Dena Bauman

Dena Bauman, who graduated from Cornell Law School in 1991, returned in September 2024 to join the Law School faculty as the externship director. She most recently directed the externship program at the UC Davis School of Law, growing the program to more than 100 students a year. She sees externships as a structured “bridge to practice” class that helps students become better able to become independent learners and successfully navigate the ever-changing work environment.

After graduation, Ms. Bauman joined an upstate New York legal services office, representing indigent clients in civil administrative and trial court cases. She was drawn to that practice area because of her experiences with the Cornell Legal Aid Clinic, which were formative in developing her professional identity as an advocate for marginalized communities. Following a position as a managing attorney for another New York State legal aid office, including pro bono management, Dena relocated to Washington DC to supervise law students at DC Law Students in Court. She also worked in national and regional pro bono management capacities before joining the UDC School of Law as its career and professional development director and then externship director.

Ms. Bauman has presented at numerous professional conferences including NALP and the externship community and is active in local and national professional organizations. She co-authored the externship chapter in the 2015 publication Building on Best Practices. Currently, she co-chairs the CLEA externship committee and is on the Planning Committee for the October 2024 Externship Conference.