Notre Dame Law in D.C. Set for Spring Launch

The Law School is launching a Notre Dame Law in D.C. externship program for Spring 2015 and Spring 2016, Dean Nell Jessup Newton has announced.

Janet Laybold
Assistant Dean for Graduate and Strategic Initiatives

Janet Laybold, Assistant Dean for Graduate and Strategic Initiatives, will direct the program and teach its externship seminar. Dean Laybold will work closely with Professor Bob Jones, the Associate Dean for Experiential Programs who launched and continues to run the successful Notre Dame Law in Chicago program.

Dean Laybold said she is delighted that NDLS can offer new externship opportunities in D.C.

“We know from our experience with Notre Dame Law in Chicago that offsite programs like these provide both immediate and long-term benefits. Our students gain an in-depth understanding of what it is like to practice law in variety of legal areas, and they develop valuable contacts through their externships and the many network opportunities available in a major legal marketplace.”

The new D.C. initiative will enable students to spend a full semester in the nation’s capital engaging in a 32-hour per week academic externship in a federal legislative, administrative, or judicial position designed to take advantage of the city’s unique role in American law and politics.

Students will earn eight academic fieldwork credits for the externship placement and six additional academic credits from courses that they will take via a high-quality video conference link to NDLS classrooms on the home campus in South Bend — the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis has offered the firm’s video-equipped conference room for use as the program’s Washington, D.C., classroom.