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Harvard Law School was the first law school in the United States to offer clinical education and today offers more clinical placements than any other law school. Your support propels programs covering more than 30 diverse areas of the law, where students gain real-world, hands-on legal experience under the supervision of practicing attorneys.

Contact a member of our team to learn more.

Giving Opportunities

Gifts to Harvard Law School clinics enrich students’ law school experiences and have a ripple effect on the communities supported by our students and faculty. We hope you will partner with us as we strive to build on this legacy and provide the next generation of leaders and advocates with the best possible training in the law.

  • Endowed Clinic

    Make a permanent impact at HLS by endowing a clinical program and supporting a specific area of the law. Opportunities start at $10,000,000.*

     

    *Naming opportunities available

  • Endowed Clinical Professorship

    Provide permanent support for the faculty leader of a clinic. Opportunities start at $3,000,000.*

     

    *Naming opportunities available

  • Endowed Clinical Fellowship

    Create a unique opportunity for students and graduates to spend time in residence as part of a clinical community. Opportunities start at $2,000,000.*

     

    *Naming opportunities available

  • Endowed Clinical Instructorship

    Empower clinical instructors who work directly with students on a variety of critical projects. Opportunities start at $1,500,000.*

     

    *Naming opportunities available

  • The Annual Fund – Clinical Programs

    Provide direct, immediate support where it is needed most by the clinics with a gift of any size.

The twin pillars of the Clinical and Pro Bono Program at Harvard Law School are to provide exemplary legal services to local, national, and international communities and to ensure the continuous education, learning, and growth of the clinical community. Our remarkable students are at the heart of both of these goals. And our students change the world: one classroom at a time, one case at a time, one client at a time. As our clinical students join the broader legal profession, we know their impact and contributions will only grow.

Merry Boak ’12, Associate Dean, Academic Programs at Harvard Law School

  • J.D. Participation in Clinics 93%
  • Average Pro Bono Hours 632
  • Annual Clinical Placements 1,280

Learning the Law, Serving the World

Each clinic is tied to a classroom component—students receive clinical credit for their legal practice in clinics and academic credit for the course component. 2L, 3L, and LL.M. students can enroll in clinics.

“I decided to attended HLS because of the amazing curricular and clinical opportunities to explore my interest in election law and voting rights advocacy. As a 2L, I have enjoyed spending two semesters in the Election Law Clinic at HLS. In this clinic, I get to work on a variety of litigation and policy work, and am truly trusted to take the lead on so many important projects. I have learned so much about litigation and what being a lawyer actually means through this clinic, while also being about to make a real difference for our clients.”

Rose Reilly ’27

Harvard Law School currently has 25 in-house clinics—located on campus or in Boston—staffed by clinical professors of law, lecturers on law, clinical instructors, clinical fellows, and program administrators who teach students in the clinic and in the classroom.

In addition, there are 13 externship clinics that place students at outside organizations falling under the clinic’s subject area, where they are supervised by attorneys.

List of HLS Clinics in 2025-2026

  • A-C

    Animal Law & Policy Clinic

    Capital Punishment Clinic

    Child Advocacy Clinic

    Consumer Protection Clinic

    Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic

    Criminal Justice Institute

    Criminal Prosecution Clinic

    Crimmigration Clinic

    Cyberlaw Clinic

  • D-G

    Democracy and the Rule of Law Clinic

    Education Law Clinic

    Election Law Clinic

    Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

    Employment Law Clinic

    Family Justice Clinic

    Federal Courts Clinic

    Food Law and Policy Clinic

    Government Lawyer: Attorney General Clinic

    Government Lawyer: Semester in Washington Clinic

    Government Lawyer: United States Attorney Clinic

  • H-L

    Harvard Dispute Systems Design Clinic

    Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic

    The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau

    Health Law and Policy Clinic

    Housing Law Clinic

    Human Rights Entrepreneurs Clinic

    Institute to End Mass Incarceration Clinic

    International Human Rights Clinic

    Judicial Process in Trial Courts Clinic

    LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic

  • M-V

    Mediation Clinic

    Race and Law Clinic

    Religious Freedom Clinic

    Sports Law Clinic

    Supreme Court Litigation Clinic

    Tax Litigation Clinic

    Transactional Law Clinics

    Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic

Student Practice Organizations

Open to all students, Student Practice Organizations (SPOs) are run by student boards and supervised by licensed attorneys. Participation in an SPO allows students to gain practical legal experience that counts toward their graduation pro bono requirement.

Current SPOs

  • Harvard Defenders 
  • Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project 
  • Harvard Mediation Program 
  • Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project 
  • HLS Advocates for Human Rights 
  • HLS Immigration Project 
  • HLS Mississippi Delta Project 
  • HLS Negotiators 
  • Project No One Leaves 
  • Recording Artists Project 
  • Tenant Advocacy Project

“I think HLS has provided me a robust education full of opportunities to explore my different interests, and I’m particularly grateful about the hands-on clinical experiences (like the Food Law and Cyber Law clinics) I’ve had at this school that have already brought me closer to the practical application of the law before I start my full-time legal career.”

– Isabel Yin ’26

Clinic Stories