Fellows work on human rights issues in the U.S. by alternating between one year at Human Rights Watch and one year at the ACLU. Strong research, writing, legal analytical skills. Experience with trauma-sensitive interviews, media, and press releases. Exposure to complex litigation. Must be able to practice in U.S. during the two-year fellowship. Preference for applicants with knowledge of a foreign language. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. 

Directed by Georgetown Law, Fellows provide quality representation at PDS to adults and adolescents accused of crimes, while developing skills as a clinical instructor. Emphasize long-term commitment to PD work and racial justice. Apply early for its rolling deadline. Submit all essay drafts for review well in advance of the deadline. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment.

Location: St. Louis, MO
Deadline: November 15, 2024
Learn more about the Appellate Clinic Director and the Intellectual Property Clinic Director positions.
This job posting has not been vetted by our office and the employer has not given assurances of non-discrimination or compliance with our recruitment policies.

Location: Providence, RI
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Learn more about the Senior Litigation Attorney and Special Assistant Attorney General positions.
This job posting has not been vetted by our office and the employer has not given assurances of non-discrimination or compliance with our recruitment policies.

The ACLU runs multiple different organization-based fellowships for specific targeted litigation (Brennan First Amendment/National Security, Technology, and Privacy; Karpatkin Racial Justice Fellowship is now 2 yrs, etc.). Familiarity with their ongoing litigation and latest policy advocacy, as well as highlighting your writing and research skills, are key for integrating into their team hiring. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. 

Please note that some deadlines vary by host country. Check the national deadline for your host country to determine which internal deadline you must meet. Project proposal should be endemic to the host country, detailed in methodology, and positioned as a “novel contribution to the field” driven by “why” and “how” questions for critical analysis. Besides the three letters of recommendation for a Fulbright (preferably 2 of the 3 from HLS Faculty), you will also need a Letter of Affiliation from the host country (faculty from an institute of higher learning/NGO), a language form from someone who has taught the host’s official language, and a Campus Evaluation (this fellowship requires a discussion with Judy Murciano in an advising appointment or during drop-in office hours). Submit your drafts for review well in advance of the internal deadline. 

If you missed out on the bidding period for V-PIIP virtual interviews, not to worry! You still have the opportunity to apply to many employers participating in the resume collection program. Bidding for V-PIIP resume collection runs through September 12th at 12pm ET. Find the current employer list here.

Location: New Haven, CT
Deadline: December 1, 2024
Learn more about the Visiting Clinical Faculty position.
This job posting has not been vetted by our office and the employer has not given assurances of non-discrimination or compliance with our recruitment policies.

Prepare for the PMF by carefully reading the updated Applicant Handbook and answering the practice questions applying their key competencies. Note: 1) Register with your personal Gmail email address, NOT your HLS .edu email address; 2) Request a signed form on HLS letterhead from the HLS Registrar attesting to your status as a student in good standing due to graduate by May 2025. This form is critical and must be ready for uploading together with your transcript (use an official transcript, because PMF wants to see the HLS logo on school documents) and upload a resume (and a certification of veterans’ preference, Native American status, or specially granted accommodations) before you take the PMF exam; 3) Take the exam early and in one sitting. If documentation of eligibility from the Registrar may not arrive before Sept. 18, please contact OPIA asap. The PMF closes at NOON on Sept. 18.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is looking for a two-year (Aug./Sep. 2025–Aug./Sep. 2027) Constitutional Litigation Fellow who is committed to civil rights, impact litigation, and upholding core First Amendment protections. Your work will include defending the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and racial and religious minorities against religion-based discrimination and oppression. And you will fight to keep religion out of government—including through challenges to religious activities in public schools, public financing of religious institutions, and government-sponsored religion in the public square.

EJW Fellows seek to meet the unmet legal needs of marginalized communities in a wide range of issue areas highlighted on their website. Project-driven, the EJW application prioritizes: 1) a clearly defined problem of significant magnitude; 2) an ambitious but feasible means to address the problem with an impactful, creative/innovative concrete strategy; 3) a sustainable and scalable solution; 4) a series of opportunities for engaging the sponsoring firm/corporation in the project. EJW proposals can often serve as a template for many additional fellowships throughout the year. Recommendations sent directly to the EJW portal must be received a week before the deadline. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. Please check the EJW site for relevant info sessions and Guide. 

Skadden Fellows address civil legal services for low-income individuals to foster economic security and provide access to justice for marginalized communities. Whether you are conducting direct legal services or working on impact systemic change, it is critical to identify clients’ legal needs first and address the racial justice lens of your work overall. Host organizations may attach to their sponsorship letter community and/or media support for the targeted issue. Former and current Fellows can also contribute additional supporting letters for your work. Please consult the Skadden Application page for important dates. Sign up early for mock interviews with Judy Murciano by selecting Fellowship Advising when making an appointment. Semi-finalists often design colorful one-page handouts for their interviews.

Applying for the U.S. Department of Justice's SLIP or Honors Program? Our application guide is now updated for this year's application cycle.

Read the 2024 OPIA Insider’s Guide

OPIA has now transitioned to a new appointment scheduling system! We have joined the Office of Career Services in CSM/Symplicity, so you will now be able to make all your HLS career advising appointments in one place.

To access CSM, you must have a HarvardKey. You may claim your HarvardKey here. If you need assistance with claiming your HarvardKey, contact the alumni Help Desk.

We appreciate your patience as we make this transition. If you have any questions please contact opia@law.harvard.edu or call us at 617-495-3108.

Bidding closes for V-PIIP virtual interviews on August 21 at 12 p.m. ET. Bidding for resume collection will continue until September 12 at 12 p.m. ET. All applications must be submitted through Symplicity CSM. Visit the step-by-step guide on how to submit your bids through Symplicity CSM.

Location: Boston, MA
Deadline: December 1, 2024
Learn more about the Clinical Professor/Clinical Associate Professor position.
This job posting has not been vetted by our office and the employer has not given assurances of non-discrimination or compliance with our recruitment policies.

Here are the deadlines for OPIA's internally administered fellowships for which 3Ls and alumni are eligible to apply. Mark your calendar and make an appointment to speak with an OPIA adviser!

Location: Oakland, CA
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Learn more about the Lateral Deputy District Attorney position.

Learn more about the private public interest law firms recruiting through V-PIIP with these resources to help you prepare your applications.

Over 120 organizations have signed up to participate in this year's Virtual Public Interest Interview Program (V-PIIP), either through virtual interviewing or resume collection! Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to apply for summer and postgraduate positions with public interest organizations all across the country. Review our resources to help you prepare for the program. We will continue to send you important information and updates throughout the summer, including news on new employer registrations, which extends through August. Please schedule an appointment with an OPIA adviser to help you prepare for the program. Review more employer details through Symplicity CSM

Alumni in the Classes of 2021–23 can now set up an @alumni.harvard.edu email forwarding address through their profile in the HAA Alumni Directory. Alumni from the Class of 2024 will be able to set this up after graduation. For all other classes, this feature will be made available later in 2024.