Ex. Federal Court Clerk EDNY

Externship Summary
The Federal Court Clerk Externship for the Eastern District of New York provides an in-depth examination of the functioning of the federal trial courts. Students will have the opportunity to work with a federal judge, draft opinions, and observe trials, oral arguments and hearings. The course will be taught by Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, who have extensive experience in federal court. Students who satisfy the course requirements will receive 2 academic credits and 2 clinical credits.

The Seminar
During the semester, students will meet weekly on Thursday evenings (6:20 pm-8:10 pm) at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District (located in Brooklyn Heights) to discuss a number of externship related topics, including: judicial decision-making in various contexts (i.e., settlements, motions, sentencings), judicial ethics, the externship experience, and effective advocacy in civil and criminal litigation. Two of the classes will consist of panel discussions on criminal and civil law with experienced litigators and judges. Students will also participate in practical criminal and civil advocacy exercises as part of the classroom component. The class sessions are mandatory, so students should take that into consideration when applying. Please note that travel time to Brooklyn Heights, where the U.S. District Court is located, and where class will be held, is approximately 45 minutes by subway from Morningside Heights.

The Placement
Students will be placed with a federal judge (either a District or Magistrate judge) in the Eastern District of New York. They will spend 10 hours per week working on judicial matters, with at least one day per week (or two half days) at the courthouse in Brooklyn. Working with their assigned judges, students will have the opportunity to conduct research, prepare written memoranda, draft judicial opinions, and observe judges and advocates engaged in trials, oral arguments and hearings in civil and criminal cases.