The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau was founded in 1913 \u201cfor the purpose of rendering legal aid and assistance, gratuitously, to all persons or associations who by reason of financial embarrassment or social position, or for any other reason, appear worthy thereof.\u201d As the nation\u2019s oldest student-run legal services organization, the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau aspires to be an engine for progressive change and social justice. The Bureau is an entirely student-run non-profit law firm currently composed of approximately 50 second and third year Harvard Law School students who provide free civil legal services to a diverse population of low-income clients in the Greater Boston area.<\/p>\n
The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau would like to announce openings for Summer Counsel positions for Summer 2012. Each year the Bureau hires approximately 15 1L\u2019s and 2L\u2019s to take over full caseloads for the summer. Summer Counsel are supervised by Clinical Instructors at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau who work collaboratively with Summer Counsel to develop case strategy and advocacy plans. All Summer Counsel will actively engage in multiple stages of trial advocacy including factual investigation, settlement negotiations, and legal research and writing, and 2L Summer Counsel will practice in court arguing motions and conducting other oral advocacy under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03.<\/p>\n
Each Summer Counsel will receive a docket consisting of housing, family, government benefits, and\/or wage and hour cases. The position is 40 hours per week for 14 weeks (May 21st<\/sup> to August 24th<\/sup>) with 2 weeks of vacation. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, current r\u00e9sum\u00e9, transcript (unofficial is acceptable), a list of three references and writing sample to Josh Robenger<\/a>, Executive Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.<\/p>\n