Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Faculty Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (the “Bureau”), the Clinical Instructor (“CI”) supervises second- and third-year Harvard Law School students providing legal representation to low-income clients in the Bureau’s domestic relations practice, with additional supervision in public benefits cases (unemployment insurance and SSI, primarily). The CI supervises, assesses and structures the practice work of the students on all aspects of advocacy, including interviewing and counseling, factual investigation and discovery, case analysis and strategy development, motion practice, negotiation, and trial and hearings work. The CI meets regularly with students to discuss, plan, strategize, prepare and review casework; accompanies students to all court and administrative hearings; provides regular feedback, both written and oral, on practice performance; and utilizes the students’ casework to teach the fundamentals of lawyering. The CI is also expected to meet quality and productivity goals and to participate in office-wide projects. The CI also meets regularly with other teaching staff; assists in conducting case rounds and seminars on practice skills and substantive law; and participates in other office-wide projects, including orientation, trainings, retreats, and outreach events. S/he is also expected to be knowledgeable about classroom components of clinical courses taught by law school faculty; to prepare timely and thoughtful written evaluations each semester; and to make clinical grading recommendations to faculty. Although students are the direct case handlers, the CI acts as attorney of record with ultimate authority for the cases conducted under his or her supervision. The CI also supervises students from other law schools who handle cases as part of a summer program run by the Bureau. During periods of student absence, Clinical Instructors are entirely or partially responsible for direct case handling, including communication with clients, motions and trials. Vacations will be scheduled around the requirement of maintaining effective case coverage. Some evening and occasional weekend hours will be expected

Basic Qualifications

J.D., admission to Massachusetts Bar and minimum ten years of domestic relations practice experience with substantial trial work

Additional Qualifications

In-depth knowledge of domestic relations law and domestic violence required, with preference for those with experience in VAWA work and/or in certain other Bureau practice areas — specifically, wage and hour; unemployment benefits; SSI benefits; and other public benefits.  Areas of expertise among current staff and candidates may influence selection criteria

Additional Information

The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau is a curriculum-based poverty law clinic that represents low-income residents of Middlesex and Suffolk Counties in civil matters, including landlord-tenant, domestic relations, wage and hour, unemployment benefits, SSI benefits, and other public benefits. It is staffed by a full-time Faculty Director, a full-time Deputy Director, a full-time Administrative Director, six full-time Clinical Instructors, four part-time Clinical Instructors, a full-time Program Administrator, and approximately 47 2L and 3L Harvard Law School students fulfilling a two-year commitment. Since 1913, the Bureau has functioned under a tradition of student leadership and governance, making it a unique and exciting institution in clinical legal education. The Bureau is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action in the workplace. This is a term appointment currently expected to extend 5 years from date of hire, with anticipated renewal subject to performance, funding and departmental need. All offers to be made by HLS Human Resources

To apply, please use the following link: bit.ly/1X659mk