Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School (HLS) is one of the world's most renowned law schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is home to the largest academic law library in the world. Harvard Law offers a variety of programs and degrees, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. There are also many research opportunities available at Harvard Law.

Along with Yale Law School, University of Chicago Law School, and Stanford Law School, Harvard Law School usually ranks as one of the top three law schools in the US News & World Report rankings. Harvard Law School is also noted for receiving the highest reputational scores from judges, academics, and practitioners.

It is also significantly larger than most other law schools, with approximately 550 students in each class, while most other schools have around 200 students. Harvard Law School has produced more Supreme Court justices than any other law school, with 14 graduates having served on the court. Out of the current nine justices, six attended Harvard Law. After Robert C. Clark stepped down in 2003, Elena Kagan became the school's dean.

History

Isaac Royall founded Harvard Law School in 1817, making it the oldest law school in the nation. He sold his laborers and plantations in the Caribbean to finance the school. The only remaining slave quarters from that era are located in Medford, Massachusetts, on the Royall estate, which is now a museum. Isaac Royall Jr. inherited the estate but fled Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Just before he died in 1781, he left land to Harvard with the intention that it be used to fund the first chair of law.

The Royal family coat of arms was adopted as the school crest for Harvard Law School. The crest shows three wheat sheaves stacked beneath the university motto, "Veritas" (Latin for "truth"). The Royal family estate in Medford was returned to Royall Jr.'s heirs in 1806. They sold it and donated the proceeds to Harvard Law School.

In the 1870s, Dean Christopher Columbus Langdell changed how the law was taught by introducing a new curriculum and teaching method. The new curriculum included Contracts, Property, Torts, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure classes. The case teaching method is now used in most law schools across the United States.

The faculty at Harvard Law School voted to change the first-year curriculum in 2006. The new curriculum focuses more on problem-solving and international law.

Admissions

Harvard Law School provides unmatched opportunities to study law and related disciplines in a rigorous and collaborative environment. Harvard’s scope is measured in its unparalleled breadth and depth of courses and clinics, its wide array of research programs, its diverse student body drawn from across the nation and around the world, and its extensive network of distinguished alumni. More broadly, law students can tap into Harvard University’s extraordinary resources through joint degree programs, cross-registration, and a variety of social and cultural venues. To read more about joint degrees and why one might pursue one, click here and here.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	170 - 173 - 175	170 - 174 - 176
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.80 - 3.88 - 3.96	3.82 - 3.92 - 3.98
Acceptance rate	12.9%	6.9%
Applications received	7448	9933
Acceptances	968	685
Matriculants	2520	1940

The 1L class at Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174. The 25th percentile LSAT is 170 and the 75th percentile LSAT is 176. The median GPA is 3.92. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.82 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.98.

Acceptance Rate

In the 2022 application cycle, 9,933 people applied to Harvard Law School, and 685 were offered admission. The size of the 1L class is 562, with a yield of 54.01%. This means that 54.01% of applicants offered admission ended up attending the school. 370 out of 685 applicants who were offered admission accepted.

Application Components and Process

The application process for Harvard Law School is highly competitive. For the class of 2021, the school received over 7,000 applications and accepted only 9% of the applicants. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The admissions committee looks for demonstrated excellence in academic and extracurricular activities. Personal qualities such as leadership, motivation, and communication skills are also taken into consideration.

Harvard's admissions process is very streamlined. By glancing at the admissions decision charts for Harvard and its close peers, one can much more easily predict Harvard decisions than decisions from Yale and Stanford or even Chicago and Columbia.

The admissions process at Harvard Law School includes a written application, two rounds of interviews, and a final decision. The written application includes an essay and information about the applicant's academic and professional background. Alumni volunteers conduct the first round of interviews. Members of the admissions committee conduct the second round of interviews. The dean makes the final decision on admissions. For more information on personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.

When to Apply

The J.D. program at Harvard Law School is a three-year course of study designed to provide students with the intellectual foundations for legal study and practice and the opportunity to focus their studies on areas of particular interest through advanced classes, clinics, and legal writing projects.

