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.

Albert M. Sacks Clinical Teaching and Advocacy Fellowship for 2014-2015

Applications are now being accepted for the Albert M. Sacks Fellowship at Harvard Law School. The fellowship will provide an opportunity for an attorney to work at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program on direct representation, appellate litigation and policy advocacy work, starting in the summer of 2014. The Fellow will supervise clinical students and work closely with experienced attorneys and clinicians at Harvard Law School and Greater Boston Legal Services during the 2014-2015 academic year. The position will also offer opportunities for professional development and scholarship in the areas of immigration and refugee law.

About the Position:
The Fellow’s responsibilities will include close supervision of student casework and development of immigration and refugee law teaching and training materials alongside clinical faculty.  They will supervise and mentor students, meeting often to discuss developments in their cases, and providing regular, detailed feedback.  The Fellow will appear in immigration court and in front of administrative bodies with students.  Additionally, the Fellow will work on a range of research projects for the clinical director as well as appellate briefs and advocacy issues. The Fellow will be based at Harvard Law School and may collaborate with other programs in Harvard’s vibrant clinical community.

The position is a one year placement with possibility of renewal for one to two additional years.

Additional Qualifications:
JD required.  Candidates with 3 years of experience in immigration removal and asylum practice strongly preferred.  Candidates should have excellent academic credentials, superior research and writing skills, and a strong commitment to public interest lawyering. Outstanding interpersonal skills, along with flexibility, sense of humor and a passion for direct service work, and, particularly, immigration and asylum work required.  Candidates should also have an interest in and aptitude for supervising and advising students, as well as a demonstrated interesting in teaching and proven capacity to work as a team member.  Ability to work sensitively with a diverse population of clients, students, and staff is essential. Second language capability in Spanish or French preferred.  

How to Apply:
Applications for the 2014-2015 Fellowship will be reviewed on a rolling basis through February 1, 2014. To apply, please send the following to hirc@law.harvard.edu as one PDF file with your last name in the file name:

-Current resume or CV
-A statement of interest (approx. 750 words) that addresses your potential for clinical teaching and advocacy, your relevant prior experience, and any other information you believe will help the hiring committee evaluate your candidacy.
-A writing sample (approx. 10 pages, preferably in a subject area relevant to the position)
-A least three references (please include email and phone contact information)
-Law school transcript (an informal copy or list of all grades and coursework is acceptable; applicants accepted for final round interviews will be asked to have a sealed transcript sent from their registrar’s office)

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.