Student Educational Opportunities in Collaboration with the Program on Law and State Government
State Health Law and Policy Initiative
The Program on Law and State Government (PLSG) is dedicated to fostering the study and research of critical issues facing state government. By joining the Center for Law and Health in the State Health Law and Policy Initiative, the PLSG offers opportunities for internships and fellowships to students interested in contributing to the work and scholarship focusing on state responses to health issues. Opportunities include the Law and State Government Externship Course and the PLSG Fellowships.
The PLSG Internship Course offers internship placements throughout the legislative and executive branches. The course integrates the practical experience of the internship placements with substantive study focusing on the foundational aspects of practicing law in a state government setting. Current health related placements include: State Health Department, the Family and Social Services Administration, and the Department of Insurance.
The PLSG Fellowships provide an extra-curricular academic opportunity for students interested in contributing to the contemporary scholarship of legal issues facing state governments. Awarded annually on a competitive basis, Fellowships granted in conjunction with the State Health Law and Policy Initiative would enable two students to explore a health law issue of the students' choosing, host an academic event on that topic, and to co-author an academic paper for publication. The PLSG Fellowship includes a $5,000 tuition credit.
Student Administrative Law Judge Opportunities
A collaboration between the PLSG and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development has brought a new opportunity for law students to work as student administrative law judges (ALJs) as part of their legal education. As student ALJs, law students conduct unemployment insurance appeals hearings required by Title III of the federal Social Security Act. Usually appeals address whether a former employee is entitled to unemployment insurance under the Act. Either in conjunction with the PLSG externship course or as an independent extra-curricular activity, students accepted into the student ALJ initiative participate in an intensive interactive training about administrative hearing protocol, opinion drafting, and applicable Indiana statutory and case law before beginning their work as student ALJs.