For JD Admissions, applications for Fall Term 2023 will be open from September 20th, 2022 to February 20th, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET. Admission decisions will be sent out starting January 2023, and all applicants should expect to hear a decision by early April. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible.

Transferring

Harvard Law School's transfer admissions program allows students who have completed their first year at another law school to join the Harvard community. The application process typically opens in early May, and the deadline for submission is usually in mid-June. Notification of admission decisions usually goes out to applicants in early July.

Eligibility Applicants for transfer admission must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants have completed one year of full-time study in a J.D. program (or one-third of the total credits required in a part-time program) at a United States law school.
• Applicants attend a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Application Opens The online application for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) transfer class entering The deadline for completing the transfer application is typically mid-June.

Application Submission Deadline The deadline for completing the transfer application is typically mid-June. Once the submission deadline passes, they encourage you to submit any outstanding materials (i.e., 1L spring grades) as soon as they become available.

Decision Release They typically expect to notify applicants of their admission decision by early July.

• Applicants are not eligible for transfer admission if they have completed more than one-third of the total credits required for the J.D. program in which they are currently enrolled. Students may apply for transfer to begin the second year of J.D. studies in the fall semester only. Additionally, students are required to spend at least two years in residence at HLS.

Langdell Library in Fall

Tuition and Expenses

Harvard Law School's tuition for the 2022-23 academic year is $71,734. In addition, the annual cost of attendance (including living expenses) is $104,200. Therefore, the total cost of attending Harvard Law School for one year would be $107,000.

This budget is based on full-time enrollment (nine to twelve credits per term) and reflects the average cost of attendance for a typical student. Actual costs may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Financial Aid

Harvard Law School provides a lot of financial aid to students who need it. Many students who apply for aid (about 50%) qualify for grants from the school, and all students can get loans. This can greatly help students who might otherwise be unable to afford law school.

The amount of financial aid you receive from Harvard Law School can vary depending on your circumstances. However, the school follows some general principles when awarding aid.

One of the key factors in determining how much financial aid you'll receive is your "demonstrated need." This is calculated using a standard student budget set at $107,000 for the 2022-23 school year. From this budget, HLS subtracts the amount of money your family can contribute (determined through the financial aid application process) and the "Grant Eligibility Threshold," currently set at $50,000. The remaining amount is your "Financial Need," which will be met with assistance from HLS Grants.

Loans

Harvard Law School has developed a Preferred Lender List that they believe offers competitive pricing, good borrower benefits, and strong customer service.

Before applying for a loan, you will want to review their “How Do I Choose A Loan Program?” the page which will help you evaluate your loan options. Additional resources and terminology may be found on Learn More About Student Loans.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

Harvard Law School has a long history of providing its students with an excellent legal education. The school has been at the forefront of innovations in legal education, such as the development of the case method and clinical education. Today, Harvard Law School continues to set the standard for training exceptional lawyers and leaders.

The median salary for a Harvard Law School graduate working in the private sector is $190,000. The median salary for a Harvard Law School graduate working in the public sector is $65,000. 60.6% of Harvard Law School graduates go directly into jobs at law firms, while 18.3% work as clerks for judges, and 11.3% go into public interest organizations. 98.9% of Harvard Law School graduates pass the bar exam on their first attempt.

Quality of Life

Your life at Harvard Law School unfolds within a major research university, giving you access to a world-class campus: unparalleled libraries, acclaimed museums and theaters, enriching extracurricular activities, and a wider community of diverse and engaged students.

You have access to everything Harvard has to offer.

Location

Harvard Law School is located on its campus within the larger Harvard University campus. The school is in the historic city of Cambridge, home to various restaurants, bookstores, bars, and music venues. In the heart of Cambridge, Harvard Square is lively with street performers and specialty shops.

Architectural historian Howard Gilbert notes that the old Harvard Law School Building "has no architectural merit." Still, it was nevertheless one of the most ornate buildings on the campus when it opened in 1892. It is designed in a Second Empire style, with five Ionic columns at each corner and eight semi-circular windows on each floor.

The main campus is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston. The school's oldest building, Austin Hall, was completed in the 1880s by renowned architect H. H. Richardson. The school's student center, Harkness Commons, was designed by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius. Several on-campus dormitories are also located on campus.

