The Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office Externship Program is a competitive and innovative academic credential program recruiting juris doctorate candidates and current paralegal students.

The program is tailored to provide one-on-one interaction for current law and paralegal students to enhance their legal education and grow the pipeline of skilled attorneys and legal professionals for future opportunities within the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office and the legal community.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet the qualification requirements consistent with their school’s standards and must be currently enrolled in an accredited juris doctorate program or paralegal program.

Applicants must remain in good academic standing throughout the course of the externship program.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Complete an onboarding process, including orientation, program schedule, networking and assignment tools and various professional resources.
• Gain valuable, hands-on experience with municipal attorneys and staff in the Civil and Criminal divisions.
• Attend, shadow and observe Council meetings, trials, hearings, depositions, board and commission meetings and other court proceedings.
• Assist with various legal projects and assignments, as requested. Focusing on different municipal legal practice areas and prepare legal development updates for each department.
• Attend weekly check-in meetings with supervising attorney.
• Focus on individual professional goals.
• Juris doctorate candidates who have obtained their Level 2 Student Practice Certification from the Nevada Supreme Court may take lead in civil traffic trials.  

HOW TO APPLY

If you are a student at UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law, please refer to the Samuel S. Lionel Externship Program. Click here to begin the application process.

If you are not a student at UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law, please see the application process below.

A complete application package should include all of the following:

• Resume with anticipated graduation date;
• Two references (one being from academia);
• Proof of school enrollment; and
• Previous semester transcripts or letter of good standing.

All applications must be sent to LVCAO@lasvegasnevada.gov with the subject line “(Law/Paralegal) Externship Application for (semester and year).”

DEADLINES

Applications will be accepted on a year-round basis. Please provide the semester and year that you would like to be considered.

Applications will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or any other non-merit based factor.

The City Attorney’s Office provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, hiring process, externship program or those who require more information should email LVCAO@lasvegasnevada.gov.

Accuracy of Information and Privacy

Failure to provide the requested information may delay or prohibit the processing of your application. The information you provide may be furnished to the city of Las Vegas Human Resources Department, provided references and the institution where you are currently enrolled. Applicants certify that all information and all documents submitted via the externship application are true, accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How will I know if my application is being considered?

You will receive an email to schedule an interview prior to the start of the semester you have submitted an application for. Applicants can expect to hear back within 30 days of the semester application deadlines.

Is this a paid externship program?

Juris doctorate candidates may be hired as a paid extern depending on the budget of the fiscal year.

I live far from Las Vegas. Do you reimburse for travel to Las Vegas?

No. Students who do not live nearby may request to be interviewed by telephone or via the internet.

Do you pay for relocation expenses?

The city does not pay for any relocation costs. Limited opportunities are available for students who are interested in receiving both credit and hourly pay which can help applicants offset any living expenses.

What areas of law will I be exposed to?

Students will have the opportunity to complete a portion of their externship in both the Criminal and Civil divisions. On the civil side, students can expect to learn about litigation, employment and labor law, transactional law, legislative, planning, public records and other municipal aspects of the law. On the criminal side, students will learn about the prosecution of traffic and misdemeanor offenses, witness preparation and criminal procedure.

How many credits can I receive?

The number of credits will depend on your institution and each student's desired workload/schedule. Students typically earn between two to five credits during a semester when they are still enrolled in other classes.

How are offers made?

You will receive an email from the externship coordinators regarding offers and next steps.

Where will the externship be located?
Las Vegas City Hall

495 S. Main St.

Las Vegas Municipal Court

100 E. Clark Ave.

Are externships graded?

The externship is not graded by our office and the placement will only count towards the credits needed for graduation. However, institutions typically provide a pass-fail grade. Check with your institution for more information.

For more information on Las Vegas City Attorney’s Externship Program, please email externship coordinators at LVCAO@lasvegasnevada.gov. The Las Vegas City Attorney’s office is a department of the city of Las Vegas, municipal government agency. The city of Las Vegas is an equal employment opportunity employer.