AB-1155 • 2026

Law schools: externships: compensation.

Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Fong
Last action: 2025-10-03
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 292, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not specify an effective date, though they mention the requirement starts on August 1, 2026.

Law Schools: Allowing Law Students to Be Paid During Externships

This law allows law students at accredited California and American Bar Association law schools to receive payment from their externship sites while earning academic credit, starting August 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Requires each law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association or the state of California, whether part of the University of California system or an independent institution, to allow law students to receive compensation from their externship sites while earning academic credit starting August 1, 2026.
Defines 'externship' as a work placement where law students gain practical experience and earn course credits.

Who It Names or Affects

Law schools in California that are accredited by the American Bar Association or the state of California.
Law students who participate in externships at these law schools.

Terms To Know

Externship: A work placement where a student gains practical experience and earns academic credit.
Accredited Law Schools: Law schools that meet certain standards set by the American Bar Association or the state of California.

Limits and Unknowns

The requirement on a law school at the University of California would be considered a request to the regents, and it applies only if the Regents of the University of California act appropriately.
It does not specify how much money students can earn from their externships.

Bill History

2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 292, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-03 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-08-26 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-08-25 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2252.).
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-08-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on ED. and JUD.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 71. Noes 0. Page 1664.)
2025-05-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and JUD.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1155, Fong.
Law schools: externships: compensation.
The Donahoe Higher Education Act establishes the segments of postsecondary education in the state, including the University of California and independent institutions of higher education, and sets forth the missions and functions of those segments. Existing law states that the University of California has exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over, among others, instruction in the profession of law, and that the independent institutions of higher education provide undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in accordance with their respective missions. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California act, by appropriate resolution, to make them applicable.
This bill would require, beginning
August 1, 2026, each law school, defined to include American Bar Association-accredited or California-accredited law schools at the University of California or an independent institution of higher education, to allow law students to receive compensation from an externship site, as defined, while concurrently earning academic course credit. For purposes of the bill, a requirement on a law school at the University of California would be considered a request on the regents.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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