Harvard Law School Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs

1. Harvard Law School Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs 2014-2015 Clinical 101

2. Clinical Programs • HLS has the largest variety of clinical opportunities in the country. • In 2013-2014, there were over 900 clinic placements. • Placements may be on or off campus, local or long distance, within the U.S. or around the world.

3. What is a clinic? • Academic experience where students learn law through practice. • Type of practice varies by clinic: litigation, legislative, policy, research. • All work is supervised by a licensed attorney who provides feedback and guides training. • Clinic work is supplemented by a course component where students learn substantive law and practical skills.

4. Placements • Clinical placements are available at in-house clinics (HLS) and externships (outside, independent organizations). • Externship placements include government offices, large and small non-profits, and other agencies. • See clinical curriculum chart to see placements offered through clinical courses.

5. HLS Clinics • Externship Clinics: • Capital Punishment Clinic • Child Advocacy Clinic (CAP) • Criminal Prosecution Clinic(District • Attorney) • Employment Law Clinic • Government Lawyer – USAO & • State Attorney General • Government Lawyer – Semester • in Washington • Judicial Process in Community • Courts • Sports Law Clinic • Supreme Court Litigation Clinic In-House Clinics: • Criminal Justice Institute • Crimmigration Clinic (HIRC) • Cyberlaw Clinic (Berkman) • Education Law Clinic / Trauma Learning Policy Initiative • Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic • Food Law and Policy Clinic (CHLPI) • Harvard Immigration & Refugee Clinic • Harvard Legal Aid Bureau • Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinic • Health Law and Policy Clinic (CHLPI) • International Human Rights • Shareholder Rights Clinic • Transactional Law Clinics In-House Clinics at the WilmerHale Legal Services Center (Jamaica Plain): • Family Law and Domestic Violence Clinic • Post-Foreclosure Eviction Defense/Housing Law Clinic • Predatory Lending and Consumer Protection Clinic • Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic

6. Clinical Curriculum www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical • Clinical work is done in conjunction with a course (Exception: Independent Clinicals and Continuing Clinicals) • Curriculum chart lists clinics and their required course component(s). • Also lists registration restrictions, pre-requisites, clinicals that span more than 1 term, clinicals offered in more than 1 term, additional requisites.

7. Clinical Credits • Clinical credits are based on the average number of hours worked at the clinic per week. • 1 clinical credit = 5 work hours per week

8. Things to consider • Clinics are a very serious time commitment. • Real cases and clients with important outcomes. • Expect to reserve half-days or full days for clinic work. • Research a clinic before enrolling: • Get advising from Clinical Office (oversees all clinics) • Review past student evaluations (HELIOS.law.harvard.edu – Public Service and Clinical Practice) • Talk to the clinic director or attorneys about the kind of work clinical students engage in

9. Enrollment • Clinics are taken with a class • Some clinics have additional pre-requisites that students must fulfill to participate. • Clinics have early drop deadlines – please see the clinical curriculum chart or course catalog for specific dates. • Failure to enroll in pre/co-requisite by the clinic’s add/drop deadline will result in the student being dropped from the clinic

10. Dropping • If you drop a clinical that has a Bundled or Reserved course component, you will be dropped from the clinic andthe course. • Drop deadlines for clinicals are earlier than of regular courses (clinical drop deadlines can be found on the Clinical Curriculum Chart and in the clinic’s description). • If the class and clinical are in different semesters, you must drop by the deadline of the first component. Capital Punishment Clinic Fall class Winter-Spring clinical Example: Add/Drop by Fall deadline

11. Reserved Seats • Reserved clinical seats refer to a group of seats in a course that are reserved for clinical students. If a student chooses to drop the clinical component, they will lose their seat in the course: Other seats are for students who are only taking the class Reserved Clinical Seats = 8

12. By Application Some clinics require an application: • Crimmigration Clinic • Environmental Law and Policy (winter clinic only) • Government Lawyer: Semester in Washington – due August 15 • Shareholder Rights Clinic – rolling deadline • Sports Law Clinic • Supreme Court Litigation Clinic

13. Continuing Clinical • For students who complete the class and clinical, and are invited back by the clinic to continue clinical work at an advanced level. • Requires approval of supervising attorney and the clinic’s faculty director. • Enrollment is by application.

14. Questions?WCC 3085617-495-5202 clinical@law.harvard.edu www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical