Judicial Externships

Traditionally, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, VABAW has offered an externship or internship opportunity for three law students (the “Externship Recipients”) at the King County Superior Court (Seattle or Kent) and the Court of Appeals Division 1 for a minimum of six weeks.  After the start of COVID, this program has been on hold, but we hope to bring this program back in 2023.

When available, this is a unique opportunity for laws students to be immersed in the local judicial process and gain first-hand courtroom experience.  Each Externship Recipient is awarded an optional $500 stipend.  This means the Externship Recipient may choose to waive the stipend in order to obtain academic credit from his or her law school.  It is the sole responsibility of the Externship Recipient to ensure eligibility and to secure his or her own academic credits.

The following judges have participated in the VABAW Judicial Externship program in the past:

Judge John H. Chun – U.S. District Court Judge (Western District of Washington)

Judge Sean P. O’Donnell – Chief Criminal Judge

For informational reference, when we accept applications again in the future, each applicant must submit all of the following items in order to be considered:

• A completed and signed application form with signed acknowledgment and release form;

• A cover letter explaining his or her interest in a VABAW Judicial Externship in King County and why he or she is the best candidate for the Externship (1-page limit, single-spaced, 12-point font);

• A legal writing sample (5-page limit);

• His or her most recent law school transcript (unofficial accepted); and

• A current resume.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until externship opportunities are filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure the participating judge with whom he or she is seeking to extern is still accepting applicants.