Public Service Initiative Program Guidelines
The Program
Beginning with J.D. students entering in the fall of 2008 (the Class of 2011), Harvard Law School will pay the third year tuition for students who satisfy summer job, public interest clinic and community involvement requirements and pledge to work 5 years in public service after graduation. Students currently enrolled in the Classes of 2009 and 2010 will be eligible for smaller third year tuition grants (of $5,000 and $10,000 respectively) according to eligibility criteria still being developed.
Harvard Law School will offer the Public Service Initiative as a 5-year pilot program to allow more graduates to pursue public service employment.
The Community
Each September, HLS will hold a ceremony for students who are planning a career in public service. 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 requirements will receive Public Service Initiative (PSI) grants up to full tuition, and will also sign a promissory note requiring them to repay their PSI grants if they do not complete 5 consecutive years in public service following graduation. The Office of Public Interest Advising will offer related community service and community-building events throughout the year.
Requirements to Qualify
To qualify for PSI grants, students earn credits by engaging in activities that prepare them for public service. At least one 10-week summer in a public service job is required (Summer Public Interest Funding guidelines for eligible summer jobs will apply). Students can earn remaining credits from a range of choices, including public service clinical programs, a second summer in a 10-week public service job, and participation in public service community events.
A substantial commitment to public service will be required to accrue enough credits, but students will have flexibility in deciding what types of activities to pursue. Joint degree candidates and transfer students can qualify for PSI grants if they spend at least one summer in a qualified 10-week public service job and accumulate enough credits to qualify.
Public Service Job Requirements
Recipients of PSI grants must take an eligible public service job immediately after graduating from law school and must remain in an eligible job for 5 years. Graduates with PSI grants must report their job status to HLS at regular intervals. Final decisions on job qualification will be made by an HLS Public Service Initiative Committee. Under the Initiative, public service work is defined as:
- Any full time job for a governmental unit, which includes federal, military, state, or local government, or the overseas equivalent.
- Any full time job for a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or the overseas equivalent, with the exception of jobs at institutions of higher education.
- Any full time job for a political campaign.
Clerkships
Up to one year of a clerkship can qualify toward the 5 year commitment. Graduates taking a second clerkship year must complete 4 more years of public service work after the second clerkship year.
Private sector, private public interest firms, and academia
Jobs in the private sector, including jobs at private public interest firms, and jobs at institutions of higher education do not meet the public service work requirement of the Public Service Initiative. Graduates in these jobs can qualify for LIPP assistance based on their income and eligible debt.
Self-employment, part-time work, and periods of unemployment
Self-employment, part-time work, and periods of unemployment do not meet the public service work requirement. Temporarily unemployed graduates may ask to have the PSI grant placed in short-term suspension rather than enter repayment.
Parental Leave
Graduates may receive parental leave after the birth of a child for up to one year; time in a parental leave will not count toward meeting the 5 year commitment. Graduates with children not yet of age to enter ninth grade who work at least half-time will accrue time toward the 5 year commitment at the full time rate. Work at less than half-time will not count toward meeting the 5 year commitment.
Financial Details
Students who qualify for the Public Service Initiative will complete the standard financial aid process. Any need-based grant aid for which they qualify will be subtracted from the total tuition amount and the difference will be designated as a Public Service Initiative grant. Graduates must take a qualifying public service job immediately after graduation, and must continue in public service employment for 5 full years (60 months). A graduate who does not remain continuously employed in a public service position will be contractually required to repay the PSI grant according to the following schedule:
| Time in an eligible position | Amount to be repaid | |
| Less than 12 months | 110% of PSI grant | |
| 12 – 23 months | 100% of PSI grant | |
| 24 – 35 months | 90% of PSI grant | |
| 36 – 47 months | 80% of PSI grant | |
| 48 – 59 months | 70% of PSI grant |
PSI grants are repayable at an above-market interest rate over a 10 year repayment term. Should the borrower subsequently enter the Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP), this loan will be considered eligible for LIPP assistance.