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.

Please note that first-round applications for Summer 2027 Peggy Browning Fund Fellowships are opening Monday, June 1 for rising 2Ls, and will close September 30, 2026. Another round with more organizations will start in early November 2026.

The Semester in Washington Clinic is an extraordinary opportunity to work at the intersection of government, policy, and practice while pursuing your particular academic and career interests and goals.
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Judge Neal E. Kravitz, of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, is seeking clerkship applications for the term beginning in the late summer of 2027. Judge Kravitz has a strong public interest background. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a resume, a law school transcript, and up to three letters of recommendation to JudgeKravitzChambers@dcsc.gov (and please bcc cpattanayak@law.harvard.edu). There are two positions. They will be open until filled.

As you take a breath between the end of finals period and the beginning of your summer job, now is a great time to start to familiarize yourself with the public interest job search process and timeline you can expect during your 2L year. (You read that right – you’re a 2L now!)

Though it’s only May, some early fellowship sponsorship deadlines have already been announced. If you are clerking next year, don’t miss the chance to apply for 2027 fellowship host opportunities closing in late May and early June in particular. Check out recently posted fellowship host organization deadlines in the CSM job bank, and read more about fellowships generally in our recent e-advising post. Sponsorship deadlines will continue throughout the summer. Here are some host organization deadlines of which we are currently aware.

You have successfully navigated the summer job search, and you begin your internship full of excitement and optimism. But what if, in the middle of your summer, you’re not having the experience you’d hoped for? Perhaps you’re not getting enough work, or enough supervision. Or, maybe you’re getting too much work, or are confused about how to approach a project, or are feeling overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions for addressing some common summer internship challenges students face.

The Social Innovation Fellows Program supports selected students across Harvard – known as SICI Fellows – advancing progress on a social problem through an effort of their own design. Through weekly co-curricular programming, coaching, mentoring, and seed funding (up to $30K), it provides a platform for students to develop and scale efforts while in school and post-graduation. The application opens on May 8.

Once you identify jobs for which you would like to apply, it is time to start preparing your application materials. During your 2L summer, complete the following to prepare materials for an entry-level public interest job search.

Government Honors Programs are the most common pathway for 3Ls and certain recent graduates to enter government service. In preparation for your 3L year, you should start to get familiar with these opportunities now.

Are you interning in government this summer? Would you like to connect with other students who are doing so, and attend online panels this summer with HLS alumni who have had fantastic government experiences at the federal, state and/or local levels? If so, plan to attend the kickoff lunch for this year's Heyman Summer Program on Monday, April 20th from 12:30 to 1:15 in Milstein East A. You’ll have the chance to connect with other students interning in your city, or in comparable offices in other cities, and to hear about plans for summer virtual programming. Please RSVP so we can get a headcount for lunch.

Speaking with attorneys practicing in your areas of interest is a critical component of a successful post-graduate job search. Here are some ways you can maximize your networking opportunities this summer and beyond.

In this new video, hear from OPIA’s Fellowships Director about the different types of fellowships, how to identify the right fit for your individual interests and goals, the typical action steps and timeline required for fellowship applications, and practical tips for a successful fellowship experience. Watch the video.

Spring of your 3L year is the best time to start preparing for your post-clerkship public interest job search. Watch or listen to the Entry-Level Job Search webinar to get your post-clerkship job search questions about getting started, how to decide what jobs to pursue, what employers are looking for, and how to find job opportunities answered by the knowledgeable OPIA advisers.

Spring of your 2L year is the best time to start preparing for your post-graduate public interest job search. Watch or listen to the Entry-Level Job Search webinar to get your entry-level job search questions about getting started, how to decide what jobs to pursue, what employers are looking for, and how to find job opportunities answered by the knowledgeable OPIA advisers.