Constitutional and Affirmative Litigation Externships

Nika Cohen, George Kendall, and Carine Williams, Lecturers-in-Law, 4 credits (2 for the seminar; 2 for placement work)
Available in: Fall 2026

Course Description
This externship will focus upon the real world advocacy of federal constitutional rights in capital and life imprisonment cases and the legal doctrines that are most significant in this critical work. Students will be assigned to work within a unique public service practice group - the Squire Patton Boggs Public Service Initiative (PSI) - where they will work on behalf of indigent clients challenging death sentences or life imprisonment. Students may also have the opportunity to assist with litigation and advocacy related to broader criminal justice reform efforts. Students’ work will vary depending on case needs but typically involves one or more of the following: providing legal, policy, record-based and sometimes media/social media research; conducting fact investigation; or assisting with trial/hearing prep. The class will ordinarily meet at Squire's midtown offices on Friday from 1:00pm-2:50pm. Occasionally, the class may meet at Columbia Law School (for example when a guest speaker's presentation would be of interest to a large portion of the law school community).

The Seminar
The weekly seminar will utilize court decisions, PSI case materials, legislative activity, journalism, legal news, and research materials to explore how the enforcement of constitutional rights is effectuated or thwarted in courtrooms and legislatures around the country. The focus will be on understanding the constitutional rights implicated in capital and serious criminal prosecutions and understanding how post-conviction doctrines facilitate or fail to facilitate their enforcement. The seminar will also seek to develop the skills of students through in-class exercises that engage students in the advocacy required of practicing attorneys and policymakers in this field.  The semester ends with final “mini-class” taught by every student on a relevant topic, with guidance from their field supervisor.

Placement Work
Our litigation practice focuses primarily on capital and life imprisonment cases in the Southeast. Placement work will be devoted to indigent PSI clients, or to counsel of record or amici supporting indigent petitioners before the Supreme Court. Students will be assigned to an attorney's case team in groups of two or three.  Client visits or some case work may involve travel, but travel is not required of any student.

Important Information
The course will be limited to 8-9 students and will be open to JD and LL.M candidates. It is recommended that students take Evidence, Criminal Procedure and/or Federal Courts prior to, or concurrently with, this course.

Stephanie Krent, Lecturer-in-Law, 4 credits (2 for the seminar; 2 for placement work)
Available: Fall 2026 & Spring 2027

Course Description
The externship will center on the Knight Institute’s strategic litigation efforts to define and defend First Amendment freedoms in the digital age. Students will work with Knight Institute attorneys to develop cutting-edge First Amendment challenges while examining and evaluating the role of the First Amendment in new digital societies. They will focus on the Knight Institute’s current litigation docket, including cases relating to public officials’ use of social media, the rights of digital journalists and researchers to investigate social media and other online platforms, government surveillance of individuals’ online speech, and restraints on speech by government employees and whistleblowers.

The Seminar
The weekly classroom component of the externship will consist of a one-hour litigation meeting and a one-hour seminar, both held at the Knight Institute’s offices in the Interchurch building, located at 475 Riverside Drive. During the weekly litigation meetings, students will engage with Knight Institute attorneys in analyzing the merits and strategic value of new cases under consideration. The weekly seminar class will provide a theoretical and doctrinal foundation for the students’ work at the Knight Institute. Students will be required to submit response papers relating to the readings for each class and be expected to participate thoughtfully and respectfully in class discussions.

Placement Work
The externship will afford students an opportunity to work closely with Knight Institute attorneys in developing cutting-edge First Amendment challenges. Students are required to work 15 hours per week at the Knight Institute. Students will draft substantive research memoranda to be assigned by Knight Institute attorneys. In addition, they will participate in team meetings; conduct spot legal research; review government records and policies; and/or draft blog posts or other public communications.

Important Information
The course will be open to a limited number of JD and LL.M candidates. There are no prerequisites to take this course.