The Summer Public Defender Externship is an experiential-learning course. Law students earn academic credit while working in the offices of public defenders in Arkansas. A field supervisor and a faculty member supervise the student’s work. Students receive in-depth exposure to the work of public defenders and prosecutors and the operation of the criminal-justice system. Recent placements include externships with public defender offices in Benton County, Crawford County, Faulkner County, Hot Spring County, Pope County, Pulaski County, and Saline County.
Bowen offers this course during the seven-week summer term. To complete the course, students must perform 126 hours of work at the externship site by the end of the term in which they are enrolled. They must also satisfactorily complete the requirements of a seminar class at the law school. Students receive three hours of graded academic course credit after satisfactorily completing the course requirements. Course enrollment is limited and students must apply. The professor who teaches the course conducts the application process.
To be eligible for the Summer Public Defender externship, students must have completed 30 credit hours by the start of the externship. Successful completion of Criminal Law is a prerequisite. Rule XV certification is not required for the course, although it can be helpful.
