Federal Litigation Externship

2 - 4 Credit Hours  

(variable credit enrollment available: Each credit requires 42.5 hours)

Overseeing Professor:
Professor Louis J. Virelli III
[email protected] 

Program Description:
Students work under the direct supervision of attorneys with the government of the United States as well as under the supervision of one or more full-time faculty members. Students gain experience in document drafting, preparation of pleadings and motions with legal memoranda, preparation of agency litigation reports, review of hearing transcripts, fact witness and expert witness interviews, affidavit preparation, and case strategy decision-making. The classroom component of this externship occurs approximately every three weeks (check Banner for specific day/time), with an initial meeting which will be set by the supervising professor. These are mandatory classes. If you have more than one absence during the semester it will affect your final pass/fail grade.  Successful completion of Evidence is a mandatory pre-requisite.

Placement Locations:

  • United States Attorneys Office (*Appellate*, Civil and Criminal Divisions) (Tampa)-application process separate and unique and students must apply directly to the USAO to secure placement - USAO has early deadlines. Please visit the USAO website as well as the Campus Docket for detailed instructions. Deadlines are usually as follows: Spring – First Friday in September; Summer – First Friday in January; Fall – First Friday in April. 
  •  United States Department of Justice (Office of the United States Trustee) (Tampa)
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (Medical Malpractice/Torts and Labor Law/Personnel Law) (St. Petersburg) 

Program Requirements:

  • 42.5 hours per credit;
  •  40 pages of research-generated writing; and
  •  Classroom component includes attendance at some to all of the weekly Individual Externship seminar classes, Mondays from 4:55 p.m. - 5:55 p.m.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Successful completion of all first-year required courses;
  • Successful completion of Evidence;
  • Be in good academic standing; and
  • Pass background check.
  • For placement with the United States Attorney's Office (all divisions), students must be a US Citizen and provide a writing sample upon being provisionally selected for this program.
  • *For placement with the United States Attorney's Appellate Division, student must be a member of the Moot Court Board, have taken an appellate advocacy course, or participated in the Federal Litigation externship and be recommended by the student's previous supervisor.
    • Appellate courses include: Law 3140 and 3140 C (Appellate Practice and Advocacy, Civil/Criminal)
  • For placement with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, students must provide a writing sample upon being provisionally selected for this program.
  • For placement with the United States Department of Justice, student must be a United States Citizen.

Application Requirements:

  • Submit a completed application by the appropriate deadline (for more information, visit our Clinics and Externships page) and
  • Timely submit additional documentation as required for this program. (Students are notified of additional requirements after applying and being provisionally placed in the program.)