Welcome to the 2008-09 Externship Program.  I am excited about this year’s class and the placements you will be working in.  Over the past two years I have tried to visit and meet most of the placement supervisors and tour the placement sites.  Every time I leave a place I am excited for the student who is going there to work.  Every supervisor is looking forward to the arrival of his or her student who will be counted on to make a real contribution to the work of the office.  So, I know many of you will feel as if you are an imposition at first, but be assured they are very happy to have you learn the way around their office and the work they will be doing there.  The students in the past have provided quality work upon which the lawyers depend. 

     I know the summer is not over yet and I do not want to rush it, but I want you all to be ready to start your externship the first week of school, Aug. 25^th.   You should call you placement supervisor about a week ahead of your return to schedule your start at your placement.  I will not see some of you until Wednesday’s or Thursday’s class and you may be starting your placement work that first week, even before class has met.  If you do not remember you supervisor’s name of phone number you should check the web page for the externship for that information.  As a last resort you can email me or my assistant Arthur Hunt (aehunt01@syr.edu), but I will not be able to answer all 53 emails so make an effort to look it up yourself. 

      There are two books you will need for the first semester: Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis, available at the bookstore.  If you want to get a head start you could read this book early. The second book is not yet in as it is a new addition:  Learning from Practice 2^nd edition by Ogily et al.  

     You all must register for a section of the Externship Seminar. Be sure your registration is in order for both the placement and the seminar and for the correct credit hours. Any additions or changes must be made in the drop/add period.  Monday’s class meets at 9:30 am in room 275 and Wed.’s class meet at 4 in room 200 and the Thursday class meets at 4 in room 401.  Check your schedule to be sure you know in which class you are registered.  Do not miss the first class as it will have all of the organization information for the semester.  Class attendance is required for every class and I will discuss in the first class the policy if you miss a class due to a job interview or illness.

     The Externship Program is not like other courses.  For some of you, the externship is your first legal work experience.  For others, the externship provides you an opportunity to hone your legal skills, under the supervision of an experienced attorney.  The seminar will require you to reflect on your experiences through reading, class discussion, writing assignments, and at least one meeting with me during the semester.  For all of you I hope you will learn more about what it will be like to be a lawyer, and what it will be like to practice the kind of law done at your placement.  I know you will learn something about yourself from this experience that would not be learned in any other law school class.

     One more word of advice:  once you begin working as an extern at your placement, you immediately assume all the responsibilities and ethical obligations of attorneys.  Accordingly, you are prohibited from sharing any confidential information with anyone outside of your office or chambers.  This means that I will not be able to talk to you about any confidential information and we will not discuss such information in class.   We will talk more on this the first day of class.  Please contact me if you have any unexpected problems with starting your externship. 

I look forward to seeing you all soon.