Harvard Defenders

Harvard Defenders, a student practice organization at Harvard Law School, provides free representation to low-income criminal defendants in show-cause hearings before clerk-magistrates. Working to ensure defendants receive quality representation, we enrich students’ education and encourage them to become thoughtful, compassionate, and persuasive legal practitioners.

If you have been notified by a court to appear at a criminal show-cause hearing before a clerk-magistrate, please contact us.

If you wish to take advantage of our legal referral services, please contact us.

News & Announcements   

ANNOUNCING THE JACK T.  LITMAN SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

We are pleased to announce the newly established Jack T.  Litman Summer Fellowship Program in connection with Harvard Defenders. The Jack T.  Litman Fellowships are dedicated to the memory of Jack T. Litman, a renowned defense attorney who was a member of Harvard Defenders during his time at the law school.

This year, Harvard Defenders will select three law students to serve as full-time Litman Fellows.  Fellows have the unique opportunity to handle all their own cases, which involves interacting with clients, interviewing them in preparation for hearings, and conducting extensive investigations, which often entail meeting with witnesses and police officers.  In addition, Fellows develop their own litigation strategies and ultimately present their cases to clerk magistrates in the Boston area's criminal courts.

Fellows will also be required to write an academic paper, on a topic of their choosing, related to a legal issue that they encounter during their fellowship. The papers will be supervised by a Harvard Law School faculty member and will be presented in the fall to the Defenders organization.

The Fellowship allows for flexible schedules and independence while providing a rare opportunity to advocate on behalf of actual clients.
Work is supervised by John Salsberg, Harvard Defenders' Clinical Instructor, a practicing attorney with over thirty years of trial experience.

Fellows will be awarded $1000, in addition to SPIF funding. To apply for a 2012 Jack T. Litman Fellowship, please submit a cover letter and resume to dstern@jd13.law.harvard.edu and jmachlin@jd13.law.harvard.edu.
Applications now accepted.