For some students, the traditional classroom experience of cold calls, towering casebooks, and late nights in the library is the perfect atmosphere for learning. But for others, experiencing the actual work of practicing lawyers like interviewing clients and witnesses, drafting legal documents, and observing court proceedings is the best way to learn. For those students, Maryland Carey Law’s Business Law program offers a comprehensive externship program.
At Maryland Carey Law, externships give students the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom into practice, working alongside attorneys on real legal matters and seeing firsthand how the law shapes business decisions, government enforcement, and the work of practicing lawyers. By working alongside attorneys as externs, students gain firsthand experience with legal matters, and a clearer understanding of how the law operates beyond the classroom.
This semester, Maryland Carey Law students in the Business Law program are gaining that experience through externships with the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice. Their placements include the Attorney General’s Antitrust Division, Department of Commerce, and Consumer Protection Division, as well as the DOJ Civil Division/ Media, Entertainment, and Communications Section’s Antitrust Department.
Their experiences reflect the range of opportunities available to students interested in business law and show how an externship can bring classroom learning into focus.
Business law is about more than contracts and transactions. Lawyers help clients understand their options, identify potential risks, and move forward within the boundaries of the law. For Ezra Rosenberg ‘28, an externship has provided a firsthand look at that responsibility.
“One of the most valuable things I’ve learned from my externship is how lawyers help clients accomplish what they are trying to do while making sure they are protected along the way,” Ezra explained. “Through research and transactional work, I’ve seen that a big part of the lawyer’s role is identifying legal risks, figuring out what the client is authorized to do, and helping structure things in a way that lets the client act with confidence.”
That perspective captures an important part of learning to practice law: legal analysis is not an end in itself. Lawyers must use what they know to help clients make informed decisions and achieve their goals. Students can begin to see how the skills they develop in law school translate into the judgment and practical problem-solving that legal work requires.
Externships with the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice offer an opportunity to see antitrust law in action. These placements expose students to examining business conduct and enforcing laws designed to protect competition.
Hannah Lee ‘28, who is taking Antitrust Law while completing an externship in the field, has found that the combination makes the course material more meaningful.
“Concepts I learn in the classroom often show up in the matters I work on at my externship, so I’ve been able to see firsthand how the law shapes real business conduct and enforcement decisions,” Hannah said. “Learning the material in that context has made it far more concrete and meaningful.”
The experience also reveals the complexity of antitrust enforcement. Another extern working in the Antitrust Division was surprised by both the size of the cases and the care required to develop appropriate remedies.
“What surprised me most during my work in the Antitrust Division was the sheer size of the cases it handles. I had never imagined that a single complaint could run to so many pages. I was also struck by how carefully injunctive relief must be crafted in each case,” Bohdan Stets ’28 noted.
He described it as an art: “The remedy must be broad enough to address the harm, but not so broad that it unnecessarily restricts conduct beyond what is needed. Finding that balance requires careful thought and precision.”
That kind of work illustrates why business law demands more than knowledge of statutes and cases. Lawyers must understand the consequences of legal decisions and determine how best to address the problems before them. For students considering a career in antitrust or regulatory practice, doing that work firsthand can be especially valuable.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division works to address unfair and deceptive trade practices, and the externship offers students a view of how legal advocacy can affect people across the state. Attorneys Nora Nichols and Karen Straughn visited Maryland Carey Law on October 8, 2026, to speak about these externship opportunities. Their visit gave students a chance to learn about government practice and the possibilities available within the Office.
Extern Adrian Gervassi-Saga ‘28 described the breadth of the Division’s work, from individual disputes to significant corporate settlements.
“My externship has taught me that a powerful consumer protection division requires three pillars: A robust statute that lawyers can enforce, strong case law, and passionate attorneys committed to the mission of protecting consumers,” the student said.
Adrian continued, “What is incredible about the consumer protection division is that the legal advocacy conducted can range from helping a consumer mediate a medical billing dispute to negotiating a multi-million-dollar settlement, both of which are critical.”
The work, he explained, holds companies accountable for unfair and deceptive practices that can harm consumers physically and financially, helping ensure that Maryland’s marketplace remains fair.
These student experiences reflect the value of learning from practicing attorneys while developing legal skills in the classroom. Externships give students a closer look at the work they may pursue after graduation and help them understand how legal principles guide decisions in real cases and transactions. Experiential learning helps students move beyond studying what the law says to understanding how lawyers use it. For students considering business law, that opportunity can make a meaningful difference in how they approach their studies and envision their future careers.