The Old Capitol Building at the University of Iowa during fall 2021.
General information on academic year placements
Our pre-approved placements include government agencies, judicial chambers, nonprofit legal services organizations, or corporate counsel offices. See here for a more detailed list of opportunities.
Students must meet with Carwina Weng to discuss planning and logistics before applying for a field placement. Applications for externships arranged by the law school are available via 12Twenty.
Have additional questions?
Visit our FAQ page for more information!
Important dates and deadlines for spring 2026 field placements
| Date | Deadline item |
|---|---|
| First week of October | All law school arranged field placements will be announced. Applications are live – utilize 12Twenty to explore a range of field placement and credit-eligible options. |
| October 22 | Initial deadline for submission of application materials for law school arranged externships. Decisions and placements will be made on a rolling basis. Additional applications will be accepted for remaining placements after this date. |
| Week of January 5 | Final deadline for student-initiated externships. Please keep us informed of your progress throughout your application process. |
| January 5 | All students must be enrolled in their externships by January 5 to receive academic credit for spring 2026 field placements. |
Scheduling information
Each field placement lasts the full semester, with weekly scheduling arranged between you and the your field placement site.
For placements outside of the greater Iowa City area, on-site scheduling is usually arranged for two or three full days, depending on the crediting. These externships are with government, judicial, or corporate counsel offices in the Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, or Des Moines area.
Students typically work between 14-20 hours per week and arrange classes on the other days on campus. Full-time away placements are possible.
Full-time, semester-away externships
Iowa Law’s Field Placement Program allows students to work full-time in immersive field placements away from the law school. Through a semester-away field placement, students can become embedded in the work of the law office and work closely with practicing attorneys.
Past students have spent semesters away from the law school in many placements and states.
Previous externship examples
- Bronx District Attorney’s Office (Bronx, NY)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA)
- Colorado Legal Services (Denver, CO)
- Department of Defense Office of Military Commissions (Washington, DC)
- El Paso County Public Defender (El Paso, TX)
- Federal Public Defender (Yakima, WA)
- Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)
- New Jersey State Public Defender’s Office (Camden, NJ)
- U.S. Department of Justice (Washington, DC)
- U.S. Attorney’s Office (Minneapolis, MN)
- U.S. Attorney’s Office (Nashville, TN)
New York Pro Bono Scholars Program
Law students in their final semester of law school may opt to participate in the New York Pro Bono Scholars Program (NYPBSP). The NYPBSP is a unique and innovative program developed by the New York Court of Appeals intended to better assist students in preparing for the actual practice of law, impress upon them the value of public service at the start of their careers, and provide much-needed assistance to those of limited means in the state.
See the New York Pro Bono Scholars Program page for more information.
Crediting for academic year placements
Crediting for the field placement is comprised of two parts:
- Seminar: You will earn 2 credits (graded) for successful completion of the Iowa Law course associated with the placement; and
- Field placement: You will earn credits associated with the field work as indicated in the placement listing or as arranged based on your number of hours worked (pass/fail).
Students can also propose and apply for a placement for credit. If you’re interested in proposing a placement or have questions about the field placement program, schedule a meeting with Carwina Weng, director of field placements, using Calendly.
Note: Virtual placements initiated by students are capped at 6 credits (field work + seminar).
| Total credits | Academic credits (graded) | Fieldwork credits (graded pass/fail) | Total hours on site; 50 hours per fieldwork credit) | Hours per week for 14 weeks | Days per week for 14 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 2 | 10 | 500 | 36 | 4.5 |
| 11 | 2 | 9 | 450 | 32 | 4 |
| 10 | 2 | 8 | 400 | 28.5 | 3.5 |
| 9 | 2 | 7 | 350 | 25 | 3+ |
| 8 | 2 | 6 | 300 | 21.4 | 2.5+ |
| 7 | 2 | 5 | 250 | 18 | 2+ |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 200 | 14 | 2 |
"I knew early on that I wanted to work for a judge, and the Field Placement Program allowed me to do just that during my 2L year. From learning how judges and clerks perceive varied attorney conduct, to challenging me to become a more concise, deliberate writer, my experience with the judiciary was unparalleled—leaving me more well-rounded in April than I was in January."