‘It is a privilege to represent someone’

This spring, students and staff members at the Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute reflected on their work in the clinic – their drive to advance justice, the importance of their client relationships, and the lessons they’ll carry with them in the future.

The Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) offers a unique union of classroom instruction and hands-on experience for students who represent indigent adults and juvenile clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in the Boston criminal courts. Students are assigned cases in local district and juvenile courts, handling everything from the arraignment to investigation to motions to trial. CJI students learn to provide client-centered representation, developing their advocacy skills to help their clients both in and out of the courtroom.