Around the country, law students and lawyers are facing a period of uncertainty. OPIA has always been here to support the HLS public interest community.  If you are an HLS alum in need of public interest career support, please reach out to us for an appointment.

To our wonderful network of OPIA alumni – we need your help!  If you are an employer with a potential opportunity (for students or alumni) or if you are available to offer guidance and support to one of our students or alums, please let us know by submitting a job posting or emailing us directly.

Please note that applications for the following OPIA-administered fellowships are due in February:

Public Service Venture Fund Org-Based Fellowship
February 7, 2025, 5:00 pm 
PSVF Org-Based Fellowships are intended to help launch students’ and judicial clerks’ public interest careers at the public service organization of their choice that otherwise is not hiring at the entry-level.

To our Los Angeles area alumni - we are devastated by the news coming from your hometown. Your OPIA family sends prayers and we hope that you are safe and unharmed. 

For those interested in public international law, the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s Judicial Fellowship Programme offers an opportunity like a clerkship. HLS is one of several law schools invited to nominate a single candidate, and the school provides a stipend to its nominee. Now would be a good time for anyone interested in the position for fall 2025 to gear up to apply. The Court has not yet released its application timeline for the 2025-2026 term, but we expect it to be similar to past years, for which applications were due internally to HLS in early January. Additional details are on the OCS page about the Judicial Fellows Programme.

International Legal Studies (ILS) is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 International Legal Studies Post-Graduate Fellowships. The Fellowships are open to HLS graduates from the classes of 2022-2025.

Applications are due to International Legal Studies by Monday, January 13, 2025. Learn more about the ILS Post-Graduate Fellowships.

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.

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.

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!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Public Service Venture Fund, which serves to support HLS graduates’ public interest careers and amplify the impact of their work. Read more about the PSVF, its history, and how some alumni are using PSVF funds to build a better world.

We have added a couple of new elements to our weekly alumni digest to improve the navigation and to help you find the job opportunities you are interested in.

• We have added a new category in our job postings for remote jobs. You will find it at the end of the alumni digest, after international jobs.
• We have also added jump links to each job category at the top of the job postings, which will allow for easier navigation.

Below are events a part of the Life After Law School Series. Click on each one to learn more.

Looking for a small way to contribute to the public interest legacy at HLS and encourage the next generation of public interest lawyers? OPIA is excited to announce the creation of a social justice library, a space in our suite that we hope will inspire students and facilitate community-building among public interest-minded students and alumni.
Find out how you can help!

One of the benefits of attending Harvard Law School is that it gives you a lot of freedom to carve out your unique career path.