Harvard Legal Aid Bureau

Visit the HLAB website

Student Work  |  Clinical and Course Information  |  Faculty and Staff  |  Contact

Student Work

The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB) is unique among HLS programs of clinical legal education in that its legal services program is largely student-run. Founded in 1913, HLAB has a long history of responding to the legal needs affecting low-income persons in the greater Boston area. The Bureau consists of approximately 45 second- and third-year student members who make two-year commitments to the Bureau's program of clinical education and legal services to the indigent community. Student membership in HLAB carries with it an integrated two-year academic and clinical training in legal practice skills and ethics. HLAB members are expected to devote at least 20 hours per week of clinical practice and related activities.

Students represent indigent clients in civil matters in the Massachusetts courts. Working under the supervision of seven clinical instructors, each with extensive public interest and private practice experience, all students assume direct responsibility for representation of low-income clients from intake interview to final disposition. Each year the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau handles approximately 275 cases in varied practice areas, including family law, housing law, wage and hour law, and government benefits.  Bureau practice frequently involves appearances by student attorneys before state courts, hearing officers, and administrative law judges. Students also have the opportunity to engage in other forms of advocacy, including a foreclosure task force and running clinics for pro se litigants.  As a student-run legal services program, members and their elected student board of directors are responsible for the governance of the Bureau organization.

Student work includes:

Clinical and Course Information

For registration information, see the 2013-2014 clinical curriculum.

Faculty and Staff

Esme Caramello (Deputy Director, Clinical Instructor)
David Grossman (Clinic Director, Clinical Professor of Law)
Maureen Devine (Clinical Instructor)
Stephanie Goldenhersh (Clinical Instructor)
Lee D. Goldstein (Clinical Instructor)
James Verner Moore (Clinical Instructor)
Elizabeth Nessen (Clinical Instructor)
Patricia Whiting (Clinical Instructor)
Melissa Minaya (Program Administrator)
Susana Arteta (Administrative Director)

Contact

23 Everett Street, First Floor
Harvard Law School
(617) 495-4408
hlab@mail.law.harvard.edu
Visit the HLAB website