Dear 2Ls and 3Ls!
Spend the Spring 2026 semester in Washington DC with the Externship on the Federal Government. Up to 10 students will be accepted. Program Coordinator Ejaz Baluch will be hosting an information session on Monday, September 22nd at 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. in JGH 701 (Case Lounge). Lunch will be provided!
There is an option to join through Zoom. Please paste the URL if the link does not work: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/5754025270?omn=98382261758
See details on how to apply below. Applications are due on Wednesday, October 15th.
DC externs earn academic credit while working full-time under the supervision of an attorney within the federal government. Past students have externed at the following placements, among many others:
- The Department of Justice (Criminal Division/Fraud Section; Civil Division/National Courts Section; Civil Rights Division; and others)
- Federal Trade Commission
- Federal Communications Commission
- Patent and Trademark Office
- Senate Judiciary Committee (Senator Blumenthal; Senator Hawley; and others)
Students may also work at a DC-based non-profit that has a substantial nexus with the federal government, including organizations that sue the federal government. Past students have externed at the following organizations, for example:
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Government (CREW)
- NPR
- Earthjustice
In addition to working full time, DC Externs engage in a weekly seminar featuring off the record conversations with attorneys who work in the White House, on Capitol Hill, at agencies, non-profits, and in government relation offices at Fortune 500 companies. Students also take an ethics course, which fulfills the Professional Responsibility requirement, and engage in several reflection sessions.
Students first apply to the DC Externship and, if accepted, then apply directly to placements. To apply to the DC Externship, students should submit their resume, brief statement explaining why they want to participate in the DC Externship, a list of possible placements, and their transcript. The document should be a single PDF. To submit the application, email Program Coordinator Ejaz Baluch
([email protected]).
Please feel free to reach out to Ejaz Baluch with any questions. If you can't make it and are interested in learning more, please visit this webpage and reach out to discuss your application.