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Effective Jan 1, 2026Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 292, Sec. 2. (AB 1155) Effective January 1, 2026.
- (a) Beginning August 1, 2026, each law school shall allow law students to receive compensation from an externship site while concurrently earning academic course credit.
(b)
- (1) This section shall not change the course requirements set by a law school to award academic course credit for externships beyond allowing the employer to offer compensation.
- (2) This section shall not require externships offered to law students through the law school to be compensated. The decision to offer compensation to a law student shall be at the externship site’s discretion.
- (3) This section shall not change externship site criteria or the requirements set by each law school regarding new and existing externship sites to be offered to law students.
- (4) To be eligible to earn compensation from an externship site, a law student shall be in good academic standing according to the rules set forth by the law school.
- (c) This section shall not apply to individuals enrolled in a paralegal certification program.
- (d) This section shall not bind employers or law students to an externship site for any future work.
(e)
- (1) Compensation of a law student provided pursuant to this section shall not require an employer to provide workers’ compensation or other similar benefits.
- (2) A law school shall not receive restitution or compensation beyond tuition expenses from a law student for an externship opportunity.