Public Service Initiative

The Program

Harvard Law School will pay the third year tuition for students who first enrolled at HLS in the fall of 2008 or 2009, satisfy summer job, public interest clinic and community involvement requirements, and pledge to work five (5) years in public service after graduation. Students who first enrolled prior to the fall of 2008, and students transferring into HLS in the fall of 2008, are eligible for smaller third year tuition grants. Harvard Law School will offer the Public Service Initiative as a pilot program to encourage more graduates to pursue public service employment immediately after law school.

The Community

In the fall of each academic year, 1Ls can sign a letter of commitment to public service, and 2Ls and 3Ls can also establish or renew their commitment. 3Ls who have met the program’s prerequisites will receive Public Service Initiative (PSI) grants and will sign a PSI Agreement requiring them to repay their PSI grant plus interest if they do not complete the public service employment commitment. 

The Office of Public Interest Advising will offer PSI-related community service and community-building events during the academic year.