The Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs (OCP) offers HLS students the opportunity to conduct pro bono work during spring break through organized group trips and projects with legal organizations in the Boston area and across the United States. Typically students engage in pro bono legal work for a minimum of five days over the break in addition to other cultural activities. Legal work time is eligible for HLS pro bono credit.
Please contact Lee Mestre with any questions.
2025 Trips Outside of Boston
March 15-22, 2025
Timeline
- Information session: Friday, November 15 at 12:30 pm, WCC 3019 – https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-spring-break-pro-bono-trip-info-session.pdf
- Student application deadline: Tuesday, November 19 at 11:59 pm
- Notifications by Wednesday, November 27
- Student acceptance deadline: Tuesday, December 3
Immigration Services Trip to San Diego, CA with Jewish Family Service
Students will work on asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile status, preparing application materials, and/or, where needed, interviewing clients and attending immigration proceedings. This could include but is not limited to work permit applications, change of address forms, family petitions, special immigration visa applications, and DACA renewal applications. Students will learn about immigration statuses, put language skills to use, engage in client meetings and interviews, and draft legal documents within the particulars of practicing in a border zone.
Preference for speakers of other languages, including but not limited to, students who speak Arabic, Haitian Creole, Dari, Pashton, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.
Co-sponsored with HLS Immigration Project.
(Eight to ten students)
Hurricane Relief Trip to North Carolina with Legal Aid North Carolina
Students will assist in hurricane relief work in multiple counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Some possible projects could be vital documents replacement; estate planning document replacement or creating new wills and advanced directives; working with state agencies, owners, and neighbors regarding private roads and bridges, property rights and boundaries; FEMA appeals. Exact work to be determined based on need at time of trip so students must be flexible. Students will likely be placed in pairs at different offices throughout the state with whole group training at the beginning and convening at the end of the trip.
Spanish language helpful.
(Eight to ten students)
Funding
OCP has funded spring break trips since 2005, when students went to New Orleans to assist families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. There is a limited amount of funding available for administrative costs and student travel. Our goal is to fund as many students as possible for valuable learning and service experiences. Housing, rental cars, and some airfare will be funded. Students will likely need to contribute to airfare or other costs depending on final numbers of student participants. Students are responsible for food and entertainment. We only fund group trips through OCP. We do not fund individual student trips or projects.
2025 Local Boston-Area Projects
March 17-21
The projects in the Boston area are TBD. All work time can count for HLS pro bono hours. Local transportation costs will be reimbursed. Some placements are fully remote, some are hybrid, and some in-person and the minimum commitment time varies. .
Timeline
- TBD. More information provided in late January/early February.