Congratulations to Kennedy Mattes ‘28, Harvard Law School’s student honoree for the 2026 American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Pro Bono and Access to Justice Section’s Pro Bono Honor Roll! The Pro Bono Honor Roll celebrates and highlights the pro bono work of law school staff, faculty, and students who provide significant contributions to their law school community’s pro bono legal services.
Mattes is recognized for her outstanding commitment to pro bono service as a member of the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP) and Harvard Defenders. During her 1L year, Mattes completed the highest number of pro bono hours in the Class of 2028 through her work in PLAP and Defenders.
“Thank you so much to Harvard Defenders and PLAP for the opportunity to work alongside Massachusetts residents on their cases,” Kennedy said. “The most meaningful part of case preparation, whether for a criminal clerk-magistrate’s hearing or prison disciplinary hearing, is getting to know each person beyond their case. Over time, conversations about case strategy turn into sharing dinner recipes and meeting family and friends. These relationships are why I am so excited to pursue public defense after graduation. This work is also rewarding because I am surrounded by friends who will stay late at the office the night before a hearing to reconsider every word of their argument. It has been an honor to call these organizations my communities on campus.”
This year, Mattes has continued her dedication to pro bono work by joining the executive boards of both SPOs. At PLAP, she serves as Policy Advocacy Director, and at Defenders, she serves as Intake Director. In addition to her work with PLAP and Defenders, Mattes also contributes pro bono legal services to Boston residents as a member of the Housing Law Clinic. She spent her 1L summer as a legal intern at the Family Defense Practice of Brooklyn Defender Services in New York.
Congratulations, Kennedy!