Job Summary

The Racial Justice Clinic at Harvard Law School, a project of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School, is inviting applications for an inaugural full-time Clinical Instructor.

The Clinical Instructor will bring a wealth of experience and strategic thinking on civil rights issues and advocacy strategies, as well as a strong interest in building out the legal and policy advocacy work of the Houston Institute for Race & Justice. The Racial Justice Clinic will serve as an extension of the Houston Institute?s goals to proactively imagine the future of civil rights and racial equality in the 21st century across a variety of substantive areas, including democratic participation and representation; the implications of technology for racial equality; and the future of anti-discrimination law and equal protection.

During the academic year, the Clinical Instructor will supervise and assess the work of Harvard Law School students, which involves meeting with the students weekly to discuss strategy related to the advocacy work of clinic (e.g., litigation, policy, advocacy); reviewing and editing students? written work; accompanying students to court, legislative, and administrative hearings; and providing regular feedback, both written and oral, on their performance. The Clinical Instructor will also develop and teach the weekly clinic seminar each semester it is offered. During academic breaks, including winter and summer breaks between academic years, the Clinical Instructor will be responsible for managing any ongoing projects and cases.

The Clinical Instructor will also play a key role in the administration of the Clinic and will oversee day-to-day administrative tasks of the Clinic while working with the Houston Institute?s Faculty Director and other directors on higher level administrative tasks such as overall strategy and direction of the Clinic, fundraising, and building and maintaining partnership relationships.

Position Description

As a Clinical Instructor you will:

• Teach the clinic seminar, which includes developing the training curriculum, syllabus, and other instructional materials for students and implementing effective clinical pedagogy;
• Develop, in collaboration with the Houston Institute Faculty Director and other Houston Institute directors, the Clinic?s roster of projects;
• Develop and lead the work on Clinic projects, which includes managing and directing the day-to-day project work, managing relationships with students, clients, and partners, and developing and implementing long-term strategic goals for the projects;
• Supervise Clinic students on projects and train them on a broad range of lawyering skills to ensure professional and high-quality advocacy, including increasing substantive knowledge of the relevant law, problem-solving, law and policy analysis, research and writing, oral communication, teamwork and collaboration, and leadership;
• Oversee administrative tasks of the Clinic, including event planning, student outreach, communications, development, and other tasks that arise;
• Engage in outreach that highlights the Clinic?s work to promote a deeper understanding of how racial justice and civil rights issues affect other public interest fields, and foster collaboration across public interest lawyering through delivering talks/trainings and presenting at internal and external conferences and events;
• Help develop the vision, mission and projects for the ongoing growth and success of the innovative work of the Clinic; and
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Houston Institute Faculty Director concerning the work of the Clinic.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates must have earned a J.D. at least 3 years ago, have a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience active membership in at least one state bar, and eligibility to be admitted to the Massachusetts Bar.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

We are looking for people who have:

• A passion for working with law students and teaching in a legal clinical setting;
• Experience teaching, mentoring, and/or closely supervising law students or junior attorneys;
• Experience in project management or case development;
• A track record of developing and/or contributing to creative advocacy strategies;
• Experience with and deep interest in civil rights, particularly related to racial justice, anti-discrimination, equal protection, and a commitment to civil rights and racial justice advocacy; and
• An ability to thrive in a collaborative, dynamic, entrepreneurial, team-based work environment with many opportunities to develop new areas of expertise and work on a variety of racial justice and civil rights issues.

Additional Information

This is a two-year term appointment with potential for renewal subject to funding and departmental need.

This position is expected to begin Summer/Fall 2025.

We regret that Harvard Law School is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.

All offers are made by HLS Human Resources.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format

About Harvard University Law School

Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

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