Library

Among the largest buildings on campus, Langdell Hall is home to the Harvard Law School library. Comprised of an extensive selection of academic law resources, the library is one of the most well-renowned in the world. Robert A. M. Stern designed a new structure on the northwest corner of the Harvard Law School campus. The building was completed on 2006.

Dining

There are plenty of dining options available to Harvard Law students on and off campus. The Harkness Commons is the main dining area on campus and includes a cafeteria and a smaller cafe/pub. Menu updates are posted weekly online, so it is easy to see what will be available to eat. The Commons is usually open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There are also plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the campus and many more options if you're willing to take public transportation or drive into Boston. Everyone can find something they like among so many choices available.

Accessibility and Opportunities

The layout of Harvard Law School makes it easy to get around; all the academic buildings are connected by tunnels, with clear signage so you can't get lost. The tunnels don't lead to the dormitories though, for security reasons – you need a key to access the dorms. There is a Health Services Clinic at the law school, but when it's closed you have to go to Holyoke Center, which is the main Health Services location. This can be a bit of a walk.

At Harvard, students can use Crimson Cash to pay for things like food, laundry, and vending machines. Crimson Cash is a debit system that is accessed through one's Harvard ID card. Value can be added online with a credit card. Students can also use Crimson Cash at various local businesses.

Finding time to go to Boston while attending Harvard Law School can be difficult, as scheduling is often short notice, and journals can be very demanding. However, many opportunities are often available for students who are willing to look for them. Professors always need help, and it is possible to join secondary journals after the first year. Additionally, there are events at Harvard that law students can take advantage of. You can find research opportunities on the Harvard Law School website, by talking to professors and checking the "Administrative Updates" section.
“If we have a critical mass of people saying ‘yes, I worked my tail off, but I also had a lot of fun, and I was in an environment where I found my niche, I found good friends, I built lasting relationships, and I was part of a community? That’s a win to me.”

~Stephen Ball ’10, Dean of Students, HLS

You Belong at HLS

Studying law is a collaborative endeavor at Harvard Law School. They work together to create a student-centered environment in which learning is inspiring, transformative, and supportive. They know you will strengthen the HLS community and they want you to be strengthened by it.

The goal is for you to thrive in every aspect of your experience at Harvard Law School.

Law School Culture

Student Body

At Harvard, the average age of JD students is lower than at many other law schools, and many have little or no full-time work experience. However, the large number of graduate students at Harvard adds diversity in terms of age, career goals, and background. The graduate students also prevent the dormitories from feeling too much like undergraduate living. Living in the dormitories is a great way to meet many interesting people (including individuals in the graduate law programs), especially given how the Gropius dorms are connected through walkways and a courtyard.

HLS students are very driven to succeed, but they are not cutthroat. This is because former Dean Elena Kagan made efforts to ensure that students would not be competitive with each other. Students who are interested in public interest feel right at home at HLS.

A contributor to TLS wrote that the atmosphere at HLS is relatively relaxed and that there are fewer gunners than at other schools. She also mentioned that the class size is small enough to allow for a diverse student body. However, she warned that being under 21 may make it difficult to enjoy the social life at HLS.

One student noted that while the on-campus housing could be improved, the social opportunities available more than made up for it. They also commented on the variety of ways to relax and have fun available to students.

Some students at Harvard Law School come from wealthy backgrounds and can be snobby, as described by one student. However, this does not apply to all students, many of whom are normal people with regular interests and personalities.

The student body at Harvard Law School is just one of the many factors contributing to its cultural identity. The school is large, and its promotional materials embrace this fact. Admitted students are encouraged to consider the school a community of smaller neighborhoods.

Student-Faculty Ratio

There are approximately 700 students enrolled in Harvard Law School at any given time, while the faculty comprises around 100 professors. This means that the student-to-faculty ratio at Harvard Law School is 7:1. This high ratio ensures that each student has plenty of individual attention from their professors and ample opportunities to get involved in class discussions. It also allows for a more intimate and personal learning environment, which many students prefer. Harvard Law School is one of the world's most prestigious and well-respected law schools, so it is no surprise that it has such a high student-to-faculty ratio. This ensures that its students receive an education that is second to none. The required forty hours of pro bono work before graduation also instills a sense of responsibility for the greater good in students, making Harvard an excellent choice for those looking for an enriching and fulfilling law school experience.

