§ 66551

(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.

(Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 292, Sec. 2. (AB 1155) Effective January 1, 2026.)