Join the Bureau

The Bureau has about 40 members, who are second- and third-year Harvard Law School students. Members are selected in the spring of their first year to enter the Bureau in the fall of 2L year. Practicing at the Bureau requires involvement with clients from varied backgrounds and experiences. As such, the Bureau places a high value on cultural awareness and diversity, and actively recruits applicants who can contribute such qualities to the organization. In addition, to meet the demands of our non-English speaking clients, the Bureau places high value on recruiting bilingual students.

Each Bureau member commits to working approximately 20 hours per week during the school year at the Bureau for two years. A member's duties consist of handling all aspects of cases from the initial interview through final disposition, staffing case intake, and participating in the Bureau's administration. The pedagogical component to the Bureau experience consists of the 3-credit Intro to Trial Advocacy: Civil: Skills & Ethics seminar in the fall of the 2L year and a 2 credit advanced training course in their 3L year. In addition, Bureau members receive two clinical credits in the fall of their 2L year, and between one and three clinical credits each subsequent semester, depending on the caseload and other coursework demands. Bureau members may also receive clinical credit for their Bureau work for courses that carry an optional clinical component in a relevant subject, such as Family Law or Housing Law.

During the summer, the Bureau selects interns to act as summer counsel, providing case coverage and working closely with our clinical instructors and staff. For more information about volunteering at the Legal Aid Bureau, please call us at 617-495-4408.