New externship program allows students to work with the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center as legal counsel.

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law has partnered with the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center (SRFJC) to offer an externship program in which students can perform direct service work under a supervising attorney. SRFJC houses many services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and elder abuse, all under one roof. 

An externship is a short-term, structured work experience allowing students to gain professional exposure by observing, shadowing, and assisting in professional day-to-day work.  

The SRFJC started 10 years ago after 128 different agencies got together to find an easier way to provide services to survivors. CEO of the SRFJC, Joyce Bilyeu, has a variety of on-site partners, allowing individuals to walk in, fill out an intake form, and automatically get paired with a social worker. 

“When survivors meet someone from legal, the reality kind of hits and it’s scary. But when we have these great partners like McGeorge, it makes it a little less scary for them,” Bilyeu said. “So, we’re really looking forward to building up the partnership and bringing the service to the client versus the client having to seek out the services.”   

SRFJC is one of the top agencies in Sacramento that provides domestic violence and elder abuse restraining orders. Through this work, McGeorge students gain firsthand experience assisting survivors during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. 

“Students have the honor and the privilege of hearing stories from survivors, to meet them and their children, and help save lives,” Bilyeu said. 

Students gain hands-on experience as they work on restraining orders and go to court as a support system for their clients, knowing that when the externship ends, they’ll have the tools they need to succeed. Cindy Nguyen ‘27 completed the externship this past semester.  

“The Family Justice Center was a wonderful place to complete my externship. Under the guidance of a compassionate and dedicated staff, I learned to prepare and file restraining orders and had the opportunity to observe court hearings,” Nguyen said. “Their commitment to helping victims made the experience especially meaningful. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that I will carry with me throughout my legal career.” 

McGeorge's externship program lets students earn law school credit while performing supervised legal work as an extern at government agencies, courts, legislative offices, or non-profit entities. McGeorge’s Director of Externships, Colleen Truden ‘04, is excited to partner with SRFJC.  

“The exposure our students have to the vital work of SRFJC and the opportunity to support and lend legal assistance to our community while learning invaluable skills and knowledge in a specialized field of law is a win-win for all,” Truden said. “Increasing student interest in externing with the SRFJC is possible because of Dean Colatrella’s leadership.” 

Two McGeorge students will start an externship with the SRFJC in August.  

“We can’t do the work effectively without our partnerships, and McGeorge has just always been a great partner,” Bilyeu said. “Our community owes a lot to McGeorge, and we’re so glad we got this externship up and running.”