Semester requirement: 1
Credits: 3

SITE DESCRIPTION

The City of Atlanta Law Department provides legal services to the City of Atlanta. The Department represents the City in all civil legal matters and provides legal advice to the officers and employees of the municipal corporation and its elected officials.

The Department is organized into four practice groups: Aviation; Government Counsel, Development & Infrastructure; Litigation/Employment; and Commercial Transactions. Each practice group has specific client responsibilities within the wide variety of departments and agencies in city government but are also designed to provide legal services within their specialty when another practice group's client faces an issue that arises in that area of responsibility. The Aviation Practice Group is located at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and, as the name implies, focuses on the legal issues that arise from the representation of a client that manages the world's busiest airport, including construction of new facilities, leasing and property management and FAA regulatory compliance. The Government Counsel, Development & Infrastructure Practice Group is responsible for advising City departments on issues related to infrastructure improvements and economic development and is the primary support for City Council and a liaison with other governmental entities.

The Litigation/Employment Practice Group responds to the civil actions filed against the City, primarily related to cases arising under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, such as excessive force by police officers. The Group also provides advice and handles civil litigation related to employment issues. The Commercial Transactions Group handles the City's business relationships with third parties and the general public in areas such as bond financing, procurement, contracting and land use and zoning. A student extern will be expected to function in the same general capacity as a first-year associate and will be given the option to experience municipal law in a rotation system among the practice groups or specialize with one of the four practice groups.

STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS

Prerequisites: None

Preferences: All second and third-year applicants but preference for those who have demonstrated their interest in municpal law through relevant course work

NO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Semester requirement: 2
Credits: 3 (per semester)

SITE DESCRIPTION

Students work in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Students are assigned to work either in the civil or criminal division for the entire two semesters. Students working in the civil division engage in a variety of tasks including drafting pleadings, assisting in taking depositions and conducting hearings, and litigating before magistrates and the district court, subject to court approval.

Students assigned to the criminal division assist in investigations, respond to pre-trial defense motions, assist in the preparation of briefs and litigate before magistrates and the district court, subject to court approval.

STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS

Prerequisites:

• Civil Procedure
• Evidence
• Eligibility to practice under the District Court's Standing Order In Re: Legal Intern Program;** Criminal Procedure for Criminal Division Placement, which requries that a student (1) be in good academic standing (at least 2.3. GPA), (2) have earned at least two-thirds (58 hours) of the J.D. requirement in not fewer than four semesters or six quarters in residence, and (3) be of good moral character

Preferences: None

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Students interested in a Criminal Division Placement must indicate on the externship application if Criminal Procedure will be completed by the start of the externship.
• Students participating in this externship must be available to attend in-house seminars on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m., and must meet with their attorney(s) at least twice weekly to receive and submit assignments.
• Students participating in this externship may have to work more hours than required for other externships, and work hours may be less flexible during weeks students are scheduled to be in court.
• Security clearance is required: Acceptance into this externship is tentative pending completion of an application and an extensive security investigation of extern, which includes a drug-use questionnaire. Selected externs must submit agency's application by June 1 in order to be eligible.
• Students participating in the program are prohibited from maintaining outside employment at a law firm engaging in federal practice involving the United States, its officers or agencies, or in other employment that might pose a conflict of interest.
• Applications accepted only in the spring for the following academic year.