<-- Gary Bellow Biography

Biographies

ALBERT M. SACKS (1920-1991) WAS A MEMBER OF THE HARVARD LAW SCHOOL FACULTY since 1952 and dean of the Law School from 1971-1981. He co-authored, The Legal Process, with Professor Henry M. Hart, one of the seminal course books published in legal education. He was also one of the initial architects, along with Professor Gary Bellow, of Harvard's clinical legal education program. Gary Bellow remarked at Al's memorial service, "I vividly remember his strong counsel, which we largely implemented, that Harvard's clinical program should emphasize institutional and self-understanding rather than skill training, reach large numbers of students rather than an interested few, and ground student's learning in real cases with needy clients, not only as a pedagogical preference, but also as a concrete demonstration of the school's commitment to universal access to the legal system."    
   Al, who was instrumental in recruiting Gary back to Harvard Law School, also led the Law School in supporting Gary's proposal to establish a large service based clinical facility that became the Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center. Al's vision and leadership resulted in a program that offers the highest quality practice education to Harvard Law students who, in the process of learning, provide excellent legal advice and assistance to thousands of clients every year. In 1993, The Sacks Clinical Fellowships were established by the Law School as a token of esteem and appreciation for the tremendous contributions Al made to the clinical program at Harvard Law School.    Throughout his career, Al, and his wife, Delle, were strong supporters of civil rights and expanded opportunities for women and minorities. In the 1960s, Delle Sacks directed a pioneering fair housing effort in Boston's low-income minority neighborhoods. She maintains an active interest in both the Law School's clinical program and in the Bellow-Sacks Project. Insufficient recognition is given to the important role that Al played as Dean to expand opportunities, both on the faculty and at the most responsible levels in the Law School administration, for women and minorities. Among the beneficiaries of his commitment in this area is the Director of the Bellow-Sacks Project, Jeanne Charn, whom he appointed Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs in 1972. Jeanne was the first woman to hold such a title and appointment at the Law School.    
   Al received a B.A., magna cum laude, from City College of New York in 1940, a L.L.B from Harvard Law School in 1948 where he was President of the Harvard Law Review. After graduation, he clerked for Judge Augustus Hand of the Second Circuit Court Of Appeals and then for Felix Frankfurter of the Supreme Court. He then worked as an Associate at Covington & Burling. After two years of practice, Al decided that he was better suited to academic life. He was an active scholar in the fields of constitutional law and civil procedure.    
   He also served as President of the Association of American Law School (AALS) for more than the customary twelve-month term replacing an outgoing President who was appointed to the Fifth Circuit, serving the remaining half of that term, and then completing his own 12-month term. Long after his term as President ended in 1981, he continued his involvement in AALS and served on a number of committees, including the committee that produced the "Report of the Task Force on Law Schools and the Profession: Narrowing the Gap," informally known as the "The MacCrate Report" for the committee's distinguished chair, Robert MacCrate, Esq. This report is considered the seminal document on the importance of clinical study during the law school years in preparing a skilled and ethical bar. In addition, Al served on various committees including the Advisory Committee on Civil Rights appointed by Massachusetts Governor Elliot Richardson, as an advisory member of the United States Supreme Court Federal Rules Committee, and was appointed by Governor Michael Dukakis to serve as a mediator for the Wampanoag Indians on Martha's Vineyard.    
   Sarah Clark, a former student, said eloquently what others have said with far more words. She wrote, "There was a tremendous amount of love in Albert Sacks. He had a love for life, and for the people around him that most people lose sight of when they get entangled in theories and career struggles."    
   Al was a devoted and exemplary teacher, father, husband, grandfather, friend and citizen.