HLS Beyond presents: America & Its Universities Need a New Social Contract w/ Prof Danielle Allen
Professor Danielle Allen explores the history of how government and university research became intertwined, what that relationship has produced since 1945, but also what was missing in that vision that has led higher education into the vulnerable territory it now finds itself. Facing a decline in trust by the public as well as the challenges posed by the Trump administration, she proposes that a new social contract which makes central a firm educational foundation in Civic Strength is what these times call for.
HLS Beyond Presents: New Developments in Quantum Computing
The development of quantum computers has seen rapid progress in recent years, with global players like Google, IBM and academic labs from Harvard and MIT competing to drive innovation. Amidst this race, multiple different platforms and techniques for achieving scalable, robust quantum computation have emerged. Mikhail Lukin’s Group (Quantum Optics Laboratory), along with MIT scientists, are developing technologies based on ultracold neutral atoms. They will discuss the unique advantages and drawbacks of this platform, highlight one of the last remaining challenges towards scalable neutral-atom quantum computing, and outline how their recent work published in Nature Magazine on the continuous operation of a defect-free array of 3,000 qubits – a world record – addresses this challenge.
Movement Lawyering: from the U.S. South to the Global South
Want to learn more about movement lawyering? Join Wasserstein Fellow Azadeh Shahshahani as she speaks about her work in the U.S. South and support for social movements in the Global South as a movement lawyer. Azadeh will delve into the theory of change behind movement lawyering, what movement lawyering looks like in practice, and how to prepare yourself for a career as a movement lawyer during your time in law school.
Lunch provided. Please RSVP below! Open to the HLS community.
Law at the Breaking Point: Defending the Civil Rights of Immigrants
Join Wasserstein Fellow Kassandra Gonzalez for a conversation on defending the rights of immigrants at a time of uncertainty and fear for immigrant communities across the nation. Kassandra will discuss her recent cases challenging civil rights violations of immigrants in Texas — including filing Habeas Corpus petitions to prevent her clients’ removals to El Salvador’s CECOT prison and Guantanamo Bay, wrongful death actions for the deaths of children detained by Customs and Border Protection, and others. She will explore what it means to be a litigator in a time of democratic erosion and offer practical insight for students interested in immigrants’ civil rights.
Lunch provided. Please RSVP below! Open to the HLS community.
Drop-ins with Student Financial Services About LIPP/SPIF
A representative from the LIPP/SPIF office will hold drop-in office hours in the OPIA suite to offer quick consults and answer general questions about the Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP), the HLS PSLF Based Plan (the Plan) and Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF). No need for an appointment; students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. For in-depth advising, please email lipp@law.harvard.edu or spif@law.harvard.edu.
HLSL Faculty Book Talk: Imperfect Oracle: What AI Can and Cannot Do with Cass Sunstein
Harvard Law School Library presents a faculty book talk with author and HLS professor Cass Sunstein. This event features a discussion on his newest book, Imperfect Oracle: What AI Can and Cannot Do.
Public Interest Tech Law and Policy: A Viable and Growing Career Path
While it’s true that the tech industry has immense control in the current political climate and offer many financially appealing jobs, there is a growing and urgent necessity for energy and legal skills to advocate for the average person in the digital age. Whether it’s working in a variety of government roles, as part of housing or immigration work, at a civil society organization, in political activism, or influencing better behavior from inside some companies, there is an opportunity and sometimes an obligation to engage in tech policy work. The widespread abuse of data and use of AI in nearly every sector demands legislative, regulatory, and legal intervention work by people with public interest as their north star. Wasserstein Fellow Ben Winters will talk about his roles in academia, government, civil society, and political groups – furthermore, he will provide a survey of job paths available for people who want to explicitly focus on tech policy as well as people looking to integrate it into any work they plan on doing. He’ll also discuss the challenges and opportunities of working on the less resourced side.
Lunch provided. Please RSVP below. Open to the HLS community.
Current AI Tools for Lawyers – A Workshop
Bring your laptops and your appetite and join Debbie Ginsberg of HLSL’s Research Services team for a demonstration of the AI tools currently available to law students. We’ll examine AI products from Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, and the HU Sandbox.
Drop-ins with Student Financial Services About LIPP/SPIF
A representative from the LIPP/SPIF office will hold drop-in office hours in the OPIA suite to offer quick consults and answer general questions about the Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP), the HLS PSLF Based Plan (the Plan) and Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF). No need for an appointment; students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. For in-depth advising, please email lipp@law.harvard.edu or spif@law.harvard.edu.
Drop-ins with Student Financial Services About LIPP/SPIF
A representative from the LIPP/SPIF office will hold drop-in office hours in the OPIA suite to offer quick consults and answer general questions about the Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP), the HLS PSLF Based Plan (the Plan) and Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF). No need for an appointment; students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. For in-depth advising, please email lipp@law.harvard.edu or spif@law.harvard.edu.