The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice (CHHIRJ) at Harvard Law School is working with Mayer Brown to offer legal externships associated with the firm’s Project Equity initiative that includes pro bono legal work focused on advancing racial and social justice in a variety of key areas of life, including voting, criminal justice, and housing. This arrangement reflects CHHIRJ’s commitment to offering students opportunities to build knowledge of and experience legal work happening at the contemporary frontiers of racial and social justice.
In Fall 2022, we are happy to offer students an opportunity to work remotely with Mayer Brown on ongoing voting rights litigation. This litigation is challenging laws enacted and actions taken to make it harder for people of color to vote in these jurisdictions. Students would be involved in work that could include information and document review, research on legal standards and possible legal motions, and deposition preparation and observation. Students would work closely with Mayer Brown attorneys on one or more cases throughout the semester and would complete weekly journals and an independent 15-page research paper, both of which will be evaluated by faculty advisor Prof. Guy Charles.
If selected for an externship, students may earn academic credit through the HLS independent clinical program. This opportunity is available as a 2-credit (8 hours/week, 96 hours/semester) or 3-credit (12 hours/week, 144 hours/semester) option. Accepted students will need to complete the Independent Clinical Application no later than Friday, August 26, 2022 (https://hls.harvard.edu/clinics/independent-clinical/), and CHHIRJ will provide assistance with completing paperwork. Any general questions regarding the independent clinical program may be directed to Liz Solar at esolar@law.harvard.edu. HLS directs the administration and granting of academic credit, and this opportunity does not involve employment with or compensation from Mayer Brown.
To apply, students should submit a (1) cover letter explaining their interest in working on voting rights cases and racial and social justice and any preference they have to work on the available projects, (2) resume, and (3) unofficial transcript no later than Friday, August 12, 2022 (midnight ET). Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, so we recommend submitting as early as possible. Application materials should be sent to CHHIRJ Managing Director Destiny Peery (dpeery@law.harvard.edu). Offers will made no later than Monday, August 22, 2022. We anticipate accepting at least 2 – 3 students for Fall 2022.