Interested students should submit a resume to sdobbert@law.harvard.edu for Fall 2025 by 9am on August 1. Please write Massachusetts Attorney General: Privacy and Responsible Technology Division, with term, in the subject line.
The Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs will contact students to let them know the status of their application. Accepted students will be asked to complete the online pre-approved independent clinical application and will receive more information about how to begin the security clearance process with the AG’s office.
3 fall clinical credits (12 hours/week)
Accepted students will be asked to submit a pre-approved independent clinical application and will be required to go through the AG’s security clearance process, which generally takes 2-3 weeks.
The Office of the Attorney General in Massachusetts does not allow students to participate in the Tenant Advocacy Project, Prison Legal Assistance Project or Harvard Defenders while working with the AG. Other activities or employment may also not be allowed.
Students will work with and assist civil enforcement attorneys in the Privacy and Responsible Technology Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. The Division aims to protect consumer privacy and personal information by enforcing the Commonwealth’s Data Breach Notice Law (Gen. L. c. 93H), Data Security Regulations (201 CMR 17.00), Consumer Protection Law (c. 93A), and other laws pertaining to Privacy and Responsible Technology in trade or commerce. The scope and type of conduct and business practices investigated by the Division is broad, focusing on data breaches, corporate data security practices, online privacy, algorithmic discrimination, internet fairness and equity, child privacy, health privacy, and new and emerging technologies. Opportunities exist for students to gain practical legal experience, including drafting of legal pleadings, utilizing government investigative techniques, conducting legal research and writing, and working on community outreach materials.
Students will be working in person at the Attorney General’s Office in Boston. Remote work is available approximately one day per week.
Work and Projects
With assistance and oversight by practicing attorneys, potential projects for clinical students may include:
- Cease & Desist/Informal Enforcement – Assist in identification of businesses that are violating Massachusetts laws, and draft communications and notify those businesses of the legal violation.
- Target Identification – Investigate and identify one or more potential targets for investigation, accounting for potential investigative success and the priorities of the AGO.
- Legal Research and Writing – Identify an existing privacy problem and assess whether such a practice is illegal under Massachusetts law. Students may also address and write memos on specific issues that arise in litigation and investigations.
- Litigation Support – Aid in document review, identifying relevant documents for existing investigations and ongoing litigation.
- Discovery – Assist in drafting and preparation of Civil Investigative Demands or Subpoenas, or deposition preparation. Students may be permitted to attend depositions that occur at the AGO.
- Motion Practice– Assist in drafting and researching in support of motion practice that may happen in the Division. Students may be permitted to attend hearings that occur in Boston.
- 93H Data Breach Notice and Review – Review and identify legal issues that may be present in data breach notifications submitted to the AGO, and, with supervision, respond appropriately.