Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic

About Us

The Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program (HIRC), in partnership with Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), has worked with hundreds of immigrants and refugees since its founding in 1984.  HIRC combines representation of individual applicants for asylum and other forms of humanitarian relief with the development of theories and policy relating to asylum and refugee law.  HIRC students take the lead in representing clients from all over the world who are seeking protection from human rights abuses in their country of origin, protection from exile after years of living in the United States, or reunification with their families.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have engaged HIRC in the training of immigration judges and asylum officers with regard to issues relating to asylum law.  HIRC published the first major treatise on U.S. asylum law, The Law of Asylum in the United States.  Law of Asylum, 5th Edition, is now available to order from West.  In addition, HIRC provides advice, support, and supplemental services to advocates around the United States.

Students and the Harvard Immigration Project

HIRC also works with student groups, including the Harvard Immigration Project, to sponsor speakers on a range of topics, including national immigration legislation, treatment of refugees around the world, and detention and deportation.

Cleary Gottlieb Fellowship

The Cleary Gottlieb Fellowship is closed for Summer 2013 and will reopen in December for applications.  The selected Harvard Law student will work with the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program and Greater Boston Legal Services on cases involving the direct representation of noncitizens applying for U.S. asylum and related protections. In addition, the Program is active in appellate and policy advocacy on local, national and international levels. The fellow will work on appellate and advocacy issues, perform research and assist in representing clients through the clinic.

*If you are interested generally in volunteering or interning with HIRC, please send a cover letter and resume to hirc@law.harvard.edu stating your interest and background in this field of law.  HIRC receives many volunteer requests and is only able to take a few volunteers and interns each summer.  Please apply early - we review all requests on a rolling basis. Applicants from other law schools welcome.

Please note: all volunteer/intern positions have been filled for Summer 2013.