The Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs (OCP) offers 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.
2023 Local Boston-Area Projects
March 13-17, 2023
The projects in the Boston-area this year involve everything from assisting pro se litigants at courthouses to conducting legal research on bullying laws to contacting legislators about a new bill. 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. See project descriptions below for student eligibility and schedules.
Projects
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Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th Floor New York, NY 10013
Conducting legal research and preparing memos in support of ongoing cases and campaigns; creating summaries and digests in support of ongoing programmatic work; and conducting intakes and interviews with callers.
2L and 3L Eligible
Fully remote, Monday- Friday required
Korean, Mandarin, other Asian languages helpful
http://www.aaldef.org
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Asian Outreach Center – Greater Boston Legal Service Center
197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114
Interns will conduct legal research on federal and state law on bullying laws in public and private schools, specifically through the lens of race and discrimination. The intern will then be responsible for writing a research memo as a final product. Additionally, interns will be developing special education materials such as factsheets for our clients based on readily-available research.
2L, 3L, LLM Eligible
Monday – Friday required, While the work can be done fully remotely, there is an option to be hybrid if the student prefers.
While non-English language skills are not necessary, it would be helpful if interns could speak Vietnamese, Cantonese, or Mandarin.
Office is easily accessible by public transportation, Masks are required in the office.
https://www.gbls.org/
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Brockton Court Service Center
215 Main Street Brockton, MA 02301
Assist with intakes, give direction to court Departments and attorney for the day programs/clinics.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Monday- Thursday required, Tuesday and Thursday required in person, Monday and Wednesday remote or in-person.
Haitian Creole, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole or Portuguese helpful.
Office is easily accessible by public transportation, Office is easily accessible by car, Free or low-cost parking is available near office, Office is wheelchair accessible, Gender neutral restrooms are available at office.
https://www.mass.gov/locations/brockton-court-service-center
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Discovering Justice
John Joseph Moakley U.S Courthouse 1 Courthouse Way Suite 1-400, Boston, MA 02210
We will be needing help with our Mock Trial & Mock Appeal Program: Brainstorming and writing case ideas based on precedent and one of the Amendments or creating “evidence” and recording witness testimonies for current cases. If hosting volunteers that speak another language, we could use assistance translating about a paragraph’s worth of text for some of our flyers.
1L, 2L, 3L, LLM Eligible
3-5 Days Required, Wednesday required in person, other days can be remote or in-person.
Accessible by public transportation
DISCOVERING JUSTICE HOME
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Lawrence Court Service Center
Fenton Judicial Center, 2 Appleton St. Lawrence, MA 01840
Greeting pro se litigants at the Trial Court in Lawrence and conducting triage by determining how to meet goals/needs; explain court process and next steps; fill out court forms such as complaints, petitions, financial statements, motions, affidavits, etc.; connect litigants with community resources.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
3-5 Days Required, Tuesday and Thursday required in person, other days can be remote or in-person.
Spanish language helpful.
Office is easily accessible by car, Free or low-cost parking is available near office, Office is wheelchair accessible.
https://www.mass.gov/locations/lawrence-court-service-center
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Tax Clinic – Greater Boston Legal Services
197 Friend Street Boston MA 02114
Legislative work — contacting legislators about new bill.
1L, 2L, 3L, LLM Eligible
Tuesday-Friday Required, combination remote and in-person, no work Monday.
Office is easily accessible by public transportation, face coverings in common areas.
http://www.gbls.org
Timeline
- Student Application Deadline: Monday, February 20 at 9am
- Notifications by Monday, February 27
- Student Acceptance Deadline: Wednesday, March 1
2023 Trips Outside of Boston
Participants will work directly with clients to prepare tax returns for rural, predominantly indigenous, communities in Alaska.
Co-sponsored with HLS TaxHelp and Native American Law Students Association.
Application deadline has passed and spots filled.
Jewish Family Service Immigration Services Trip to San Diego, CA
Student volunteers will have the opportunity to do legal research and work directly with clients at the local detention center, on the border, and in a shelter. JFS works on asylum cases, deportation proceedings, and parole cases. They also provide legal information and help change of venue petitions as well as more basic forms for work permits.
Co-sponsored with HLS Immigration Project and La Alianza.
Application deadline has passed and spots filled.
Timeline
- Information Session for San Diego Trip: Monday, November 7, 12:30pm, WCC 3018
- Student Application Deadline: Monday, November 14 at 11:59pm (for San Diego trip)
- Notifications by Wednesday, November 23 (for San Diego Trip)
- Student Acceptance Deadline: Wednesday, November 30 (for San Diego trip)
PowerPoint Presentation from 11/7 Info Session
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.