Spanish for Public Interest Lawyers – Fall 2014

Description

Spanish for Public Interest Lawyers is a non-credit class that offers HLS students the opportunity to learn Spanish language skills in a legal context, emphasizing language most commonly used in civil and criminal legal services practice.

The class will strengthen existing Spanish speaking and comprehension abilities and teach Spanish legal vocabulary to students involved in public interest legal practice. The class will introduce students to general legal Spanish vocabulary (e.g. immigration, human rights, legal aid, etc.). Students will work to develop stronger attorney-client relations by improving communication with Spanish-speaking clients.

Student Requirements

• Students must be conversational in Spanish.
• This class is not for credit, but regular attendance is required. The class will meet once a week for two hours (time TBD).
• Class participation is vital and outside homework is minimal. Language practice and listening to Spanish between classes is encouraged.

Enrollment

• Enrollment is limited to 18 students.
• 2L and 3L students currently in a direct services clinic or SPO who are conversational in Spanish will receive priority.
• Students meeting the criteria will be accepted through a randomized selection process.

To Apply
Email clinical@law.harvard.edu with the following information by 5PM on Wednesday, October 15:

• Name
• Year (2L, 3L)
• Name of clinic or SPO you are working with
• Rank in order of preference ideal class time:

Tuesdays 7-9PM
Wednesdays 7-9PM

• At least one paragraph, in Spanish, describing prior or current experience you’ve had speaking Spanish, any experience with Spanish-speaking clients, and what you hope to learn by taking this class.

Students will be contacted on October 17 with the results of their application. Students who are accepted will receive information about the class meeting time. Classes will be held weekly. The first class will meet the week of October 20 and the last class will meet the week of December 1.

Students who meet the criteria but are not accepted for the fall semester will be given priority in the spring semester.