Harvard Law School's curriculum is designed to encourage students to think about the public good. The school offers several programs of study, including "Law and Social Change" and "Law and Government," focusing specifically on issues affecting the greater good. Even students enrolled in the "Law, Science and Technology" program are encouraged to consider how their work can benefit society as a whole. This focus on the public good creates a dynamic and friendly law school culture.

Despite the rumors that Harvard Law School (HLS) is mainly focused on corporate law, students interested in this field can still receive an excellent education here. One student who plans to pursue a career in corporate law said that HLS is the perfect place to prepare for such a career. However, another student who got an offer from a large law firm said that Harvard does not have an advantage over Columbia and NYU when it comes to firms in New York. This is likely because these schools offer scholarships that make them more affordable than Harvard.

If you ask any student at Harvard Law School, they will tell you that it is an incredibly challenging school. However, they will also tell you that they would not want to be anywhere else. The students here are passionate about their education and are always striving to do better. This will help you in your interview.

First-Year Culture

In general, one's social life as a first-year student tends to revolve around one's 1L section. Because the sections are so large, any activity in which 1L students participate will inevitably have fellow section mates, and the tendency to stick with these new friends and cohorts is quite difficult to overcome. Some of HLS's policies and programs, rather than working against this tendency, actually reinforce it. For instance, each section has $12,000 to spend on activities. These activities are sometimes open to the public (for instance, lectures), but are more often insulated by section. HL Central's 1L Cup, which pits the seven 1L sections against one another in cookie-eating, balloon-popping, and pretzel-passing contests, brings the whole class together, but in a way that solidifies bonds within each section and not among them. Still, this section camaraderie, by and large, is a positive aspect of life at Harvard Law School. Section parties and other get-togethers are frequent and provide a chance for extensive social interaction for even the shiest of law students. Upper-class students say that they have stayed friends with their former section mates, and professors and students alike note that one's section fellows will serve as career contacts in the future.

Harvard Law School's social life revolves around one's 1L section. Because the sections are so large, most activities at Harvard Law School will have fellow section mates present, and it can be difficult to branch out beyond these initial relationships. Some of the school's policies and programs reinforce this tendency by encouraging students to stay within their sections. For example, each section is given a budget of $12,000 to spend on activities, many of which are only open to members of that section. HL Central's 1L Cup pits the seven sections against each other in various competitions, but this serves to solidify bonds within each section rather than among them. Still, in this section camaraderie is generally a positive aspect of life at Harvard Law School. Section parties and other get-togethers are frequent and provide a chance for social interaction among students. Upper-class students say that they have stayed friends with their former section mates, and professors and students alike note that one's section fellows will serve as career contacts in the future.

Grading System

Harvard Law School has a grading system that is designed to improve a student's quality of life. The system has a recommended, but not mandatory, curve, with about one-third of the class receiving the top mark of "Honors," the bottom tenth receiving a "Low Pass," and the middle of the pack receiving a "Pass." This system allows students to have a better understanding of where they stand in relation to their peers and also gives them a goal to strive for.

The new pass/fail system at Harvard Law School has reduced stress for students, but grades still matter to some extent. A second-year student noted that it is easier to do well in class if your grades are higher than lower. The student also said that the new system might add some pressure since many people receive high marks, and it is crucial to avoid getting low marks. In reality, Harvard continues to give grades like in the past.

Professors

Having a powerhouse faculty helps students very little if professors are inaccessible. Fortunately, students report that this is not the case. On TLS, user stupid33 said that although virtually all professors at Harvard use the Socratic Method, they are concerned with ensuring that students learn, not that they are publicly humiliated. This attitude of interest in student learning carries over outside the classroom. User Brokendowncar called HLS professors "genuinely approachable and happy to help you." User BlackNumberLaw agrees that professors are accessible and adds that taking classes with some of Harvard's top guns is easily possible. You can check more forums in here.

