Legal Needs of Moderate Income Households
Fall term, Block M
M 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ms. Jeanne Charn
2 classroom credits LAW-42285A Fall
2, 3, or 4 optional clinical credits
The legal needs of poor households have been the near exclusive focus of public policy and government funding while the legal needs of moderate income households have been left to what the private bar can provide. These households are ineligible for most means tested safety net programs but often lack the resources to maintain themselves in the face of serious illness, divorce or other crises, This course will explore how the legal needs of moderate income people both differ from and are similar to the needs of the poor. We will focus on the role of the solo and small firm bar that that serves these clients and on market innovations designed to expand access for this demographic -- for example, pre-paid and legal insurance programs, unbundled legal services, self-help and on-line resources. We will also look at legal aid in the UK, Europe and Canada where the needs of moderate income people are a main focus of legal aid policy. In lieu of an exam, students will, in consultation with the course instructor, produce a white paper recommending policies, advocacy strategies or innovations designed to improve access for households above poverty who cannot afford to pay for legal assistance. Students may work in pairs or groups and will share preliminary concepts and research at class meetings throughout the term. Students may, for an additional credit, expand their course project into a research paper that meets the J.D. writing requirement.
2Ls and 3Ls may elect a clinical component for 2, 3 or 4 clinical credits.
Please refer to the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs website at http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical/ for early drop/add deadlines and rules for all clinical courses.
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