Resources for Students

BU Law Clinics

MIT and Boston University School of Law have established two clinics to offer free legal guidance to student innovators and entrepreneurs. Through this unique collaboration, student innovators are connected with future lawyers from BU Law to address legal issues associated with their efforts to turn ideas into businesses and to pursue innovative projects. All undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in any school or academic department at MIT are eligible for free legal advice through the two clinics, the BU/MIT Startup Law Clinic and the BU/MIT Technology Law Clinic.

BU/MIT Startup Law Clinic

The BU/MIT Startup Law Clinic was launched in September 2015 to assist students with legal matters related to their entrepreneurial activities, including:

  • Entity selection, formation and capital structuring
  • Closely held business counseling
  • Drafting, review and negotiation of contracts and other documents
  • Intellectual property counseling, auditing and strategic planning
  • Trademark searches and registrations
  • Copyright fair use opinions, clearances and registrations
  • Representation in angel, venture and commercial financing

BU/MIT Technology Law Clinic

The BU/MIT Technology Law Clinic, launched in September 2016, is available to assist students with legal matters related to their innovative academic and extracurricular activities, including:

  • Privacy and data security
  • Computer crimes and torts
  • Use of third-party intellectual property
  • Communications law
  • FOIA, public records, and access to government information
  • Publication of sensitive information
  • Response to cease-and-desist letters and other legal threats
     

Personal Legal Matters

A list of legal resources outside MIT are available on the Resources for Personal Legal Matters page.

 

Other Resources for Policies, Information and Help

ask.mit

Not sure where to turn for help? Just ask.

Committee on Discipline

The Committee on Discipline (COD) is responsible for resolving complaints against students and student organizations and to decide the appropriate Institute response.

Doing Well

Resources focusing on a persons wellbeing - caring for mind and body.

Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR)

Any student, faculty, or staff member who has concerns about discrimination or discriminatory harassment, including any concerns pertaining to sexual misconduct, is encouraged to seek the assistance of IDHR office staff.

LBGTQ+@MIT

LBGTQ+ Services supports numerous student, employee, and alumni groups as well as other departments and initiatives on campus aiming to foster equity, intersectionality, and the continuum of social justice.

Mind and Hand Book

The official guide to MIT's expectations of all undergraduate and graduate students.

MindHandHeart

MindHandHeart is a coalition of students, faculty, and staff with fresh insights, new ideas, and diverse perspectives working collaboratively and strategically to strengthen the fabric of our MIT community.

MIT Division of Student Life

The Division of Student Life (DSL) encompasses departments that touch every area of student life and its work affects every student at MIT.

Office of Graduate Education

The Office of Graduate Education (OGE) supports and serves individual graduate students, programs, and schools in order to make graduate education at MIT empowering, exciting, holistic, and transformative.

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) is the beginning point of all conduct and academic integrity complaints against students and is an impartial resource for all parties in the complaint resolution process.

Office of the Chancellor

The Chancellor is responsible for advising MIT's President on undergraduate and graduate education and residential life policies and plays a leading role in strategic planning, faculty appointments, resource development, and campus planning activities.

Office of the Vice Chancellor

The Office of the Vice Chancellor (OVC) works alongside students, faculty, and staff from across the Institute to enhance the undergraduate and graduate student academic experience.

Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office is a confidential and independent resource for all members of the MIT community, including students, faculty, employees, alumni, and employees of Lincoln Lab, to constructively manage concerns and conflicts related to your experience at MIT.

REFS

Departmental REFS (dREFS) are graduate students trained & certified in conflict management (just like iREFS). They serve and support their local graduate community. iREFS are graduate students formally trained & certified in conflict management skills and operate just like departmental REFS (dREFS), but are not restricted to a single department or program

Student Disability Services

Student Disability Services (SDS) is part of the Division of Student Life. The SDS mission is to ensure equal access for students with disabilities while upholding the integrity of MIT’s programs and services. They serve all of MIT’s students, both undergraduate and graduate students.

Student Support Services (S3)

S3 reinforces the core values of MIT by providing support in an accessible and respectful environment. They further provide advice and advocacy for students and act as a hub of resources, referrals, and information across the MIT community.

Violence Prevention & Response

Violence Prevention and Response is MIT’s primary, on-campus resource for preventing and responding to interpersonal violence, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment.