placements credits and the one credit seminar count towards the NYS Bar experiential learning requirements. Please note that non-academic summer placements may qualify for up to 6 credits of experiential learning for NYS. A separate NYS affidavit needs to be completed and submitted to the SU College of Law Registrar Office directly by the supervisor. Contact lawexternships@syr.edu for more information.
How do I create an account on 12Twenty?
Reference the 12Twenty Student Toolkit.
How do I enter my externship information into 12Twenty?
Reference the 12Twenty Externship Process for Students.