Clinical Program

Harvard University

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Presentation

Clinical education helps to introduce and explore issues of a lawyer's role and responsibilities.

Most students find clinical practice challenging and rewarding. Taking direct responsibility for clients in a realistic practice setting produces intense motivation to learn. Students are active and engaged; they are required by the situation to synthesize, to bring many aspects of their law school learning to bear on a particular problem, not as an exercise or test, but because there will be real consequences for real clients.

Clinical experiences often produce enhanced interest in the materials and issues presented in law school courses. Practice experience deepens the understanding of rules and policies, and the doctrinal analysis of substantive law puts the classroom into new perspective.

Taking a clinical course may aid students in thinking about what sort of law practice or lawyering work they most like. Mentored practice, in an educational setting, also helps students begin to understand their practice learning styles while getting a head start on learning the skills they will need when they begin their legal practice job.

Clinical courses should be an integral part of a balanced curriculum in the second and third year of law school. Planning should be undertaken as early as possible to assure that each student's education program includes a good mix of clinical courses, classroom-only courses, writing projects, participation in student organizations, summer work, and other law school experiences.

The Clinical Legal Education Program at Harvard Law School has three basic components:

• direct student responsibility for clients in a realistic practice setting.

• supervision and mentoring by an experienced practitioner.

• companion classroom sessions in which clinical experience supports and contributes to further discussion and thought.

The Pro Bono Service Program facilitates the requirement that all Harvard Law School J.D. students complete a total of at least 40 hours of law-related public service pro bono work as a condition for graduation. Our hope is that by giving back to the community, our graduates will develop a lifelong professional vision of how they can contribute to the public good.

Students must perform uncompensated, law-related public interest work on behalf of people who cannot afford (in whole or in part) to pay for legal services, or; for the government, or; at a non-profit organization as defined under IRS sections 501(c)(3) & (4) protecting rights of marginalized individuals/groups or working in the broader public interest, or; in a law firm working on a pro bono basis. The work may also be performed in a setting in which credit is given (clinical programs), in conjunction with a faculty pro bono project, in student-initiated projects, or in many HLS volunteer student organizations. Since this pro bono requirement is intended to teach law by experience, the student's work must involve the application or interpretation of law, the formulation of legal policy, or the drafting of legislation or regulations.

The Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs is located in Austin Hall, rooms 102 & 108, on the Harvard Law School Campus.