Our program offers students hands-on opportunities to explore the dynamics of the legal system and the criminal justice field through intensive fieldwork, internships, and research experiences. These practical experiences span diverse areas, including mental health, social justice, substance use disorders, youth initiatives, prevention programs, legal representation, policing, community corrections, and services for victims. By engaging in these real-world settings, students develop professional skills and insights that are transferable to future careers, community involvement, and advanced education.
Students pursuing the Criminal Justice Certificate must complete a fieldwork experience concurrently with an approved course. While Legal Studies majors are not required to complete a fieldwork experience, they have the option to do so and may earn credit toward their degree.
If you have a secured internship during Spring 2026 or Summer 2026, please email cjcp@ssc.wisc.edu to inquire about earning credit.
Read about CLSJ student experiences during their internships
Learn about SuccessWorks! A resource for L&S students to assist with searching and applying for internships & jobs.
L&S Students can apply to earn funding for unpaid internships
About Legal Studies 694
The primary internship course administered by our program is LEGAL ST/SOC 694. The course requires a concurrent internship. This is one option to complete the Internship/Fieldwork/Research requirement for the criminal justice certificate. This is a Theme 2 course for the legal studies major.
Important Information about LS 694:
- Before starting the internship, students must have completed the following:
- Declared legal studies major or the criminal justice certificate
- At least 60 credits
- Legal Studies 131: Criminal Justice in America
- To be eligible for the course, students complete a pre-internship process the semester prior to the internship. The pre-internship process begins with a required orientation. Orientation information is emailed to declared students and posted on CLSJ’s website and Instagram page (@uwmadison_CLSJ).
- This course is 3 credits and offered every semester. It is meant to support students during their internships. Students are enrolled in Legal Studies 694 at the same time they are interning.
- During fall & spring semesters, Legal Studies 694 meets once a week for 90 minutes and students intern between 8-15 hours per week.
- During summer, students intern between 20-32 hours per week for 10 weeks. Legal Studies 694 has online assignments. If interning in Madison, there are 2 in-person seminars. If interning outside of Madison, there are virtual seminars (typically 4 evenings the entire summer).
Important Documents to Review:
Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Field Observation Handbook
Guidelines for Supervising Agencies
Examples of the pre-internship process per semester:
* please note the assignments, deadlines, and guidelines change from semester to semester. These are just examples. Please contact cjcp@ssc.wisc.edu for more information.
Agencies prior CLSJ Students have Interned at Include:
- Public Defender’s Office
- UW Family Court Clinic
- Bayview
- Center for Integrity in Forensic Science
- Madison Police Department
- Dane County Juvenile Court
- EXPO
- JustDane
- Department of Community Corrections
- MIA Project
- WI Department of Justice
Earn Credit for Internships in Other UW Departments
Below is a list of internship and research opportunities administered by other programs. These fulfill the fieldwork requirement for the Criminal Justice Certificate. Some may be limited to students who are declared in those specific programs. All require advance lead time and authorization for enrollment by the specific program.
| CSCS 601 | Internship | 1-6 |
| GEN&WS 660 | Internship in Gender and Women’s Studies | 3 |
| INTL ST 523 | International Internship | 1-3 |
| INTER-HE 601 | Internship | 3 |
| HDFS 601 | Internship | 1-8 |
| POLI SCI 315 | Legislative Internship | 3 |
| POLI SCI 402 | Wisconsin in Washington Internship Course | 4 |
| PUB AFFR 327 | Administrative Internship | 3 |
| RP & SE 630 | Internship in Rehabilitation or Special Education | 2-6 |
| SOC 320 | Research Practicum in Sociology | 1-3 |
| SOC WORK 400 | Field Practice and Integrative Seminar I | 2-6 |