To learn more about the Clinical Curriculum and Registration, please visit our Clinical Registration Center. You can also find more information on How to Register for Clinics and How Clinical Credits Work.

For more information about this clinic, please visit the Clinic Website, Clinic Q&A and OCP Blog Highlights.

Enrollment in this clinic will fulfill the HLS JD pro bono requirement.

Required Class Component: Election Law Clinical Seminar (2 fall classroom credits). The clinic and course are bundled; your enrollment in the clinic will automatically enroll you in the required course.

Additional Co-/Pre-Requisites: None.

By Permission: Yes. Applications are due by by April 26, 2024. The deadline for incoming Transfer students and LLM students is July 15, 2024.

Add/Drop Deadline: August 23, 2024.

LLM Students: LLM students should apply by the July 15, 2024 deadline.

The Election Law Clinic offers Harvard Law students the opportunity to do hands-on litigation and advocacy work across a range of election law areas, including current active redistricting and vote suppression cases. Clinic offerings will include federal and state litigation projects, as well as some advocacy opportunities. Under the supervision of Clinic Director Ruth Greenwood, Litigation Director Theresa Lee, and Clinical Instructor Daniel Hessel, clinic students will work on every aspect of litigation, including pre-filing investigations, meeting and retaining clients, engaging in lay and expert discovery, briefing and arguing dispositive motions, pre-trial preparations and trial practice, as well as the appellate process. Election law cases rely heavily on political scientists as experts, so students will have broad exposure to emerging theories and methods in political science and how to communicate them to a legal audience. Students will also engage in one-off amicus brief work for cases of national importance. Professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos will provide strategic guidance and supervision for briefing, expert discovery, and appellate work.

In addition to the regular caseload, students may work on advocacy opportunities such as drafting legislation, legislative testimony, and engaging experts in the policy advocacy process at the federal and state levels. There will also be opportunities to attend national and state coalition meetings that include lawyers, organizers, and communications experts.

Application Process: Submit a resume and short statement of interest (250 words) about why you’d like to take this clinic and which semester (fall or spring) you are applying for. Applications should be submitted online to www.hlselectionlaw.org/apply.

Successful completion of appropriate written work in this offering satisfies the professional writing requirement for matriculants to the J.D. program from 2023 onward.