Research

KAGAN SUPPORTED PRO BONO SERVICE BY STUDENTS, BUT AS DEAN NEVER ACTUALLY DID ANY HERSELF

Kagan Was Strong Proponent of Pro Bono Work, Requiring Students “To Do 40 Hours Of Public Interest Work.” “You know, we have a requirement here at Harvard Law School: to graduate, you need not only to take a certain number of classes, you need also to do 40 hours of public interest work during your law school career.” (Elena Kagan, “Graduation Speech 2006,” Harvard Law School, 6/8/06)

But According To Her Own Questionnaire, Kagan Never Actually Did Any Pro Bono Work Herself. “As noted in my answer to question 6, I have served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including several specifically devoted to ensuring the availability of legal services for indigent persons. As dean of Harvard Law School, I did not engage in any individual representation of clients, but I promoted public service and pro bono work in a variety of ways, including by enhancing resources for the school’s loan forgiveness program and its summer public interest funding program in order to increase the number of students engaged in public interest work, especially on behalf of indigent persons, during law school and after graduation.” (Elena Kagan, “Supreme Court Nomination Questionnaire,” Senate Judiciary Committee, p.198, 5/10)

Though Kagan Did Find Time To Join A Goldman Sachs Advisory Council And Collect A $10,000 Stipend. “Solicitor General Elena Kagan was a member of the Research Advisory Council of the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute, according to the financial disclosures she filed when President Obama appointed her last year to her current post. Kagan served on the Goldman panel from 2005 through 2008, when she was dean of Harvard Law School, and received a $10,000 stipend for her service in 2008, her disclosure forms show….The advisory panel met once a year to discuss public policy issues and was not involved in any investment decisions, Justice Department spokesman Tracy Schmaler said.” (Matt Kelley, “Possible Supreme Court Pick Had Ties With Goldman Sachs,” USA Today, 4/26/10)