Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. Law students at the Bureau practice under the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, which allows second and third year law students at accredited laws schools in Massachusetts to practice law in civil cases. Officially, we are “student attorneys” operating under the supervision of licensed attorneys.
What kinds of cases will I handle while I am at the Bureau?
Bureau attorneys generally handle four types of cases:
(1) Administrative hearings (social security benefits and unemployment compensation) - these hearings are held before administrative law judges (ALJs);
(2) Domestic relations cases - these cases take place in probate court and involve many issues such as custody, visitation, divorce, and domestic violence;
(3) Housing - this involves summary process evictions from public and private housing. We also represent people who have been terminated from the Section 8 program or have been denied access to public housing;
(4) Wage and Hour - this is a newer practice and these cases involve helping employees recover unpaid or underpaid wages. Wage and hour cases are long-term and involve negotiation and court appearances in either state or federal trial court.
Will I get to pick my cases?
Although client needs and intake patterns are the primary factors driving case assignments, a member’s interest and workload also figure prominently. Potential clients go through an intake process where they participate in a preliminary interview with a Bureau member. This member then presents the case at one of the twice weekly intake committee meetings. All Bureau members are allowed and encouraged to attend and vote at intake meetings, which are overseen by a student board members. Thus, Bureau members are able to significantly impact the type of cases accepted by the Bureau.
Addtionally, a member who meets with prospective clients through the intake interview process may advocate to the intake committee that the case be accepted and assigned to that member if interested in handling the matter. The Bureau makes exceptions if a member would prefer not a take a particular kind of case for personal or religious reasons.
This sounds like too much responsibility — will I handle cases alone?
No. You will meet regularly with a licensed supervising attorney who will mentor you and guide you through the legal process. You actually practice under your supervisor’s bar number, so he or she is required to oversee your legal work and will attend court appearances and ALJ hearings with you. However, students (and not their supervisors) are considered the primary case handlers and are thus given substantial autonomy in deciding how cases are litigated. With this autonomy comes a great deal of responsibility: Student attorneys are the ones clients will call when concerns or questions arise; Bureau members are required to find someone to cover their cases if they must be away from campus for more than 48-hours; and members are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all of the relevant documents and evidence relevant to their case are gathered in a timely manner.
In addition to the assistance provided by supervising attorneys, all incoming 2L Bureau members will be paired with 3L mentors who will provide additional support and guidance. New Bureau members co-counsel their first case with their mentor (unless they would prefer to handle the matter on their own), ensuring that 2Ls have adequate guidance and support for the first ‘real case’ of their legal career!
The Bureau is "Student Run." What exactly does that mean?
Because we are student run, Bureau members are responsible for the day-to-day management of the law firm. This means handling a range of administrative responsibilities, including office hours (answering calls from potential clients and providing referrals), intake interviews and memos (screening potential clients), and case checks (monitoring case files to ensure that they meet professional standards).
Additionally, Bureau members participate actively in shaping the firm’s long-term policies and practices by serving on various committees (the Executive Board, student concerns, recruitment and selection, diversity etc.) as well as in a variety of informal capacities. Finally, the major benefit of being student run is that Bureau members can take the lead to propose new practice areas or initiatives for the organization. For example, for the past year, a group of students has been working to establish a ‘wage and hour’ practice area at the Bureau in partnership with a local community organization.
Because we are student-run, Bureau members have the opportunity to gain great leadership and organizational experience in addition to litigation skills. Students excited to take on both case-handling and leadership responsibilities are ideal candidates for the Bureau.
What are the responsibilities of a Bureau member?
Members are expected to carry 3 to 5 active cases and must manage and run the office (see above). In addition, Bureau members are expected to come back to campus a few days early for training in the fall and attend two working retreats during the year. We also participate twice a semester in case rounds (discussing strategy and ethical issues that arise in our cases), several substantive trainings in each of the Bureau’s practice areas, and a range of continuing legal education sessions designed to expand our substantive background and improve our practical skills.
Fulfilling these various responsibilities generally takes Bureau members a minimum of 20 hours per week. However, the time commitment varies substantially based on the activity level of one’s cases. Prior to a court date, for example, a Bureau member may find himself in the office for many more than 20 hours a week. During inactive periods, the time commitment may be less.
Are there required courses?
Bureau members are required to take Evidence in the fall of their 2L year, if they did not take it in their 1L spring. Bureau members also enroll in a seminar in their 2L fall called ITA: “Introduction to Advocacy,” which fulfills the professional responsibility requirement at the law school. We view Bureau-related coursework as a necessary complement to our casework. Taking classes together is a great way to build Bureau community and reflect on our experiences as primary case-handlers. Students who are looking for a truly comprehensive clinical learning experience will find a perfect home at the Bureau.
Is the Bureau fun?
YES! The Bureau is great substantive training and hands-on practice but it also functions as a social community. In the words of one member: "to say that the Bureau has 'completed' my law school experience would be a vast understatement." You will find the Bureau to be an amazing place to work, make friends and find professional colleagues. Most members find they welcome the opportunity to go to the Bureau every day to get work done and hang out with friends. In addition, the Bureau offers excellent informal opportunities for socializing (annual pub crawls, movie nights, pot lucks, etc.) and other activities. Many members feel that the Bureau has transformed their law school experience.
I will be away from HLS next year because of a joint degree program or for another reason. Can I still apply to join the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau in the Fall of 2007?
The Bureau prefers to select members who will be able to begin in the semester after they have been selected. However, we encourage you to check in with us again next spring if you are interested in applying to be a member in the Fall of 2008.
What do I do if I have any other questions about the Bureau or the application process?
E-mail our Vice President of Membership, Heather Byrd, at hbyrd@law.harvard.edu. Tips for completing the application successfully are also included in the application packet.