Promoting innovative partnerships between lawyers and community organizations

 

In honor of Harvard Law School Professor David Grossman’s memory as a mentor, teacher, and advocate for the poor, the David Abraham Grossman Fund for Social Justice works to promote social justice by fostering innovative partnerships between lawyers and community organizations. The Fund supports fellowships and grants that enable law students and young lawyers to engage in and to develop law and organizing partnerships and new approaches to fighting poverty.

The fund is managed as a dedicated fund at Harvard Law School that is set aside to create new fellowships and grants that enable lawyers to work with community organizations toward positive social change.  The Fund has raised over $1 million dollars to date and supports an annual $65,000 fellowship. We hope to continue to raise funds to support an annual 2-year term fellowship.

 
Congratulations Sofia Bottinelli!  The DAG Fund's 2026-2027 Fellow

Congratulations Sofia Bottinelli HLS 26’ this year’s David A. Grossman for Social Justice Fund Fellow!

 

Sofia will be carrying out her DAG Fellowship with Public Counsel’s Immigrant Rights Project, where her work will include direct representation of immigrant families and children in Southern California, impact litigation challenging family detention and related deterrence policies, and community outreach and coalition-building following the leadership of organizers and directly impacted families. Her recommenders spoke glowingly about her exceptional ability in working with clients, cultural competency, dedication, and work ethic, and we believe she is well situated to carry on David’s legacy of innovative community lawyering.  In accepting the fellowship offer, she wrote: “I am so moved and excited--the DAG Fellowship always felt resonant to me in a deeper and more personal way than other fellowship opportunities…This means the world both for me and for the community-centered work to which I hope to contribute.” We wish Sofia strength and resilience in her important efforts to provide immigrant families with hope and help during a time in our nation’s history when we offer very little of either.

The DAG Fund for Social Justice 10th Anniversary Celebration

The David Abraham Grossman Fund for Social Justice hosted a 10th Anniversary event on Thursday February 12, 2026 at Harvard Law School featuring a panel discussion of former DAG Fund Fellows and honoring community organizer Steve Meacham.

 

The DAG Fund supports work in the following areas:

  • Fellowships for Harvard Law School graduates to work in community organization-lawyer partnerships

  • Fellowships for lawyers and community organizers to work at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau toward community organization-lawyer partnerships

  • Grants for Harvard Law School students to create partnerships between law students, lawyers, and community organizations