Student Voices: Hands-On Experience Advising Clients

Attending Harvard Law School has provided me with unparalleled opportunities to engage in pro bono work with clients. While continuing my studies, I have been able to expand on my legal education outside of the classroom through Harvard’s many clinics and Student Practice Organizations. HLS’s various organizations ensure there are offerings related to anyone’s interests.

There is not one area of law I have been unable to pursue at HLS.

The Recording Artists Project

During my 1L fall, I joined the Recording Artists Project (RAP), a Student Practice Organization focused on advising clients in the entertainment industry. Through RAP, I worked with a team of students to help draft a fee finder’s agreement for a former manager in the entertainment industry. This helped me connect with likeminded students with an interest in entertainment law while strengthening my ability to draft legal agreements. As I continued my studies, I expanded on my involvement in RAP by becoming the Co-Managing Print Editor for the Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. 

The Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project

During my 1L spring, I joined the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project (HLEP). This Student Practice Organization focuses on advising start-ups across Harvard. We worked with attorneys from Cooley LLP to help an education startup analyze copyright and patentability issues related to launching an online, AI-based platform. Through this, I gained experience revising legal documents under the supervision of attorneys at large, transactional law firms. I also learned how to manage relationships with clients and facilitate check-in meetings.

The Cyberlaw Clinic

During my 2L spring, I enrolled in Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic. This clinic explores issues related to the Internet such as copyright, licensing, artificial intelligence, and data privacy. Through the Cyberlaw Clinic, I helped a client revise a film documentary agreement. For another client,  I researched issues related to copyright and licensing of products being incorporated into an AI-based platform. I also completed a client intake analysis, analyzing whether a project revolving around a nonprofit’s partnership with a streaming service would be of interest to clinical students. All of these projects helped me learn client centered lawyering while allowing me to build my legal research and writing skills. During weekly seminars, I also had the opportunity to learn about the wide array of projects other students were working on at the clinic.

I’m excited to continue working with clients while pursuing my studies here and encourage all applicants to thoroughly explore HLS’s many clinical and Student Practice Organization opportunities!

As an individual interested in transactional law, my experiences working with clients through HLS have helped me develop valuable skills that I will apply to my future career.

Danielle Mikaelian is the descendant of orphaned Armenian Genocide survivors. She graduated from Columbia University in 2021 with a BA in English Literature. Danielle is currently a 3L at Harvard Law, where she serves as Chief of Staff for the Harvard Association of Law and Business (HALB).

–Danielle Mikaelian ’25