Quite a few HLS students have returned to TLS to discuss the accessibility of professors, dispelling the stereotype that one of Harvard's most significant drawbacks is the lack of meaningful interaction with faculty. Certainly, the structure of the first-year program helps, as does the penchant of the faculty (including Dean Minow!) for hiring first-year students as research assistants. As far as the Socratic Method is concerned, the TLS contributors seem to be right on the money: Faculty believe in the potential of their students and use the Socratic Method as a way of bringing the students into the debate full-force, where they will grapple with issues directly and learn by doing. As the user broken-down the car put it, the faculty uses the Socratic Method to "coach you toward what they believe the answer to be." I would also add that students often arrive at the conclusions themselves after such "coach[ing]." Many faculty members at Harvard, notably Dean Martha Minow and the strictly Socratic professor Bruce Mann, have reminded students time after time that a passive legal education equals an ineffective legal education. Thus, is it any surprise that faculty are so accessible and supportive?

One might also presume that students feel strictly secondary to the professors' scholarship. However, HLS professors know that their work could affect how students, once they graduate, understand and practice the law; for this reason, professors eagerly share their work with students in the classroom. Because professors want to train a new generation of lawyers, policymakers, and academics, they care greatly about the quality of their student's educational experience.

The Socratic Method can be terrifying and uncomfortable even with a kind professor. Equally terrifying is the professor, who often passes to another student without comment when the student seems flustered, gives the wrong answer, or simply does not respond quickly enough.

The content of even the most basic courses can change drastically from professor to professor. On the one hand, students must be somewhat diligent when researching and selecting courses. On the other hand, this flexibility allows students to tailor their education to their needs. Of course, this option does not exist within the first-year core curriculum.

Notable Faculty

• Stephen Breyer
• Zechariah Chafee
• Archibald Cox
• Alan Dershowitz
• Einer Elhauge
• Martha Field
• Roger Fisher
• Felix Frankfurter
• Charles Fried
• Gerald Frug
• Mary Ann Glendon
• Erwin Griswold
• Lani Guinier
• Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
• Morton Horwitz
• Randall Kennedy
• Duncan Kennedy
• Christopher Columbus Langdell
• Daniel Meltzer
• Arthur R. Miller
• Martha Minow
• Robert Mnookin
• Charles Nesson
• Charles Ogletree
• John Palfrey
• Roscoe Pound
• Todd Rakoff
• Joseph Story
• Laurence Tribe
• Roberto Unger
• Alvin Warren
• Elizabeth Warren
• Jonathan Zittrain
• Mark J. Roe
• John C. Coates IV
• Lucian Arye Bebchuk

Dual Degrees

Harvard Law School offers a joint JD/MPP program with the Kennedy School of Government. One student expressed excitement for the program but warned that it can be demanding and may not be necessary for those interested in working in law firms. She advises that students should only pursue the additional degree if they are interested in public policy work. The acceptance binder for the program warns students that not all employers will be impressed by the joint degree. However, students have the opportunity to apply for many dual programs during their first and second years of law school. This allows them to make a more informed decision about whether or not to pursue a dual degree. To read more about joint degrees and why one might pursue one, click here and here.

Harvard Law School (HLS) offers several courses that are cross-listed with other schools at Harvard. These courses provide law students with an opportunity to learn from students at other Harvard schools. For example, "Religion and its Future" is a course cross-listed with the Divinity School. Another course is "Crisis, Globalization, and Economics," offered through the Department of Economics. There are also courses offered within the law school that may not have direct relevance to law, such as a "Great Book" reading group. However, this allows for a more well-rounded and diverse education. Harvard Law School also offers joint degree programs for those interested in pursuing a more interdisciplinary legal education.

Programs

Harvard Legal Aid Bureau

The country's oldest student-run legal services office is the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, founded in 1913. Its mission is to provide vital community service while also giving student attorneys the chance to refine their professional skills through Harvard Law School's clinics. By helping those in need and gaining real-world experience, the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau strives to improve individuals' lives and the legal profession. In June 2006, the academic board unanimously voted to accept a new first-year curriculum emphasizing problem-solving and international law.

