This Specialized Externship held in the spring semester will give students the opportunity to work closely with experienced attorneys on all aspects of litigation handled by the Labor and Employment Law Division of the New York City Law Department. Students will learn an array of practical skills and substantive law in three main areas: civil litigation, employment law, and municipal lawyering.

The Law Department brings and defends litigation and provides advice and counsel to the City of New York, its agencies, and the Mayor’s Office. The work of the Labor and Employment Law Division includes claims of First Amendment and other retaliation; gender, race, age, and disability discrimination; violations of the Equal Pay Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act; claims arising under the Civil Service Law; collective bargaining agreement issues; and challenges to City agency actions under Article 78 of the CPLR. Attorneys litigate in a range of federal, state, and City forums.

In this Specialized Externship, students will have the opportunity to work on and study all aspects of civil litigation, including researching and drafting legal memoranda; investigating factual allegations; preparing for and observing depositions; and attending court proceedings, mediations, and other settlement negotiations.

Students will earn two credits for working 10–15 hours a week under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. They will also earn two credits for engaging in a two-hour highly participatory weekly seminar co-taught by experienced Labor and Employment Law Division attorneys.

Approved for the Experiential Learning Requirement. Enrollment is limited. See Symplicity listing for application requirements and deadlines.

Prerequisites: None

Recommended for the following Professional Pathways: Government/Public Sector; Labor and Employment

4 Credits: 2 credits for the supervised placement (Pass/Fail); 2 credits for the seminar (Graded)