Harvard Law School has 11 Student Practice Organizations (SPOs) providing opportunities for students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
While students do not receive academic credit for participating in SPOs, their volunteer hours can count towards the HLS 50-hour pro bono graduation requirement starting first day of classes, 1L year.
Student Practice Organizations are run by a student board, where 2L and 3L students assume leadership positions. Everyone, including LL.M. students, is welcomed and encouraged to participate in SPO practice. While membership is open to all HLS students, applications may be required due to attorney supervision capacity.
Sign Up for SPOs
Join us at the Student Practice Organization Showcase on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 2:00-3:30 pm in Milstein West! Student reps from every SPO will showcase the legal practice work and the highlights of their student-run organizations. Come learn how to get involved and start gaining legal practice skills right away!
Other SPO events will be posted here:
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Student Practice Organizations (SPO) Showcase
September 1, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:30 pmStudent reps from every Student Practice Organization (SPO) will showcase the legal practice work and the highlights of their student-run organizations. Come learn how to get involved and start gaining legal practice skills right away! -
Dispute Resolution Opportunities @ HLS: Open House
September 14, 2026
6:00 pm – 7:30 pmCurious about negotiation, mediation, facilitated dialogue, and other forms of dispute resolution? Looking for opportunities to build core skills you can carry forward into your legal career? Want to join a fun, active community of students and faculty passionate about healthy conflict engagement? Come join our fall kick-off for student organizations…
Which SPO is right for you?
Use this tool to filter SPOs to explore which will be the right fit for your interests and the skills you hope to grow.
Explore the SPOs
Harvard Defenders
Harvard Defenders represents low-income clients at Massachusetts criminal show-cause hearings before clerk magistrates, assists with sealing Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), and provides referrals to other legal services.
Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project (HLEP)
The Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project provides legal research and analysis to entrepreneurs in the Harvard and MIT communities in teams of HLS students and a practicing attorney from leading startup law firms.
Harvard Mediation Program (HMP)
In Harvard Mediation Program, students serve as mediators in pairs for small claims court cases, harassment prevention orders, and tenant-to-tenant disputes. Students also provide trainings to HLS students and local community agencies.
Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project (PLAP)
The Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project provides representation to prisoners at disciplinary, parole, and other administrative hearings in MA state prisons. Students assist incarcerated individuals with prison-related problems (medical, civil rights, and property) by responding to letters and calls. May also work on impact litigation, prison policy initiatives, and commutation petitions.
HLS Advocates for Human Rights
HLS Advocates for Human Rights provides legal research and engages in human rights advocacy on student-led projects with human rights practitioners and NGOs around the world. Promotes awareness of human rights issues on campus and organizes training sessions.
HLS Immigration Project (HIP)
The HLS Immigration Project provides community outreach, education and advocacy, and pro bono legal representation to immigrants through these main projects: Client Engagement and Services, Policy, and International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP).
HLS Mississippi Delta Project (MDP)
The HLS Mississippi Delta Project provides legal assistance and policy support for mission-driven organizations in the Mississippi Delta region. Students work in teams on projects advancing food justice, criminal/economic justice, environmental justice, and reproductive justice.
HLS Negotiators
Opportunities include regular simulations where students practice their negotiation skills and get feedback; real-life client projects in interpersonal negotiation, systems design, and training locally, nationally, and internationally.
Project No One Leaves (PNOL)
Project No One Leaves works with City Life-Vida Urbana, a grassroots organizing group in Boston, to support and defend communities facing gentrification, eviction, foreclosure, and deportation through canvassing and organizing efforts.
Recording Artists Project (RAP)
The Recording Artists Project counsels clients in such matters as copyright and trademark registration, sample clearances, and the negotiation and drafting of contracts related to music production, management, performance, licensing, and merchandising.
Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP)
The Tenant Advocacy Project provides direct legal services and representation to community members seeking assistance with matters related to housing justice and stability, including public housing and rental voucher access, eviction record sealing, security deposit recovery, and assisting renters needing reasonable accommodations to maintain and access housing.
If you are considering which SPO to join you may review fellow student evaluations of their experience.
Watch the 2025 SPO Panel to hear from SPO student leaders about the organizations’ work and experiences:
Running an SPO
If you’re a student running a Student Practice Organizations, you can find information on policies, budget, technology, and more in this section.