The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau is a student-run law practice. The bureau offers assistance in:

• Housing (landlord-tenant, public housing, and subsidized housing),
• Family (divorce, custody, paternity, child support),
• Government benefits (Social Security, unemployment compensation, Veterans' benefits, welfare), and
• Wage and hour cases (including unpaid or underpaid wages, bonuses, and overtime).

The Harvard Law School Bureau of Clinics is a two-year program that provides students with the opportunity to gain in-depth legal experience. The program is run by a student board of directors who handle case intake, budget management, and office administration. The bureau provides clients with a more sustained and detailed academic experience than most clinical programs.

Berkman Center for Internet & Society

The Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet & Society is a research center focusing on cyberspace's study and construction. It sponsors conferences, courses, visiting lecturers, and residential fellows. It is located on the Harvard Law School campus in a small Victorian wood-frame building and was relocated to a larger site on the campus perimeter.

The Berkman Center's newsletter, "The Filter," hosts a blog community of Harvard faculty, students, and Berkman Center affiliates. The Openlaw project is one of the major initiatives of the Berkman Center. The OpenNet Initiative is a joint worldwide study of web filtering conducted by the Berkman Center in partnership with the Universities of Toronto and Cambridge (UK).

Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice

The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School was created to remember and honor the work of civil rights lawyer Charles Hamilton Houston. It was established in 2005 and continues Houston's legacy as a source of academic research, policy analysis, and public discussion on civil rights issues. The institute promotes using law to achieve racial justice and strives to educate others on the importance of this issue.

Labor & Worklife Program

The Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard University is dedicated to researching and teaching the world of work and its implications for society. The program brings scholars and policy experts from various disciplines to analyze critical labor issues in the law, economy, and society. In 1942, the program founded the Harvard Trade Union Program, which provides outstanding legal education for labor leaders worldwide.

This program seeks to understand critical changes in labor markets and labor law and to analyze the role of unions, businesses, and government as they affect the world of work. The program coordinates legal, educational, and cultural activities designed to improve the quality of work life.

Harvard Law School's Labor and Worklife Program (LWP) is dedicated to researching and promoting better labor practices worldwide. The faculty and staff of the program are some of the nation's top scholars in labor studies and work closely with trade unions around the world to provide training and legal education.

Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center

A clinic at Harvard Law School, the Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center, provides legal services to around 1,200 clients annually. Here, students get first-hand experience handling actual cases under the guidance of expert practitioners. The law clinic also offers academic credit. Moreover, the center takes in volunteer Harvard law school students from all over the US during the summer sponsoring program.

The Harvard Law School Center places students in one of its five clinics that focus on different law areas. Students work with experienced practitioners and mentors in each clinic who provide guidance and supervision as students manage their caseloads. The center offers training in each practice area and general instruction on client interviewing, case management, legal research, and drafting. This hands-on experience allows students to develop the skills they need to be successful in their chosen field of law.

This clinic provides legal services to the community in and around Jamaica Plain, a culturally diverse area of Boston.

Other Harvard Law School programs

• The Ames Moot Court Competition
• Child Advocacy Program
• East Asian Legal Studies Program
• Director: Professor and Vice Dean William P. Alford
• European Law Research Center
• Fund for Tax and Fiscal Research
• Human Rights Program
• Islamic Legal Studies Program
• John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics and Business
• Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics
• Prison Legal Assistance Project
• Program on Corporate Governance
• Program on Empirical Legal Studies
• Program on International Financial Systems
• Program on Negotiation
• Program on the Legal Profession
• Public Interest Auction
• Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
• Ames Foundation
• Selden Society

Research programs are also a big part of Harvard Law School. In addition to the five clinics, the school is home to more than 20 research centers and clinics. The research conducted at these centers and programs provides students with opportunities to learn from some of the world's leading scholars in their field.

Placement

Summer Placement

One student described a summer experience while at HLS:

For starters, the school guarantees a minimum of I think $5,000 to do public interest work over the summer, and you can apply for fellowships like the Chayes and HRP to supplement that amount in the case that you are doing public interest work abroad. I spent my 1L summer doing constitutional human rights litigation in South Africa and my second summer doing Inter-American human rights litigation out of DC (the site of the Inter-American Commission) with the support of these funds. In addition, there are opportunities to travel through the Human Rights Clinic; last year I traveled to Mexico to assist in arguments in a case before the Inter-American Court, and at the end of the month I will be traveling for another hearing in Costa Rica.

