Clinical and Pro Bono Programs

Learning the Law, Serving the World

With nearly 30 in-house clinics and hundreds of externships, Harvard Law School has more clinical opportunities than any law school in the world. Harvard also provides unparalleled financial support to assist students in certain aspects of clinical and pro bono work.

The Clinical Legal Education Program is one of the most important and valued aspects of a Harvard Law School education, confirming our commitment to public service and to providing our students with the best possible educational experience. In clinics, students take direct responsibility for representing clients in actual cases under the supervision of our nearly 70 HLS clinical faculty and instructors who are expert practitioners in their fields.

Harvard requires all J.D. students to contribute at least 40 hours of legal pro bono work as a condition for graduation. Many students choose to fulfill this requirement through clinical work. Our hope is that by giving back to the community, our graduates will develop a lifelong commitment to using their education and skills to contribute to the public good.

Clinical Voices: Students Talk About Clinical Education

Read more about what our students are saying about their clinical education in our Clinical Voices brochure.