Below are the details for the Summer 2025 program: We accept applications on a rolling basis, with the first round of applications being accepted starting on Monday, October 7, 2024. You may submit an application any time after; we will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis until the program is at its enrollment capacity.
Enrollment in the program is capped at 20 students, and we accept applications on a rolling basis until the program is full. In 2019, for instance, we received the first 20 applications within the first 48 hours that the application process opened in October (though we did end up accepting a few more applications that were submitted later in the fall semester). We will post updates on program enrollment here on a periodic basis. Please follow the application process detailed below.
A professor —along with the Career Development Office—will work closely with each student to secure a full-time externship for the summer program. This works includes reviewing cover letters and resumes, sending applications to Moritz institutional contacts, and reaching out to individuals at the organizations and agencies at which the students are applying. Moritz has a tremendous network in DC, and as long as students do their part, we are confident they will secure a terrific summer placement and obtain meaningful substantive experience while there. The best evidence of potential placements is to look at the program’s prior placements, which are available from 2018 to present on the Externships and FAQs page. Our program alumni are also terrific resources.
What to Include in Your Application Package
In many years, the program has filled shortly after the application period opens, so students are encouraged to apply by the first deadline if possible, and definitely by the second deadline. Students should email their application package to MoritzDC@osu.edu, with “Washington Program 2025 Application” in the subject line. Registration will then remain open until the program is full. One result of the process may be a waitlist. This enrollment system is based on the idea that most students who really want to participate will meet the first deadline, and those who apply early will be able to get a head start on the placement front.
We ask you to provide information that will help us in appraising your interest and ability to sell yourself and help us in matching you with an externship. This application is as much about helping you think about your ideal externship as it is about helping us get to know you and figure out the best fit for you in DC. Please submit:
- The completed Questionnaire featured below.
- An example application package for an externship. This is your first cut, and it should not be sent to an actual potential employer. The package should include an example cover letter addressed to the employer and your resume.
Tuition and Living Expenses
The tuition for the summer program is based on the five units of law school credit that you will receive. For Summer 2025, the net tuition and fees for all five units are tentatively projected to be $8,750.00 for Ohio residents and $11,000.00 for non-residents. (This total is the university-set tuition and fees minus some scholarship assistance provided by the College of Law.) This fee covers the five credits of coursework, the time and effort of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in placing you with an externship, and the program operating costs for classes in Washington, D.C.
Based on past experience, other living expenses for the two months of the program are estimated at: room and board, $4,200; transportation (including travel to Washington, D.C. from Columbus and metro/bus in D.C.) $1,000; other living expenses $1,225. Books for the courses are estimated at $150. In considering these expenses, it may help to remember that you would be paying living expenses wherever you are for the summer. These figures represent the maximum amounts a student can take out in student loans, though many students spend much less by arranging for housing in less expensive areas, etc.