Student Voices: The Harvard Law Independent Clinical Experience

While Harvard Law School offers both in-house and externship clinics, it also provides students with more tailored, unique opportunities through its independent clinical programs. Independent clinical programs offer students interested in specialized areas of law with the opportunity to work with an organization of their choice while receiving course credit. Students can either choose organizations of interest to work with or look at available opportunities posted through Harvard. Independent clinicals are graded on a Credit/Fail basis.

My Journey at the Federal Reserve

While I did not enter HLS planning to pursue an independent clinical, I saw a unique opportunity to work with the Federal Reserve of Boston in its Office of Community Development. This division of the Federal Reserve promotes equitable economic growth by connecting financial institutions, community organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders to resources and opportunities.

Given my interest in property law and my experience working on real estate transactions during internships at two New York law firms, this opportunity was a natural fit. I applied, was accepted, and have continued working as a Legal Fellow with the Federal Reserve of Boston throughout my 3L year. Every week, I submit reflections to Harvard that summarize the extent and impact of my work. I have been privileged to have Molly Brady, my section leader and property law professor, act as a faculty supervisor. Harvard’s Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs has maintained frequent contact with me throughout the course of the independent clinical to provide additional support.

During the independent clinical, I met with Federal Reserve researchers on a weekly basis, conducting in-depth research on issues affecting residential communities in Massachusetts. Our team also connected with researchers in other cities to hear their policy approaches to resolving different issues—whether it involved providing funding or coordinating volunteer legal programs.

Overall, the team at the Federal Reserve actively engaged me in their projects, offering opportunities such as co-authorship on final research reports and invitations to launch events in conjunction with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. This experience allowed me to explore systemic inequities affecting neighborhoods across Massachusetts while proactively developing potential solutions. I also conducted extensive research on barriers to home equity access and studied initiatives across the U.S. aimed at resolving these challenges.

I highly recommend that applicants, as well as incoming students, look into independent clinicals at Harvard Law. If an existing clinic at HLS does not offer an opportunity in an area of interest, you can create your own tailored experience!

Danielle Mikaelian is a graduate of Columbia University with a BA in English Literature. She currently is a 3L at Harvard Law School. At Harvard Law, she is an executive board member of the Harvard Association for Law and Business. Danielle Mikaelian has also worked as a Student Attorney for Harvard’s Cyberlaw Clinic, Entrepreneurship Project, and Recording Artists Project. She has served as Co-Managing Editor of Print for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law, a Submissions editor for the Human Rights Journal, an editor for the Business Law Review, and an editor for the International Law Journal.

–Danielle Mikaelian ’25