J.D. Applicants

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Overview & Eligibility

  • Overview

    The J.D. (Juris Doctor) at Harvard Law School is a three-year program of study that first gives students the intellectual foundations for legal study and practice, and then gives students the opportunity to focus their studies on areas of particular interest through advanced classes, clinics, and legal writing projects.

  • Eligibility

    All applicants must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) prior to August of the year for which they apply to enter (except in cases where all requirements are met prior to September and degree conferral occurs after September).

    Applicants may apply for admission to Harvard Law School through the regular J.D. application no more than three times. Applications submitted via the Junior Deferral Program (JDP) and the J.D. Transfer pathways do not count towards this cap.

    Ineligible candidates who submit an application will not be considered for admission and will not receive an application fee reimbursement.

Admissions Events

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Recruitment Events & Information Sessions

Learn more about the law school admissions process and HLS community through our online resources and in-person events this fall.

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Application Timeline

  • Apply for Admission

    The application for Fall Term 2024 enrollment will be available through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website on September 15, 2023.

  • Submission Deadline

    The application for Fall Term 2024 enrollment closes on February 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  • Decision Release

    The J.D. Admissions Office will begin releasing decisions for Fall Term 2024 applicants in January 2024. We aim to notify all applicants of their admission decision by early April.

    Applications are reviewed approximately in the order in which they are completed. We appreciate your patience with the process of providing individual consideration to each application.

    Visit our blog for more information on important dates for the 2023–2024 application cycle.

Application Toolkit

We compiled the application resources, information, and advice from across our website to help you put together an application that best reflects your abilities and readiness for Harvard Law School.

Application Toolkit

1L Class Profile

Meet the Class of 2025

HLS 1L Profile and Facts

J.D. Admissions Blog

  • Featured image for Student Voices: The Section Committee Experience article

    Student Voices: The Section Committee Experience

    “Community” is a common buzzword in the law school admissions world. I once feared it was only a buzzword (a reasonable thought, I think—warmth and coziness aren’t traits I’d normally associate with a massive amalgam of type-A personalities). But as a prospective student, HLS convinced me that I might actually find community here. And as

    March 26, 2024

  • Featured image for Student Voices: Debunking the Cold Call Myth article

    Student Voices: Debunking the Cold Call Myth

    “Mr. Reichard, please tell us the facts of the case.” It was my first day of law school and my first class in civil procedure. It was 4:00 p.m. on the dot and the students of Section 5 had just sat down. There was no “welcome to civil procedure, my name is Professor Charles, and

    March 21, 2024

  • Featured image for Announcing Dates for the 2024 Junior Deferral Program (JDP) Application Cycle article

    Announcing Dates for the 2024 Junior Deferral Program (JDP) Application Cycle

    This year, the Junior Deferral Program (JDP) application will open on May 1, 2024. The application will be available on the Junior Deferral Program website. We invite you to get started on your application components before the application officially opens. In particular, we encourage you to reach out to your recommenders early so they are

    March 18, 2024