Some of you may be considering government work for your 2L summer. Most federal agencies (including DOJ), and many state and local offices have in the past offered formal internship programs for students. Learn more about how to approach your government internship search and read about important upcoming deadlines.

It’s not too late to join a clinic for the Fall semester!  Please reach out to clinical@law.harvard.edu if you have any questions about these clinic opportunities, clinical credits, or anything else. Students may enroll in the clinics listed below through the Add/Drop page in Helios. You can view more about the clinical curriculum offered in Academic Year 26-27AY here.

View fall clinic opportunities

Although most public interest employers will not begin to consider applications for honors programs or other permanent post-graduate positions until the fall, we wanted to alert you to some earlier deadlines of which we are currently aware. This list includes several government honors programs and organization-based fellowships (no third-party funder needed) with nonprofits and private public interest law firms. For more opportunities, be sure to review our fellowship host organizations list. 

Although the majority of public interest employers will not begin to consider applications for 2L summer internships until the fall, we wanted to alert you to a few earlier deadlines of which we are currently aware.

If you will be doing a public interest job search for your 2L summer, we recommend that you make an appointment to speak with an OPIA adviser in July or August. Summer is a great time to do this, as it avoids the fall rush as 1Ls seek appointments!

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

If you would like OPIA to review your resume and/or cover letter in advance of the V-PIIP virtual interview bidding deadline you must submit them through our resume and cover letter review request form by Wednesday, July 22nd, 11:59 p.m. ET. Please submit your materials as Word documents (not PDF).

OPIA will review one resume and one cover letter per student per academic year. Materials submitted to OPIA for review for V-PIIP are factored into our policy.

In this recent webinar, OPIA staff discussed factors to consider when choosing a 2L summer job. Topics include: how to determine which kinds of internships to pursue; key steps to a successful search; applications and job search timeline; and summer networking strategies.

Watch or listen now.

These 1-hour sessions, broken into two 30-minute slots each, are designed to allow you to connect directly with employers and learn more about their work. Register now!

Learn more about the nonprofit and legal services employers recruiting through V-PIIP. Review these resources to help you prepare your bid list and get a snapshot of currently registered employers.

OPIA will be closed on July 3rd, 2026, in observance of Independence Day.

Over 90 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

As you are likely just starting your summer position, we know that it may feel early to start thinking about next summer. But the application process for many 2L public interest summer positions begins in late summer/early fall, and we want to make sure you are well prepared.

If you’re considering a 2L summer public interest job search, please let OPIA know by filling out this very brief survey. Thank you!

Check out our summer job FAQs for answers to more commonly asked questions about the summer public interest job search, and plan to attend our …

Congratulations, graduates! We have loved working with you. We are inspired by your hard work and tenacity; by your outrage at the injustices and inadequacies that are far too present in our legal system and the world; by your deep commitment to using the law as a tool for change; and by your compassion for, and support of, each other.

The world needs you now, more than ever — and we know you are ready to meet the challenges that lie beyond the doors of Harvard Law School. We are looking forward to watching your impactful careers unfold and cheering on your accomplishments for the clients and communities you will be serving. Please know that we will always be among your biggest fans!

We very much hope that you will stay in touch through the months and years to come, and don’t forget that many of our services remain available to you after you leave HLS.

All graduating students are encouraged to join our alumni listserv to receive a weekly email highlighting job & fellowship opportunities, ways to engage with our office (such as alumni happy hours, mentoring programs and networking events), and various job-related events. And as an alum, please do contribute your thoughts to our Alumni Speak Series to inspire the next generation of students along the public interest path!

Not graduating in 2026? If you are a joint-degree student, on leave, or will for any reason be returning to campus next year, please let us know! We will need to move you to the appropriate class listserv.

Congratulations on completing your 2L year! Now that you are a rising 3L, be on the lookout for our 3L Weekly Bulletins and check out the 3L Guide to Entry-Level Post-Graduate Jobs to help you plan your post-graduate job search.

Congratulations on completing your 1L year! Now that you are a rising 2L, be on the lookout for our 2L Weekly Bulletins and check out the 2L Guide to Summer Jobs to help you plan your 2L job search.

We want you to be a part of the Who Worked Where list! Please take a minute to complete the summer employment survey in CSM and let us know where you are working this summer.

Early fellowship sponsorships are happening now!  Make sure you are aware of upcoming deadlines and apply for priority consideration before they close. You can view sponsorship calls we are aware of below and in the CSM job bank, and read more about fellowships generally in our recent e-advising post. Remember that many organizations will not circulate formal postings, and that a thorough sponsorship search includes direct outreach in the early summer to organizations of interest regardless of whether they have posted an open sponsorship call.