Harvard Law School (HLS) fosters students’ understanding of public service with its diverse and globalized student body and curriculum, creating a collaborative yet supportive learning experience for all involved.
Students typically form close ties to their 1L classmates, maintaining these friendships through section parties and other events.
Location
Harvard Law School (HLS), established in Cambridge, Massachusetts and affiliated with Harvard University since 1817, has long been one of America’s oldest and prestigious law schools. HLS became famous as being the first American law school to implement standard curriculum with Dean Christopher Columbus Langdell’s case method teaching method; many former HLS students are well represented within American government bodies such as Supreme Court justices or attorneys general positions.
HLS comprises 19 buildings located within Harvard Yard and on Massachusetts Avenue’s northern side, approximately 10 minutes walking distance from Harvard Square Red Line MBTA stop. Their Office of Career Services provides assistance and advice for students pursuing private sector and judicial clerkship careers, in addition to student organizations and clinics that give practical legal experience. Interested students must pass the LSAT as well as submit two letters of recommendation before enrolling.
Admissions
Harvard Law School provides an unparalleled opportunity to study law and related disciplines in an intense yet collaborative atmosphere. Offering courses, research programs, student organizations and clinics as well as access to Harvard University resources such as an extensive library collection and global network of alumni; Harvard Law School makes studying law an unparalleled academic experience.
HLS encourages applicants to consider how their legal education will support social change and serve the greater good. HLS students come from diverse backgrounds and career pursuits – some are drawn towards government agencies while others prefer private practice or academia; the school also strongly advises those interested in public international law to pursue it as a career option.
Harvard Law School admissions decisions depend on many factors, including GPA and LSAT or GRE scores. Applicants must also submit transcripts, letters of recommendation from academic sources (i.e. professors) and personal statements written by themselves and others that demonstrate academic acumen or potential as part of their application package.
Grading system
Harvard Law School has an impressive legacy of excellence and innovation, serving Cambridge Massachusetts since 1865 and becoming one of the oldest law schools in America. HLS offers its students access to an unparalleled variety of course offerings and academic opportunities; alongside clinics and student organizations like law journals and drama societies.
Many, if not most law schools use a norm-referenced grading curve for their exams. This process ranks individual exam results against a specified curve (typically bell shape) before fitting them onto it. Although generally recommended but not mandatory, students often dislike this system, which creates an unpleasant disjuncture between classroom comprehension and final grades. Furthermore, professor grading styles could affect one’s grades negatively; to prevent any potential pitfalls they should become familiar with the Harvard grading system beforehand.
Student life
Harvard Law School (HLS) is widely considered one of the country’s premier law schools, boasting many notable alumni such as senior chairman of Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein, Reddit founder Ellen Pao and president and chief executive officer of TIAA-CREF Roger Ferguson Jr. Additionally, HLS community is highly active outside of classroom with students publishing primary and secondary law journals as well as editing its student newspaper The Record; students must complete 40 hours of pro bono work prior to graduating.
Student-faculty ratio is high, providing students with ample opportunity to build close relationships with professors and classmates. This creates a more intimate learning environment and encourages participation in class discussions.
At HLS, social life often revolves around one’s first-year section and many students form close ties with their classmates during law school. Scott Turow’s popular book titled “One L” details this experience as it follows a first year student through their legal studies journey.