Announcing Dates for the 2022 Junior Deferral Program (JDP) Application Cycle

For the last few years, we have released the JDP cycle timeline on our blog (you can find last year’s post here) to increase transparency and to help applicants plan ahead.

Here is our expected timeline for the 2022 Junior Deferral Program cycle:

March 1: JDP Application Opens

July 1: JDP Application Closes

Mid-July: Interview Invites Released

Late July: Acceptances

Late August: Deadline to Respond to Offer of Admission

Unlike the regular J.D. admissions process, the Junior Deferral Program does not operate on a rolling admissions basis. We will accept applications from the date the application opens until the application deadline. This means there is no direct benefit in applying earlier rather than later, so take the time you need to build the strongest application possible.

In addition to the JDP Information Sessions we are hosting this spring, we’ve included several resources below to help you get started:

• J.D. Admissions Information Session: This presentation covers the highlights of the J.D. program at Harvard Law School, including the first-year experience, mentoring resources, the robust clinical and experiential learning options, and the vibrant ecosystem of student organizations and co-curricular activities.
• JDP Advice Blog Post: Recent JDP admits share their advice on the application process.
• J.D. Application Insights Video Series: This series provides helpful insights regarding our application components.
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​Navigating Law School Admissions Podcast: This podcast, hosted by the Deans of Admissions at both HLS and Yale Law School, provides candid, accurate, and straightforward advice about law school admissions – straight from the source.

We look forward to reviewing your application this summer!