It is important to note that the student's experience is not necessarily representative of the average law student's experience (especially given today's economy). However, it does offer valuable insight into what is possible if you attend Harvard Law School. Another student warned that securing a job with a large private firm could be challenging after the first year of law school. This is a valid point that the Office of Public Interest Advising has been quick to share with first-year students. However, it is also important to note that most first-year students at Harvard Law School receive funding for summer public interest jobs through the Summer Public Interest Funding program. This ensures that all students have the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience over the summer, even if they cannot secure their dream job.

Career Placement

At a recent session where 2Ls and 3Ls talked about their law school experiences, one student said that in a normal economy, firms would be more likely to hire HLS grads who are not "in the bottom ten students of the entire class." Although one student told TLS that job prospects for 2Ls and 3Ls are still quite good, the situation "on the ground" seems to be very tempered with optimism. Career service staff and students alike say that 1Ls should "cast a wider net," "manage expectations," and be aware that they are "better off than 2Ls and 3Ls." The overall feeling is that while it may be challenging to find a job in the current economy, it is still possible to get hired if you are willing to look beyond your first choice of firm.

Some students may worry that they will only be able to find private sector jobs after attending Harvard Law School. However, the on-campus interview process makes it much easier to obtain a job in the private sector than in the public sector. While it may require more effort to find a public sector job, many resources are available at Harvard Law School for students interested in pursuing careers in the public interest. More students likely want to do public interest work than work in BigLaw, but the career placement statistics show that more students end up working in BigLaw firms.

Extracurricular

Journals

Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School is home to some of the most prestigious law journals in the country, including the Harvard Law Review. Students in the Juris Doctor (JD) program play an important role in publishing these journals and a student newspaper.

In 1887, the Harvard Law Review was first published, and many notable alums of the school have since edited it. The Record, the student newspaper, has been published continuously since the 1950s and is one of the oldest law school newspapers in the country. It is known for its long-running fictional law student column, Fenno.

The law journals are:

• Harvard Law Review
• Harvard International Law Journal
• Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
• Harvard Law & Policy Review
• Black Letter Law Journal
• Environmental Law Review
• Human Rights Journal
• Journal of Law & Gender (formerly Women's Law Journal)
• Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy
• Journal of Law and Technology
• Journal on Legislation
• Latino Law Review
• Negotiation Law Review
• Unbound: Harvard Journal of the Legal Left

Pro Bono Requirement / Student Practice Organizations (SPOs)

To graduate from Harvard Law School, students must complete 40 hours of pro bono legal work. Student Practice Organizations (SPOs) offer a fun and educational way to meet this requirement. Some SPOs have competitive admissions processes, while others accept anyone who is willing to participate. 1L students are not eligible to participate in clinics or the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau but can participate in SPOs. Students must wait until their second year to participate in clinical, which also usually counts for pro bono credit. Finally, you must complete a competitive application process if you're interested in the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Clubs and Organizations

There are a variety of clubs and organizations available for 1Ls to get involved with at Harvard Law School. These include groups focused on different ideologies and interests, such as the Jewish Law Students Association, Tennis Club, and Environmental Law Society. Joining one or more of these organizations is a great way to get more involved in the law school community and explore different areas of interest.

Contact Information

Harvard Law School
Admissions, J.D. Program
1585 Massachusetts Ave,
Cambridge, MA 02138
Wasserstein Hall (WCC) 5018
(617) 495-3179
jdadmiss@law.harvard.edu
Harvard Law School

Summary

Established	1817
Location	Cambridge, MA
Dean	John F. Manning
2022 US News Ranking	4th
LSAT Median Score	174
GPA Median Score	3.92
Bar Passage Rate	99% (2022)
Employment Rate	88% (2022)
Cost	$68,962
Average Debt	$168,187
Application Deadline	February 20, 2023

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References

Harvard Law School
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LSD.Law
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Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans

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