Student Life at the Legal Services Center

Students working at the Legal Services Center are placed in one of the Center’s clinics housed in its five substantive practice groups and will work with Clinical Instructors, experienced practitioners and mentors, who will supervise student work and provide guidance as students build and manage their own caseload.    The Center provides substantive training in each practice area and also offers general instruction on topics such as client interviewing and intake, case management, legal investigation and discovery, creative legal analysis, research and drafting.   In several of the Center’s clinics, there are opportunities to work with partners and associates from the Boston law firm of WilmerHale (formerly Hale and Dorr whose HLS alumni donated the funds for a permanent home for the Center).   The firm contributes pro bono hours for student supervision, trainings and case consults, particularly in the estate planning and litigation practices of the Center.

Many students at the Center will appear in court to argue their client’s case.   All students at the Center will have direct responsibility for client work.   Although students will receive training and guidance from the Center’s experienced Clinical Instructors and support staff, the clients you work with will be your clients and you’ll quickly learn what it’s like to analyze real-life problems, handle actual emergencies, and juggle a variety of important clients and cases.   In short, you will learn what it’s like to be a practicing attorney!