Chicago Park District Law Student Externship Program
The Law Department manages the legal affairs of the District. Daily business includes claims filed against the District, environmental litigation, real estate issues, tax matters, labor relations, intergovernmental agreements, facility accessibility, land acquisitions, permits, Constitutional First Amendment issues, contracts, municipal finance transactions and management of Freedom of Information requests. Additionally, the Law Department oversees the District's legal investigations and handles the District's Whistleblower Hotline.
Externships at the Chicago Park District offer law students the opportunity to learn and fine-tune legal skills, interact with fellow externs, attorneys, and judges, and work in a diverse and friendly environment.
Application Procedure
The Park District encourages all law students who have completed at least one full year of law school to submit an application for consideration. Externships are available throughout the year based upon the following schedule and commitment:
Fall:
September - December
Requires a minimum 15 hour/week commitment.
Application deadline for Fall consideration is August 1st.
Winter:
January - April/May
Requires a minimum 15 hour/week commitment.
Application deadline for Winter consideration is December 1st.
Summer:
May - August
Requires minimum 18 hour/week commitment for 8 weeks
Application deadline for Summer consideration is April 1st.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. All applicants must indicate the session they wish to attend and weekly time commitment to the Park District. The Park District fully appreciates the demands that law school places on each of our externs; therefore, we are willing to work with our successful applicants to develop a schedule that is reasonable, productive and meets the needs of our Department.
Program Features
The Park District fosters a positive workplace in which law students gain the experience needed for success in the legal field. We offer opportunities for:
- Legal internships
- Legal externships for class credit
- Legal externs who have obtained their 711 license
All Externs will gain hands-on knowledge of the inner working of a law office while being exposed to the dynamics of working in a government firm. The Park District intends to help each extern reach their full potential by exposing them to a variety of different tasks and experiences. There are various practice areas within the Law Department where externs may hone their legal skills.
Some tasks that a Park District Extern can expect to perform may include:
- Assist in case research
- Attend and abstract depositions
- File various documents with the courts
- Assist in drafting motions (Motion to Dismiss, Motions for Summary Judgment etc.)
- Attend settlement conferences
- Prepare memorandums on research topics
- Attend various court dates
- Assist in witness depositions
Some areas that that a Park District Extern may expect to gain experience in include:
- Property/Real Estate
- Contracts
- Intellectual Property
- Sports and Recreation
- Maritime/Admiralty
- Personal Injury
- Research
Additionally, the Park District attempts to provide other resources or activities to better prepare young lawyers for their professional and social entry into the Chicago legal community.
In the past our Externs participated in some of the following:
-
Tour of the Illinois First District Appellate Court with:
- Justice Patrick J. Quinn, Appellate Judge, First District, Third Division
- Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., Appellate Judge, First District, Fourth Division
- Observe the Federal District court call and participate in a question and answer session with Chief Judge James F. Holderman, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
- Presentation by Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., Presiding Judge, Criminal Division
-
Observe motion calls and meet in judges chambers with Cook County Judges:
- Judge William D. Maddux, Presiding Judge of the Law Division
- Judge Elizabeth M. Budzinski, Associate Judge, Motions Section, Law Division
- Judge Bill Taylor, Individual Commercial Calendar Section, Law Division
- Presentation by Judge Alexander P. White, Supervising Judge, Tax & Miscellaneous Remedies Section
- Park District boat ride along the Chicago River
- Participate in a friendly softball game against the Judges of the Cook County Law Department
- Attend the Women's Bar Association Annual Dinner
If you are interested in participating in the Law Student Externship Program please complete the Volunteer Application and Extern Availability Form provided below and return via e-mail to Katherine.Latuszek@chicagoparkdistrict.com or by mail to:
Chicago Park District
Law Department - Legal Internship Program
541 N. Fairbanks Ct.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Our program attracts numerous Externs from law schools throughout the Chicagoland area, including: Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University, John Marshall Law School, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, and Valparaiso University. We look forward to you joining our team. Please feel free to send any questions via e-mail to munir.umrani@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
General Information
Please download and review general information
| Title | Modified | Size | |
| Attorney Bios | 01/20/10 | 31 KB |  |
| Law Extern Availability Form | 02/08/10 | 84 KB | |
| Volunteer Form | 08/25/09 | 96 KB | |
last updated: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:50:50 AM
