Student Membership
Harvard Defenders provides first, second and third year Harvard Law School students with an invaluable opportunity to engage in direct hands-on legal advocacy. Working in small groups, students participate in all stages of case development including case intake, interviewing clients, witnesses, police officers, and victims, conducting legal research, visiting the scene of the incident, and participating at the final hearing.
In addition to representing clients, students gain experience running a non-profit organization — a unique feature of Student Practice Organizations. Defenders gives students the opportunity to become involved in all aspects of daily administrative and managerial operations, including conducting annual recruiting initiatives, overseeing the intake and management of cases, developing trainings, and actively participating in a wide range of community outreach projects.
Harvard Defenders accepts approximately 50 new members each fall through a random lottery process. All 1L's, 2L's, and 3L's are welcome to join. Throughout the year, students work with an assigned team of approximately ten students who meet once a week with Defenders' clinical instructor John Salsberg to discuss cases. In addition, students must complete one hour of intake each week. This involves answering phone calls from potential clients and directing callers with legal issues outside the scope of show-cause hearings to other legal service agencies. Members are also expected to attend periodic training sessions.
For more information about Defenders, email defender@law.harvard.edu