About Clinic Programs and Externships
Clinic programs offer opportunities for students to learn practical skills and problem solve in a supervised environment, provide access to justice, and directly engage with clients and members of the legal profession. In addition, clinical programs offer students an opportunity to develop professional skills such as file management, document drafting, interview techniques, evidence analysis, legal research and writing, and advocating for clients before courts and tribunals. Participating in a clinic is a great way to expand on your professional skills and demonstrate your adaptability to potential employers.
Credits for Clinic Programs and Externships
Successfully completing a clinic or externship fulfills the JD Experiential Learning Requirement.
- Students are limited to 20 credits of clinical and competitive mooting credits (the credits allocated to each clinic are noted below).
- Students are not permitted to take more than two clinical programs in the course of their JD degree.
- If you have been accepted for a clinic or externship, you do not need to self-register for the clinic or externship course or for any pre-requisite/co-requisite course associated with that clinic/externship. Academic Services staff will register accepted students into their clinic/externship course and contact them in advance of registration to save seats in any prerequisite or corequisite courses (if the student has not already taken such courses). When planning for registration of other upper year courses, students should factor in the total number of clinic/externship credits, including any pre-requisite or co-requisite course, to ensure they do not exceed the maximum credit load per term (17 credits) and per Winter Session (34 credits).
- Note for students interested in fall term clinics that have pre-requisites: you must have completed the pre-requisite course prior to the start of the fall term. If the required pre-requisite course is available for summer session 2024, you are required to self register.
Please note that credit will be granted for only one of LAW 488 (Indigenous Community Legal Clinic), LAW 490 (Criminal Clinic), and LAW 491 (LSLAP). You may also want to review the Degree Requirements page.
Please see the Clinic/Externship Handout below for information including credit allocation and prerequisites for each program.
Download Clinic / Externship Handout (PDF)
(Updated January 18, 2024)
CLINIC/EXTERNSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION
All students that would like to apply to participate in a 2024 summer or 2024-2025 fall/spring or full-year clinic/externship should thoroughly review the information on this page. Questions about the clinic/externship application process can be directed to Zack Uganec, Manager, Student Affairs, or Kaila Mikkelsen, Assistant Dean Students. Appointments with Zack or Kaila can be directly booked online via Calendly.
ROUND 2 APPLICATIONS FOR 2024-2025 FALL/SPRING, FULL YEAR CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS: LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
There are a limited number of student clinician positions available for 2023-2024 Fall / Spring, and Full-Year Clinics and Externships. If you are interested in applying, please thoroughly review the information on this page.
Updated: August 6, 2024
Participating Clinics
- Indigenous Community Legal Clinic (15 clinical credits)
- spots in Fall Term (Term 1)
How to Apply
All participating clinics are reviewing applications and making offers on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
To apply, you must complete the following two actions:
- Prepare your application materials in accordance to the applicable program application fact sheet for 2024-2025 positions (see Preparing Your Application below). Note that a response to the Mandatory Application Survey is not required for Round 2 Applications. Instead, please complete this Mandatory Application Form and include it as part of your application to the clinic/externship of your choice.
- Submit your application materials directly to the clinic/externship by email to the applicable contacts:
- ICLC: Vernon Black (vblack@allard.ubc.ca) and Lisa Ramasami (lisa.ramasami@ubc.ca)
Missed the 2024-2025 Clinic and Externship Information Session? Get a copy of the PPT slides here.
Clinic / Externship Opportunities
Cultural Competency Resources