Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA)

Welcome! As a career services office at Harvard Law School specializing in public interest law, our primary goal is to encourage law school students and lawyers to embrace a career that incorporates an ongoing commitment to public service work. We offer advising appointments for Harvard Law students and alumni with our attorney advisors, as well as a wealth of print and online resources for planning a public interest career and landing your job.

Quick Links

Sign up for your Advising Appointment (attorney advisors' bios here)
(Appointments are for Harvard Law School students and alumni, though alumni advising – with the exception of those in judicial clerkships – closes during the fall semester, our busiest season.)
Job Search Database
Publications Order Form (.pdf)

Contact Us

Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising
Pound Hall, Room 329
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138 (map)

Phone: (617) 495-3108
Fax: (617) 496-4944
Email: pia@law.harvard.edu

OPIA Events

OPIA Blog

Making a Difference Through Microfinance: Last year, over 100 attorneys from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe contributed 3,617 pro bono hours to building a microfinance network in Latin America. The result was an $8.5 million dollar microcredit investment fund that would open entrepreneurial doors for millions of low-income people through tiny loans. Private law firms are increasing their pro bono commitments to [...] [Tue, 15 Jul 2008]
New Index Measures the Rule of Law Around the World: The World Justice Project recently unveiled the Rule of Law Index, a new initiative that will examine and assess the rule of law in over 100 nations. While it is still in its prototype stages, the initiative could potentially be used as a tool to increase government accountability and renew commitments to the basic principles [...] [Wed, 09 Jul 2008]
The Case of a Lifetime: As a second year law student, Abbe Smith took on a particularly tough case her first day at NYU’s prison law clinic back in 1980. Patsy Kelly Jarrett was facing a life sentence for a 1973 robbery and murder. She was convicted on the strength of a single shaky eyewitness who placed her in the [...] [Tue, 08 Jul 2008]
Looking Beyond the Corporate Salary: As a recent College graduate remarked in the New York Times, “We came to Harvard as freshmen to change the world, and we’re leaving to become investment bankers - why is this?” His question addresses the growing trend in which students from top schools are being funneled into high-paying corporate jobs and away from other [...] [Thu, 03 Jul 2008]
Visiting Assistant Professorships Provide Real-World Insights: While law schools continue to provide rigorous academic and intellectual training, some are starting to supplement this with more practical instruction. Several law schools have started Visiting Assistant Professorship programs in which practicing attorneys join as full-time faculty. By giving these attorneys a chance to concentrate on their scholarship and teaching, law schools hope to [...] [Tue, 24 Jun 2008]
A Step Forward for GLBT Rights: In a reversal of past department policies, Attorney General Michael Mukasey allowed the Department of Justice Pride group, which represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered employees, to use the Great Hall for its annual awards ceremony. During the tenure of Attorneys General Ashcroft and Gonzales, DOJ Pride had been forbidden from using the Hall or any [...] [Fri, 20 Jun 2008]
A Law School Surplus?: With the provisional accreditation of two new North Carolina institutions last week, the United States became the first country in the world to host 200 law schools. Quantity, however, does not necessarily produce quality, explained a recent AP article. The proliferation of law schools has resulted in a surplus of lawyers, many of whom are [...] [Thu, 19 Jun 2008]
A Liberal Take on the Constitution: In an arena long dominated by conservative judges and thinkers, liberals have started to make the case for a more progressive interpretation of the Constitution. On June 3, the DC-based Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC) became the first major think tank and public interest law firm dedicated to advancing a liberal agenda on strict Constitutional grounds. [...] [Mon, 09 Jun 2008]
Choosing to Work in Public Interest: Writing candidly about her career, a lawyer describes the joys and struggles of choosing to work in the public interest. As an attorney helping low income children with disabilities gain greater educational access, Aisha has forgone the big salaries and glamorous lifestyles of her “corporate big wig counterparts.” She is admittedly influenced by the materialistic [...] [Mon, 09 Jun 2008]
Taking Pro Bono to the Next Level: With the growing call for pro bono work in major private law firms, some companies are begining to offer a new approach. Ronnie Abrams is part of this growing trend and perhaps an example of whats to come. In a recent New York Times article, Ms. Abrams is profiled regarding her career shift from a [...] [Mon, 05 May 2008]