Federal Government Debt Collection Project

In collaboration with the Financial Management Service (FMS) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, this clinical legal research and writing program will take place for its second and final year in 2011-2012.  The goal of this program is to develop, over a two year period, a legal treatise on federal debt collection law to be used as a publicly-available authoritative resource for government and private attorneys and others who practice in this field. The laws governing debt collection activities attempt to balance the Government's goal of maximizing collections while ensuring that debtors are treated fairly. In addition to improving legal research and writing skills, participating students will learn how to study and interpret complex Federal laws -- both cutting edge and historic -- covering a wide variety of topics, including due process, privacy, appropriations, and sovereign immunity. 

Students will learn how these laws work in the every day "real" world, and how government lawyers advise the Federal agency personnel responsible for implementing and complying with these laws and defending Government actions when challenged. Work will be conducted in close collaboration with attorneys from the Treasury Department.  

Note: This clinic ends in the 2011/2012 academic year.

Contact

Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
6 Everett Street, Suite 3085 (WCC)
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA 02138
clinical@law.harvard.edu