Learn more about the government employers currently recruiting through V-PIIP and find resources to help you prepare.

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 vast 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.

The 2025-2026 DOJ Honors Program application will open on August 22, 2025, and close on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

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

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.

Over 110 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

OPIA is now using CSM for application materials review! Going forward, if you would like OPIA to review your materials, please complete this new form and attach your document(s) as Word docs. Your materials will then be assigned to an adviser for review. When completed, you will receive a notification to retrieve your reviewed document(s) from CSM.

Reminder: we will review one resume and one cover letter per academic year for 1Ls, 2Ls, and alumni. We will review multiple materials (including fellowships application materials, honors program essays, etc.) for 3Ls and LL.M.s pursuing post-graduate positions. Please allow 10-14 business days for your materials to be returned with edits and comments.

Please note that the following fall clinics still have open seats available:

Animal Law & Policy Clinic
Child Advocacy Clinic
Criminal Justice Institute: Criminal Defense Clinic
Criminal Prosecution Clinic
Family Justice Clinic
Food Law and Policy Clinic
Harvard Dispute Systems Design Clinic
Health Law and Policy Clinic
Human Rights Entrepreneurs Clinic
LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic
Tax Litigation Clinic
Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic

Though the summer has just begun, some fellowship sponsorship deadlines have already been announced. Don’t miss the chance to apply for host opportunities closing in June and early July in particular.  Get a head start on surveying the landscape at our fellowship host organization deadlines feed, and read more about fellowships generally in our recent e-advising post. Sponsorship deadlines will continue throughout the summer.

The Nebraska Space, Cyber, and National Security Law Program is offering a Student Travel Award to support a law student's attendance at their Annual DC Conference on September 18, 2025, with additional visits to federal offices and commercial companies. The travel dates for this conference are September 16–19, 2025, and the award will cover the cost of domestic airfare and lodging. Apply by July 14. Learn more about the Student Travel Award.

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

The New World Social Innovation Fellows Program supports selected student changemakers – known as Cheng Fellows – advancing progress on a social challenge through an effort of their design. Through weekly co-curricular programming, coaching, mentoring, and seed funding, it provides a platform for students to develop and scale efforts while in school and post-graduation. The application deadline has been extended and is now July 13, 2025.

Timeline Your 2L summer job search in the public sector should be underway by late July/early August. Employers hire 2Ls much earlier than 1Ls, and…

Though some of these firms participate in campus recruiting, more accept direct applications over the summer and early fall, and even more will field a proactive inquiry about summer work even if there is no live job posting or formal summer associate program.  In addition to CSM, keep your eye on our 2L jobs board and the National Plaintiffs' Law Association (NPLA) job board, and watch this space for announcements about employers participating in our Virtual Public Interest Interview Program (V-PIIP).  For even more information and resources, refer to our blog post from April about plaintiffs’ firms.

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.

Please note that first-round applications for Summer 2026 Peggy Browning Fund Fellowships are opening Monday, June 2 for rising 2Ls, and will close September 30, 2025. Another round with more organizations will start in early November 2025.

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 2025? 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.

We welcome you to stop by the OPIA suite any time after the diploma ceremony so we can congratulate you on your graduation and sing your praises to your loved ones. Hope to see you there!

Thursday May 29, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
OPIA Suite, WCC 4039

Mimosas and cookies will be served.

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 2026 fellowship host opportunities closing in late May and early June in particular. Get a head start on surveying the landscape at our fellowship host organization deadlines feed, and read more about fellowships generally in our recent e-advising post. Sponsorship deadlines will continue throughout the summer.