Clinical Instructor, Harvard Religious Freedom Clinic

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard Law School?

Join a community that combines excellence in legal education and scholarship with a deep commitment to justice. Here at Harvard Law School (HLS), you’ll find an environment that values who you are and encourages you to grow, inspire others, and make a meaningful impact. Wherever you are in your career journey, HLS is a place where you can thrive, contribute, and be part of something bigger.

The Harvard Law School Religious Freedom Clinic is seeking an experienced attorney to join its legal practice and teaching program dedicated to teaching professional skills and values to students through the lens of pro bono religious freedom lawyering.

The Clinical Instructor will assist the Clinic Director in litigating, supervising, and teaching students in a variety of challenging First Amendment and religious freedom cases and matters. The Clinic has active amicus and direct representation practices, filing briefs in the Supreme Court and circuit‑level briefs in precedent‑making cases as well as assisting the most in‑need victims of religious discrimination at all stages of litigation.

The Clinic typically advocates for minority religious groups, the imprisoned, victims of discrimination in the workplace, and those facing obstacles in ministering to migrants and the poor.

Working with the Clinic Director and Clinical Instructional Fellows, the Clinical Instructor supervises student fieldwork, delivers instruction in legal skills and practice, provides feedback on their written work and performance, and ensures that the Clinic carries out its work with the highest level of skill and professionalism. While school is not in session, the Clinical Instructor may also take the lead on litigating Clinic cases, with opportunities ranging from brief‑writing and motion practice to court appearances, depositions, and oral arguments.

The Clinical Instructor will also be a part of the intellectual community both within the Clinic and at Harvard Law School. As part of that community, the Clinical Instructor will have frequent opportunities to expand his or her knowledge of religious freedom law through Clinic work, leading class discussions in clinical seminars with students, and attending talks and conferences, as well as the opportunity to pursue his or her own research or scholarship.

• Help manage a portfolio of Clinic cases and represent clients in ongoing cases;
• Help train and teach students enrolled in the Clinic using the tools of clinical pedagogy;
• Meet regularly with student teams to prepare and strategize in their casework, actively supervise and provide thorough feedback to students on client interactions and work product, and help instruct and evaluate students on legal and professional skills;
• Assist with teaching the Clinic’s classroom component;
• Help develop Clinic clients and projects as well as maintain the Clinic’s current and ongoing projects and relationships.

J.D. with at least 3 years of relevant experience and admission to a state bar, with a commitment to join or seek temporary admission to the Massachusetts bar (pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04) or federal bars as needed and if not already admitted.

We are looking for people who have:

• A passion for the Clinic’s mission of ensuring religious freedom for all;
• Experience with teaching, mentoring, and motivating students and beginning attorneys;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Superior writing and verbal skills;
• A commitment to public‑interest lawyering and clinical teaching.

This is a term appointment currently expected to extend through June 30, 2026, with potential for renewal subject to funding and departmental…