Attention HLS students interested in the Cyberlaw Clinic:

The Harvard Law School Clinical Forum takes place today, March 23!

Clinical Registration for 2011-2012 takes place April 4 and 5!

Clinical Forum

The HLS Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs will host a session called "Clinical 101: tips and tools on getting the most out of your clinical experience" this Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm in Pound Hall Room 101. The session will be followed by the Clinical Forum, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the Ropes Gray Room. The Clinical Forum offers an opportunity for you to meet representatives of the various HLS clinics, including the Cyberlaw Clinic, and to learn about the clinical work experience, time commitments, substantive areas of practice, and the like. This event is highly recommended for students thinking about participating in a clinic next year; pizza will be served.

Clinical Registration

Clinical registration for fall, winter, and spring clinics during the 2011-2012 academic year will take place on Monday and Tuesday, April 4th and 5th.

About the Cyberlaw Clinic

HLS students interested in legal issues relating to technology and the Internet are encouraged to register for the Cyberlaw Clinic, which is based at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. The Cyberlaw Clinic engages students in a wide range of real-world litigation, licensing, client counseling, advocacy, and legislative projects and cases, covering a broad spectrum of Internet, new technology, and intellectual property issues. The Clinic provides high-quality, pro-bono legal services to appropriate individuals, small start-ups, non-profit groups, and government entities. The Clinic was the first of its kind, and it continues its tradition of innovation in its areas of practice.

The Clinic’s work includes counseling and legal guidance regarding complex open access, digital copyright, and fair use issues; litigation, amicus filings, and other advocacy to protect online speech and anonymity; legal resources and advice for citizen journalists; licensing and contract advice, especially regarding Creative Commons and other “open” licenses; advising on innovative uses of technology to increase citizens' access to justice; and drafting amicus briefs, motions, and training materials in the areas of child pornography and youth online safety.

Representative Cyberlaw Clinic Projects

Examples of Clinic projects from recent years include:

• drafted amicus briefs on behalf of coalitions of media organizations in cases involving online speech, access to government records, and state Anti-SLAPP laws;
• assisted with preparation of Internet Safety Technical Task Force report, advising state attorneys general nationwide about online child safety and child exploitation;
• counseled non-profit online startup that promotes responsible consumer behavior about liability and immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act;
• advised research and advocacy organization on open source licensing options for software tool;
• responded to cease-and-desist letters on behalf of individuals and organizations accused of defamation online;
• drafted motion to quash subpoena seeking the identity of an anonymous blogger;
• drafted website terms of use, privacy policy, and content licenses for music website; and
• conducted research and prepared legal briefs for local state and federal prosecutors on issues concerning child protection and digital evidence.

Enrollment Criteria and Related Courses

Fall and spring term students may opt to enroll for 2, 3, or 4 credits and must work an average of 5 hours per week per credit for which they are enrolled. Winter term students receive 2 credits for 120 hours of clinical work during the term in January. The Clinic strongly encourages students to enroll for three credits during the fall and spring to ensure the fullest experience, but two credits are acceptable if that is all a student’s schedule will allow.

Each student must enroll in the Clinic in conjunction with a related HLS course, and course registration takes place at the same time as clinical registration. Available courses vary by semester. Students may register on April 4th and 5th to enroll in the Cyberlaw Clinic in conjunction with any of the following HLS courses:

• Practical Lawyering in Cyberspace: Seminar (Malone and Bavitz, Fall 2011);
• Cybercrime: Seminar (Malone, Spring 2012); and
• Music and Digital Media: Seminar (Bavitz, Spring 2012).

Students may register to enroll in the Clinic during the fall, winter, or spring terms in connection with any of these courses.

More Information About the Cyberlaw Clinic

If you are unable to attend the Clinical Forum and would like more information about the Cyberlaw Clinic, please contact Clinical Professor Phil Malone (pmalone@cyber.harvard.edu) or Clinical Instructors Dena Sacco (dsacco@cyber.harvard.edu) or Christopher Bavitz (cbavitz@cyber.harvard.edu).