Beyond the Walls
When Elizabeth Ireland ’12 stepped into her new role as program director for University of Wisconsin Law School’s general externships and judicial externships and clerkships program, she consolidated three jobs she’d been doing into one.
For years in the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD), Ireland split her time between judicial clerkship advising, one-on-one student counseling and running the judicial externship program under Associate Dean Emily Kite.
She enjoyed all three, but she said the math stopped working when she went part-time a year-and-a-half ago. So, she gave up one-on-one advising, kept the clerkship work and picked up general externships under Associate Dean Emily Buchholz, who oversees the Law School’s clinics, externships and legal writing program.
“I miss my OCPD colleagues, as we worked together for many years, but I’ve been genuinely astounded by how helpful and welcoming this talented group of attorneys has been,” Ireland said.
Just a few months in, Ireland is, in her words, “getting my sea legs.” Much of the early work has
been logistical, like aligning the general and judicial programs so both meet the same American Bar Association and Law School standards and streamlining how they’re administered.
“I’ve seen so many students put themselves out there in an externship and reignite their passion for the practice of law. They start to see beyond the walls of the law school and picture their place in the legal community — and that experience becomes a highlight of their time here.”
What hasn’t changed is her impression of the benefits of externships for students.
“I’ve seen so many students put themselves out there in an externship and reignite their passion
for the practice of law,” she said. “They start to see beyond the walls of the law school and picture their place in the legal community — and that experience becomes a highlight of their time here.”
Sometimes that means finding the work they want to do, and sometimes it means ruling it out. Either way, Ireland said students consistently find value in their externships.
Her own path reinforces that.
As a law student, Ireland was a judicial intern and completed an externship at the Internal Revenue Service. After graduation, she spent eight years at the latter, litigating tax cases before returning to
Madison. Her experience influenced how she coaches students now.
“My role is to help students recognize the skills they’ve already learned from law school and the ones they’re still working on — and to build on those together throughout the semester,” she said. As UW Law looks toward growth, Ireland sees room for experiential learning to expand, even if she’s working on getting a solid foundation under her and the program.
Outside the office, Ireland has enjoyed pottery as a side hobby for the past 25 years. She has also recently picked up knitting. Both, she said, are outlets that keep her centered, a steadiness that carries into how she advises students: Know what you already bring and know what you’re there to build.
By Jen Braico