We look forward to getting to know you in the coming months and to helping you learn more about public interest career opportunities. Although formal career advising does not begin until October 15, you can still take affirmative steps now to begin your career exploration. Read this post to learn how.

The ACLU runs multiple different organization-based fellowships for specific targeted litigation (Brennan First Amendment/National Security, Technology, and Privacy; Karpatkin Racial Justice Fellowship is now 2 yrs, etc.). Familiarity with their ongoing litigation and latest policy advocacy, as well as highlighting your writing and research skills, are key for integrating into their team hiring. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. 

Please note that some deadlines vary by host country. Check the national deadline for your host country to determine which internal deadline you must meet. Project proposal should be endemic to the host country, detailed in methodology, and positioned as a “novel contribution to the field” driven by “why” and “how” questions for critical analysis. Besides the three letters of recommendation for a Fulbright (preferably 2 of the 3 from HLS Faculty), you will also need a Letter of Affiliation from the host country (faculty from an institute of higher learning/NGO), a language form from someone who has taught the host’s official language, and a Campus Evaluation (this fellowship requires a discussion with Judy Murciano in an advising appointment or during drop-in office hours). Submit your drafts for review well in advance of the internal deadline. 

As a PSL, you will have the opportunity to connect with other public interest-oriented students, participate in unique leadership development programming, and receive mentorship from like-minded alumni and upper-class students. To sign up, please complete the Public Service Leaders registration form by September 19.  Also mark your calendars for a PSL kickoff event on September 24 at 6:30pm in WCC 1010. Food and drinks provided at the social hour that follows immediately after the meeting! 

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.

Bidding for the fall Massachusetts Law School Consortium (MLSC) Government and Public Interest Interview Program closes on Monday, September 9, at 12 p.m. ET. This year's interviews will be conducted virtually on October 7 & 8, 2024. Review the employer list and learn more about the MLSC program and how to participate.

Prepare for the PMF by carefully reading the updated Applicant Handbook and answering the practice questions applying their key competencies. Note: 1) Register with your personal Gmail email address, NOT your HLS .edu email address; 2) Request a signed form on HLS letterhead from the HLS Registrar attesting to your status as a student in good standing due to graduate by May 2025. This form is critical and must be ready for uploading together with your transcript (use an official transcript, because PMF wants to see the HLS logo on school documents) and upload a resume (and a certification of veterans’ preference, Native American status, or specially granted accommodations) before you take the PMF exam; 3) Take the exam early and in one sitting. If documentation of eligibility from the Registrar may not arrive before Sept. 18, please contact OPIA asap. The PMF closes at NOON on Sept. 18.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is looking for a two-year (Aug./Sep. 2025–Aug./Sep. 2027) Constitutional Litigation Fellow who is committed to civil rights, impact litigation, and upholding core First Amendment protections. Your work will include defending the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and racial and religious minorities against religion-based discrimination and oppression. And you will fight to keep religion out of government—including through challenges to religious activities in public schools, public financing of religious institutions, and government-sponsored religion in the public square.

EJW Fellows seek to meet the unmet legal needs of marginalized communities in a wide range of issue areas highlighted on their website. Project-driven, the EJW application prioritizes: 1) a clearly defined problem of significant magnitude; 2) an ambitious but feasible means to address the problem with an impactful, creative/innovative concrete strategy; 3) a sustainable and scalable solution; 4) a series of opportunities for engaging the sponsoring firm/corporation in the project. EJW proposals can often serve as a template for many additional fellowships throughout the year. Recommendations sent directly to the EJW portal must be received a week before the deadline. Sign up for advising with Judy Murciano by making a Fellowship appointment. Please check the EJW site for relevant info sessions and Guide. 

Skadden Fellows address civil legal services for low-income individuals to foster economic security and provide access to justice for marginalized communities. Whether you are conducting direct legal services or working on impact systemic change, it is critical to identify clients’ legal needs first and address the racial justice lens of your work overall. Host organizations may attach to their sponsorship letter community and/or media support for the targeted issue. Former and current Fellows can also contribute additional supporting letters for your work. Please consult the Skadden Application page for important dates. Sign up early for mock interviews with Judy Murciano by selecting Fellowship Advising when making an appointment. Semi-finalists often design colorful one-page handouts for their interviews.

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.

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!

The People's Parity Project Leadership Fellows program is open to rising 2Ls with an anticipated two-year commitment. The fellowship will start in September 2024 and finish in May 2026. Applications are due by August 22nd. Learn more about the fellowship and apply here.

The Equal Justice Works Career Fair is the largest public interest legal career fair in the country, bringing together more than 250 public interest employers and over 2,500 law students and recent graduates for prescheduled interviews and informal "table talk" discussions over the course of three days. There are currently over 70 employers hiring for postgraduate positions.

The 2024 Equal Justice Works Career Fair will be held virtually from October 9-11. Registration is now open!

The Equal Justice Works Career Fair is the largest public interest legal career fair in the country, bringing together more than 250 public interest employers and over 2,500 law students and recent graduates for prescheduled interviews and informal "table talk" discussions over the course of three days.

The 2024 Equal Justice Works Career Fair will be held virtually from October 9-11. Registration is now open!

View the employer list for up-to-date listings of employers participating either through table talks or interviews.  In particular, note that the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division tends to hire many of its 2L summer interns through the EJW Career Fair.  You must apply for prescheduled interviews for all employers by Thursday, September 12 at 5 p.m. ET.

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

Although the vast majority of public interest employers will not begin to consider applications for post-graduate employment until the fall, we wanted to alert you to some earlier deadlines of which we are currently aware.

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.

Learn more about the prosecutor's offices and defender agencies recruiting through V-PIIP. Review these resources to help you prepare your bids.