Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee
The Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee (HULC) is a student organization at Harvard College. HULC is an affiliate organization of the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA), Harvard's umbrella public service organization, and was once known as the Phillips Brooks House Legal Committee. HULC is targeted at students interested in public interest law, and using the American legal system as a tool for social justice.
Mission
According to the organization's website:
The Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee aims to link students with public interest law organizations so as to help students gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for public service law careers, while also contributing to the daily tasks of greater Boston public service law firms.
Our primary goals are the following:
* To place undergraduate volunteers in local public service law and advocacy organizations.
* To serve the local community by placing undergraduate volunteers in local public service law and advocacy organizations.
* To provide undergraduates with an opportunity to experience public interest law first-hand by exposing them to community needs and allowing them to witness how law can be used to address these needs.
* To use the law as a tool of social justice and empowerment for those who need it the most.
* To develop close mentor relationships between the volunteers and their supervising attorneys.
History
HULC dates from the 1970's as an organization for students interested in approaching social justice issues from a legal perspective. It was created in the summer of 1974 by the Phillips Brooks House Executive Committee and originally had relationships with "five legal services and law reform organizations which offered PBH students the opportunity to use their research and analytical skills." The program allowed students to "work with lawyers on individual cases prepare research and informational material for watchdog groups such as the Massachusetts Advocacy Center."
The Massachusetts Small Claim Advisory Service originated as a subcommittee of the Legal Committee.
HULC has a history of civic judicial oversight. In the 1970's, HULC organized a program for evaluating whether eviction proceedings were being carried out in accordance with recent housing law reforms. In the 1980's, HULC was involved with ensuring that Massachusetts courts complied with laws requiring interpreters for non-English speakers in legal proceedings.
Programs
HULC's central program facilitates internships with local public interest law organizations. The program involves both semester-long and summer placements, with organizations working on issues such as immigration, housing law, child welfare, and civil rights. . Current participating organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the American Friends Service Committee, and Greater Boston Legal Services.
The organization also arranges a semester-long Public Interest speakers series and various other outreach events to the broader Harvard community.
Public Interest and Law Conference
On October 17, 2009, HULC will hold the first annual Public Interest and Law Conference. The conference, which will be the first Public Interest Law conference in the history of Harvard College, will feature keynote speakers including , president of the ACLU.
Mission
According to the organization's website:
The Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee aims to link students with public interest law organizations so as to help students gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for public service law careers, while also contributing to the daily tasks of greater Boston public service law firms.
Our primary goals are the following:
* To place undergraduate volunteers in local public service law and advocacy organizations.
* To serve the local community by placing undergraduate volunteers in local public service law and advocacy organizations.
* To provide undergraduates with an opportunity to experience public interest law first-hand by exposing them to community needs and allowing them to witness how law can be used to address these needs.
* To use the law as a tool of social justice and empowerment for those who need it the most.
* To develop close mentor relationships between the volunteers and their supervising attorneys.
History
HULC dates from the 1970's as an organization for students interested in approaching social justice issues from a legal perspective. It was created in the summer of 1974 by the Phillips Brooks House Executive Committee and originally had relationships with "five legal services and law reform organizations which offered PBH students the opportunity to use their research and analytical skills." The program allowed students to "work with lawyers on individual cases prepare research and informational material for watchdog groups such as the Massachusetts Advocacy Center."
The Massachusetts Small Claim Advisory Service originated as a subcommittee of the Legal Committee.
HULC has a history of civic judicial oversight. In the 1970's, HULC organized a program for evaluating whether eviction proceedings were being carried out in accordance with recent housing law reforms. In the 1980's, HULC was involved with ensuring that Massachusetts courts complied with laws requiring interpreters for non-English speakers in legal proceedings.
Programs
HULC's central program facilitates internships with local public interest law organizations. The program involves both semester-long and summer placements, with organizations working on issues such as immigration, housing law, child welfare, and civil rights. . Current participating organizations include the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the American Friends Service Committee, and Greater Boston Legal Services.
The organization also arranges a semester-long Public Interest speakers series and various other outreach events to the broader Harvard community.
Public Interest and Law Conference
On October 17, 2009, HULC will hold the first annual Public Interest and Law Conference. The conference, which will be the first Public Interest Law conference in the history of Harvard College, will feature keynote speakers including , president of the ACLU.
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