These practica provide law-related academic and professional opportunities to Rice undergraduate students. Think of these opportunities as for-credit internships with an academic twist. Participants earn 3 credits for each semester-long practicum (Fall: PLST 401, Spring: PLST 402); both courses count toward the Politics, Law, and Social Thought minor.
Note for Spring 2024 practicum: We ask that all Judicial Practicum students planning to participate on site be vaccinated. This requirement only makes sense in light of the exposure to many different people in the courts and in the courtrooms, who are not required to be vaccinated. Thank you for your understanding.
Fall 2024 Legal Practicum applications close on March 8th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Materials required:
- Application form
- Cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, and essay responses
Experiential Education
Participants spend 8-10 contact hours per week with a judge, lawyer, or other legal professional to observe law in action. Students will also gain understanding in the following areas through presentations by faculty and alumni experts:
- Basic legal research (WestLaw and LexisNexis, legal memos)
- Historical, theoretical and ethical legal issues
- Federal and Texas court structure
- Separation of powers
- Confidentiality
- Professional conduct
- Subfield specialties (criminal law, immigration law, etc.)
Eligibility
The Legal (fall term) Practicum and the Judicial (spring term) Practicum are open to all continuing Rice undergraduate students. Preference will be given to students in their third/fourth year of study, as well as those who have completed one or more law-related courses.
To international students: In the past, issues have come up related to placing international students into the internship part of the practicum program. We hope that such issues will not arise again, but want international students to know that sometimes circumstances beyond our control might keep them from participating in an internship.
In some cases, an internship that is off Rice campus and inside the United States may endanger your student visa. Consult with OISS, the fall and spring practicum program administrators, Mecia Lockwood (mecia.lockwood@rice.edu) and Jennifer Judge (jennyjudge@rice.edu), or with the director of undergraduate studies in the relevant department or program.
Selection
Once all application materials are confirmed, students will be contacted with any interview offers. After all interviews have been completed, students will be notified of their final placements. Notifications will be given before registration closes in late November/late April.
Additional details
The Judicial and Law practica are offered through Politics, Law and Social Thought. This interdisciplinary program is a joint partnership between the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences.
Pre-Law
Interested in law professions? The Office of Academic Advising has resources for you. Visit their website here for more information and to view law school resources and a pre-law undergraduate timetable.
Contact Information
For fall legal practicum questions:
Mecia Lockwood
Program Administrator
Rice University, School of Social Sciences
mecia.lockwood@rice.edu | 713-348-2181
For spring judicial practicum questions:
Jennifer Judge
Undergraduate Program Administrator, Program in Politics, Law and Social Thought
Rice University, School of Humanities
jennyjudge@rice.edu | 713-348-4037