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: Judicial Process in Trial Courts (2 fall classroom credits). This clinic and course are bundled; your enrollment in this clinic will automatically enroll you in the required course.

Additional Co-/Pre-Requisites: None.

By Permission: No.

Add/Drop Deadline: August 11, 2025.

LLM Students: International students on F-1 student visas are required to have Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization; LL.M. students are not eligible for CPT, but may enroll separately in the Class Component. 

Placement Site: Various internship placements with trial court judges.

Students undertake clinical fieldwork study of judicial performance through clerkship-like clinical placements with individual justices of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Juvenile Court, Housing Court, Land Court and Superior Court Departments of the Massachusetts Trial Court, as well as with federal judges and magistrate judges in the U.S. District Court. Clinical students are expected to be available to do research and writing projects for their assigned judge, and are expected to observe and assist their judge for at least 2 clinical credits, or eight hours per week. Three short reflection papers and one final paper required.

Students must have at least one full day available for their judicial placement. Students may earn up to five credits for additional fieldwork hours with their judge.

Please Note: An intern should refrain from political activity. Interns may not wear campaign buttons or contribute funds to a political organization. An intern may not be involved in any way with fund raising or solicit funds for, or contribute to, a political organization, candidate, or event. Interns may not otherwise engage in political activities during their internship.

For more information, please contact Judge John C. Cratsley (Retired); jc.cratsley@gmail.com  or jcratsley@law.harvard.edu. or Barbara Berenson; barbara.f.berenson@gmail.com or bberenson@law.harvard.edu