University of Florida Levin College of Law Semester in Practice Information - Spring 2021
Semester in Practice (SIP) at the University of Florida Levin College of Law is an intensive externship experience allowing third-year law students to immerse themselves in real-world legal practice. Participants can earn between 6 to 10 externship credits and are required to take a 2-credit Bridge to Practice course. SIP opportunities range from working with government agencies to federal judges, excluding private law firms and Gainesville-based placements. Eligible students may also serve as Certified Legal Interns (CLIs) with proper clearance. Approval for new externship sites can be requested through the provided form.
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University of Florida Levin College of Law Semester in Practice Information Spring 2021 SILVIA MENENDEZ, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SARAH H. WOLKING, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNSHIPS
What is Semester in Practice? Semester in Practice (SIP) is an intensive externship experience. SIP allows third year law students to spend a full semester immersed in the practice of law, away from the law school. SIP is intended to help you develop academic and professional skills while also networking, and preparing for your career. For the 20-21 academic year, we are allowing remote externship and SIP placements. This slide presentation outlines the rules for participating in SIP and answers common questions
How many credits can 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 may register for a total of 9 externship credits during SIP. In addition to the externship credits, 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 a CLI clearance letter and your placement 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.
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. The new externship site form can be found on the UF Law Externship web page. Please see Dean Menendez or Professor Wolking for more information. The new externship form should be completed by the proposed site supervisor.
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. A list of prior SIP placements is posted on Symplicity in the Document Library under Resources. You should meet with your academic and career advisor to discuss your options, and ensure that you will meet all of your graduation requirements.
How many hours do I need to work while enrolled in SIP? For each credit you register for, 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 can complete all of your hours sooner. If your externship site requests a shorter work period, you may request approval of a reduced number of weeks, but you may not reduce the hours requirement. Please determine your hours carefully, particularly if your SIP externship will be remote. You may not change your externship credits after drop/add.
May I be paid by my externship site? If your externship site will only allow paid externs (for Fair Labor Standards Purposes), then you may be paid for your work. The site still must agree that the primary purpose of your externship is educational. 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.
Deadlines You should request registration or review of a new externship site as early as possible. You can only register once you have finalized an approved placement. Advanced registration for the spring is in November. Finding your spring SIP placement before registration is preferable, but you may register after advanced registration. If prior to registration you are planning on participating in SIP, but have not finalized your placement, please let Professor Menendez or your advisor know of your plans.
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 your Academic and Career Advisor.
