If you haven’t yet secured an internship for this summer, don’t panic. There are still public interest employers that are actively hiring in March and even in April. If you put in the effort, apply broadly, and remain persistent, you WILL find a summer job.

Due to federal hiring changes impacting in-process summer employment searches, judicial clerkships/internships will be eligible for summer public interest funding (SPIF) for the summer of 2025. Internships with a judge or court are typically not funded by SPIF, with the exception of international war crimes and human rights courts that involve more than one country.

The Henigson Fellowships require pre-review approval at least a month before they are due. Consult with HRP Associate Director Abadir Ibrahim.

Equal Justice America's fellowship program offers summer fellowship grants up to $5,000 for 10 weeks of full-time work. To apply, students need to have placement lined up with an organization that provides civil legal assistance to people in need. The deadline to apply is March 24, 2025.

For more information, please visit Equal Justice America's website.

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.

• Youth Summer Fellowship, Indigenous Peoples & Minorities Section - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Priority Deadline: February 3, 2025

• Youth Summer Fellowship, Humanitarian Funds (against Slavery & Torture) - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Priority Deadline: February 3, 2025

• Legal Intern, Programmes & Projects Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

• Legal Intern, Administrative Law Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

• Legal Intern, Corporate and Institutional Law Team - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Deadline: January 31, 2025

If you have questions or concerns about your summer job search, please make an appointment or visit our daily drop-in office hours. Advisers are available to help with whatever job search questions you may be facing.

Networking is an essential part of getting to know the world of public interest law. But sometimes, it can feel intimidating to approach a potential contact, or hard to know where to plug in and get started. Review this Q&A to help make networking a smoother part of your professional journey.

OCS and OPIA will be hosting a virtual Spring Interview Program (SIP) featuring both private and public sector employers recruiting for summer and postgraduate positions. Bidding will take place in early January, with virtual interviews being held in early February. In conjunction with the Virtual Spring Interview Program, there will be virtual employer chats with public sector employers on January 14th and 15th that students may register for in advance. More details about these employer chats, including who will be participating, and how to sign-up, will be shared in early January.

One of the toughest parts of a public interest job search is managing the timeline. The lack of a unified, consistent hiring timeline by public interest employers and the fact that every individual’s situation differs can complicate the search process. Consider the following tips about communicating with employers as you navigate interviews and offers.

Interviews that persuade and stick reflect five key elements.

January is a busy month for Harvard-funded fellowships, and in particular, for Harvard-funded international fellowships. Be aware of the following upcoming deadlines:

January 7, 2025 by 11:59 PM: International Court of Justice Judicial Fellows Programme nomination application due
January 13, 2025: International Legal Studies Post-Graduate Fellowship application due (for work in international courts and tribunals)
January 13, 2025: Committee on General Scholarship Fellowships (for 3Ls and SJDs only, to travel, research, and work abroad) application due

Be sure to reserve appointments to speak with OPIA’s fellowships director about these opportunities, and upload drafts of your materials to OPIA for guidance well in advance of any deadline.

HLS may nominate one ICJ Fellow each year who seeks to deepen their understanding of international law and the Court’s processes. Among the 3 letters of recommendation, JDs/LLMs should choose international law faculty who can attest to applicant’s strong academic record and research and writing skills. CV/resume should highlight publications and exposure to complex litigation. Relevant writing sample under 15 pgs. should demonstrate facility with legal analysis and evidence. Some French proficiency expected. Sign up for Fellowship Advising appointment in advance of submission to CARAT.

All applicants must carefully consult the PSVF Org-Based details and MOU to check for eligibility for themselves and the host organization before January 13, 2025. Prior efforts to secure a PSVF host may include non-PSVF eligible organizations, but all jobs and fellowships listed must show an authentic effort to launch a long-term public interest career for which the candidate is realistically qualified. Sign up for a Fellowship Advising appointment in advance of submission to CARAT.

The International Legal Studies Postgraduate Fellowships fund a recent HLS graduate to clerk or intern in an international or foreign/supernational court or tribunal. Applicants should highlight their demonstrated interest in international or transnational law and how this fellowship would be significant for their career trajectory. If an applicant is unsure regarding eligibility of their host, they are encouraged to contact Andre Barbic (abarbic@law.harvard.edu) at ILS. Applicants are also advised to make a Fellowship Advising appointment.

The DAG Fellowship seeks students and clerks with a commitment to community/movement lawyering demonstrated through clinical work and organizing. Project proposals should highlight innovative, impactful, sustainable social justice change and community buy-in. 

Besides acquiring a host letter from a non-profit organization, applicants should choose 2 letters of recommendation: preferably at least one from Harvard clinical faculty. Sign up for a Fellowship Advising appointment in advance of submission to CARAT. 

Follow these key tips for PSVF Organization-Based Fellowship applications and learn about the PSVF Seed Grant.

Follow these key tips for PSVF Organization-Based Fellowship applications.

Review some of the most common 1L job search questions in our Job Search FAQs, including how to navigate interviews, offers, and other communication with employers. 

Interviews take on particular significance with public interest employers, as they seek to learn about your interest in their mission and your fit with their office. The following resources can help you prepare to put your best foot forward in interviews with public interest employers.

Each year public interest and government employers take advantage of the opportunity to interview students from ABA-accredited Massachusetts law schools for summer and permanent positions through the Massachusetts Law School Consortium (MLSC) Job Fairs (the Fall & Winter Government/Public Interest Programs): one for the fall, and another for the winter. The interviews for the winter program will be conducted virtually on January 23 & 24, 2025. This program is open to ALL JD students (including 1Ls). Learn more about the program, including how to participate, by going to OPIA's MLSC webpage and follow the instructions on how to submit applications.