The Practicum Program is an academic program that allows students to learn law and lawyering skills in an actual legal setting under the direction of an individual mentor-attorney. Students are expected to work diligently and professionally in this program. The practice of law requires the development and exercise of good personal and professional judgment, and students must be conscious of how their decisions and performance fulfill the direction of the mentor and serve the needs of the client. The Practicum Program has three components: practicum placement, classroom instruction, and semester meetings with the Practicum Program Director.
Hamline offers students the following credit options within each type of practicum as available:
A. 3 credit practicums: include a classroom component accounting for one of the three credit hours, plus a minimum of 114 hours of unpaid fieldwork with the Attorney Mentor.
B. Extended practicums: provide a more extensive externship experience, allowing for 6-12 credits, depending on the nature of the placement. Registration requires advance approval by the Practicum Program Director who makes the final decision regarding the appropriate placement and corresponding credits. Enrollment is very limited and highly selective, and placements may not be available every academic year. The extended practicum may include single semester or year-long placements. Each extended practicum includes a two-credit classroom component and fieldwork equal to a minimum of 50 hours for every credit awarded (beyond the classroom component).
The extended practicum runs 6-12 credits (including the 2 credit class component). For students taking a 12 credit practicum, they can split the experience between two consecutive semesters, or between 1 semester and the summer term (6 credits each). We do not otherwise split credits (i.e., 5 credits in the fall, and 3 credits in the spring, etc.), and we do not arrange 12 credit practicums to extend over more than two semesters/terms.
For the extended practicum, the field experience must equal at least 50 hours for each credit beyond the 2 credit class component. The field hours break down as follows:
6 credit Extended Practicum: 200 hours (4 X 50)
7 credit Extended Practicum: 250 hours
8 credit Extended Practicum: 300 hours
9 credit Extended Practicum: 350 hours
10 credit Extended Practicum: 400 hours
11 credit Extended Practicum: 450 hours
12 credit Extended Practicum: 500 hours (or 250 hours per semester over two consecutive semesters)
Practicum students must complete work begun even if this would require more than the minimum number of hours. Hamline University School of Law requires that all hours of work, as well as all other program requirements, must be completed by the last day of classes for the semester. Attorney Mentors may not vary this requirement; exceptions may be granted only by the Practicum Program Director.
For further information on the Practicum Program contact Vickie Jauert, Practicum Program Administrator, at 651.523.2140 or by email, vjauert@hamline.edu.