Clinical Instructor, Harvard Defenders
Job Description
Harvard Defenders (Defenders) is a voluntary, student-run practice organization that provides free legal representation to:
- Low-income individuals accused in criminal show-cause hearings before clerk-magistrates, as well as occasional representation in the trial sessions of the district courts,
- Low-income individuals eligible for sealing of their Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI sealings).
Harvard Defenders also provides phone consultations and referral services to callers requiring legal assistance in matters not relating to show-cause hearings. The program runs during the school year and summer.
The Clinical Instructor is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the legal work of approximately 85 student volunteers, and the practice setting in which they work, meets the high standards of the legal profession. The Clinical Instructor is charged with developing the students’ professional skills while at the same time ensuring that all the clients of Harvard Defenders receive high quality representation.
As a Clinical Instructor, you will:
- Develop materials and lead training sessions for student volunteers, including an overall introduction to clerk-magistrate hearings, CORI sealings, mock hearings, cross-examination, current case law review, ethics, mental health, immigration and other collateral consequences, and guest lectures.
- Meet regularly in teams and individually with student volunteers to discuss case developments, prepare for hearings, and provide mentorship.
- Provide detailed feedback to student volunteers on any written work and debrief students after each hearing.
- Supervise the Program Manager for Defenders as they execute their duties to oversee the overall operations of Defenders, including managing Defenders finances/budget and ensuring Defenders compliance with relevant University and law school policies.
- Provide training, support, and mentorship to Student Board members and work collaboratively with them on running the organization.
- Build and maintain relationships with other organizations - both within and outside of Harvard Law School - working on criminal defense issues.
- Be knowledgeable on current Massachusetts criminal law, especially as it relates to Defenders’ area of work, and on the relevant court procedures in venues where Defenders practices.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Earned a J.D. at least 5 years ago,
- Have at least 5 years of relevant experience in criminal law and trial practice, and
- Have an active license to practice in Massachusetts or alternatively meet the requirements to be eligible for temporary admission pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
We are looking for people who have:
- Successful teaching, mentoring, and student supervision experience or the demonstrated potential for such supervision.
- A commitment to public interest lawyering, clinical teaching, and upholding ethical standards of the legal profession.
- Exceptional management skills.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication ability.
- Experience in providing services to low-income clients, preferably in criminal matters.
- The ability to work sensitively with a diverse population of clients, students and staff.
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