Harvard Law School Public Interest Auction
Encyclopedia
The Harvard Law School
Public Interest Auction began in 1994 as a student-run fundraising event to support Harvard Law students working in full-time public interest
positions during the summer. Since then, it has raised over $800,000 for students involved in public interest
work. The donations received allow the school to provide stipends for students working in areas ranging from civil rights
and child advocacy
to securities regulation and antitrust
law. The Auction helps all students interested in working in the public sector. Funds raised are distributed equally to eligible first- and second-year law students. In order to receive funding, a student must be working for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
or a government entity. Every student who receives funding for the summer is required to contribute at least six hours of their time to help prepare for the Auction.
In 2005 alone, the Auction raised over $155,000 for students. Financial support from the Auction made volunteer summer work (in over 30 states and overseas) a viable option for students who otherwise could not have accepted these positions. Students worked for non-profit organizations, direct legal service providers, and government agencies to assist underrepresented clients and communities and to work on issues of social importance.
Each year, the Auction has a theme. Past themes include "Auction 007" (2007), "Caution Auction!" (2009), and "Bright Lights, Bid City!" (2009). Solicitor General and former HLS Dean Elena Kagan
was one of the auctioneers for several years, along with HLS Professor Jonathan Zittrain
. In 2009, when Elena Kagan
had to step out of her role as auctioneer to help out HLS Alum President Barack Obama
in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Warren
graciously took her place.
Some more notable items for auction have included stays at vacation homes around the world, a copy of the Constitution signed by Supreme Court Justice Scalia, Red Sox tickets, the "Old Langdell - Toby Stock" brick, and home-cooked dinners and outings hosted by HLS professors. One popular item is the "Day of Service from the President of the Harvard Law Review," because, as the tagline goes, "you may never make it on the Law Review - but at least you can say the President of the Law Review did your laundry!"
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
Public Interest Auction began in 1994 as a student-run fundraising event to support Harvard Law students working in full-time public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
positions during the summer. Since then, it has raised over $800,000 for students involved in public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
work. The donations received allow the school to provide stipends for students working in areas ranging from civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and child advocacy
Child advocacy
Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who promote the optimal development of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas.- Rights...
to securities regulation and antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
law. The Auction helps all students interested in working in the public sector. Funds raised are distributed equally to eligible first- and second-year law students. In order to receive funding, a student must be working for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
or a government entity. Every student who receives funding for the summer is required to contribute at least six hours of their time to help prepare for the Auction.
In 2005 alone, the Auction raised over $155,000 for students. Financial support from the Auction made volunteer summer work (in over 30 states and overseas) a viable option for students who otherwise could not have accepted these positions. Students worked for non-profit organizations, direct legal service providers, and government agencies to assist underrepresented clients and communities and to work on issues of social importance.
Each year, the Auction has a theme. Past themes include "Auction 007" (2007), "Caution Auction!" (2009), and "Bright Lights, Bid City!" (2009). Solicitor General and former HLS Dean Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 7, 2010. Kagan is the Court's 112th justice and fourth female justice....
was one of the auctioneers for several years, along with HLS Professor Jonathan Zittrain
Jonathan Zittrain
Jonathan L. Zittrain is a US professor of Internet law at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School, a professor of computer science at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a faculty co-director of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society...
. In 2009, when Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 7, 2010. Kagan is the Court's 112th justice and fourth female justice....
had to step out of her role as auctioneer to help out HLS Alum President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren is an American bankruptcy expert, policy advocate, Harvard Law School professor, and Democratic Party candidate in the 2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts. She has written several academic and popular books concerning the American economy and personal finance. She...
graciously took her place.
Some more notable items for auction have included stays at vacation homes around the world, a copy of the Constitution signed by Supreme Court Justice Scalia, Red Sox tickets, the "Old Langdell - Toby Stock" brick, and home-cooked dinners and outings hosted by HLS professors. One popular item is the "Day of Service from the President of the Harvard Law Review," because, as the tagline goes, "you may never make it on the Law Review - but at least you can say the President of the Law Review did your laundry!"
External links
- Harvard Law School Public Interest Auction
- Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...