Judicial Externships
The Judicial Externship provides the student with an opportunity to be intimately involved in the judicial decision-making process. Therefore, the student should work closely with the judge in an effort to better understand the judicial process. The judge, in turn, should actively encourage the student to question, challenge, and shape legal decisions. The student, in addition to learning office policy and procedure, will gain a better understanding of case review and analysis. The student also will improve his/her legal research and writing techniques while learning the intricacies of submitting bench memoranda.

Legislative/Executive Externships
The Legislative/Executive Externship allows the student to understand how law is created in the State of Hawai‘i, deepening his/her understanding of the politico-legal nexus. The student shall work with in-house counsel, either directly or through a sponsoring legislator, to draft legislation and position papers, and to monitor its progress. The student may also work with the Executive Branch. The mentor should encourage creativity and discussion generated by the proposal. The student, in turn, will improve legal research and writing skills while deepening his/her understanding of the legislative process. Additionally, the student shall examine critically the law's development within its political, social, and economic contexts. The state legislature is only in session during our spring semester every year, but students may extern in either the fall or spring semester.

Public Agency Externships
The Public Agency Externship provides the participating student with an opportunity to see the implementation and application of the law. The student shall explore the conflict between policy and practice and understand the responsibilities associated with work in a public agency. Prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, state and county governments have been among those public agencies participating. Many non-profit private agencies also participate. The mentor should explain office policy and procedure but encourage suggestions for change and creative thinking. Additionally, the student shall develop legal skills associated with the agency's work. These include, but are not limited to, appellate brief writing, trial skills, legal research, fact investigation, and position papers.

Private Sector Externships
The Private Sector Externship allows the student an opportunity to understand the workings of and responsibilities associated with the private practice of law. The primary educational objective is to permit the student to explore intensively one particular area of law. The extern mentor, therefore, should provide the student with a variety of new tasks to facilitate the student's understanding of that field. The student thus shall develop interviewing and counseling skills, legal research and writing techniques, negotiation skills, and office management style. The mentor should explain office policy and procedure and encourage student curiosity and self-development. The extern should be allowed to observe a variety of activities including depositions, strategy sessions, meetings with clients and court hearings/trials.

Pacific/Asia Externships
Given the unique location of the William S. Richardson School of Law and its commitment to the people of the Pacific basin, special 12-credit externships are offered in the Pacific Islands and Asia. The primary objective of the externship is to heighten the student's awareness of the cultural diversity in the Pacific Rim, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the role of the legal profession in this area.