Real Talk: Contacting the J.D. Admissions Office

Wondering if you are eligible to apply? Have a question about our application requirements? Just want to say hello? Feel free to contact the J.D Admissions Office. We try to provide as much information as we can for prospective and current applicants on our website, including on Admissions FAQ webpage, our adMISSION: HLS blog, and our Instagram account. If you are unable to find the answer to your question online, you can reach out by email or phone. We share some more information on how best to contact our office below.

(NOTE: The J.D. Admissions Office is currently operating remotely while Harvard University remains closed to protect the health and safety of our community members during the global pandemic. With our team working remotely, sending an email is the preferred method to get your questions answered. If your questions are more easily answered by phone, feel free to schedule up a time to speak with a member of the front office staff here.)

Contacting J.D. Admissions by Email:

This method is the most frequently used form of communication with our office. On average, we receive 25 – 50 emails per day, and more during peak times of the season. We prioritize emails with specific questions that pertain to the application cycle. These are typically questions that could not be answered through the resources on our website. Our front office team handles the jdadmiss@law.harvard.edu inbox, with the support from other staff members, when necessary.

If you are wondering whom to address your email to, no worries, we do not have a preference. Any variation of “the J.D. Admissions Committee” or the “J.D. Admissions Office” works for us! If you would like to get in touch with a specific member of the team, feel free to use our first and last names in the email. Our front office staff will be sure to forward it to the intended recipient, though we are not able to connect prospective students directly with Admissions Officers.

An important note for applicants: We know the application process can be anxiety inducing, but please pause before emailing us to confirm us that your materials have been received by our office. It takes around 10 business days to manually process submitted applications and sometimes more during peak application season. Rest assured that our processing team works to process these files as quickly as we can. You will receive a an email when your application is ready for review by the Admissions Committee. Your status checker will you with the most up to date  information regarding the status of your application materials. It is also the best place to upload any additional documentation you would like to provide us with.

Contacting the J.D. Admissions Office by Phone:

A phone conversation is another way to get your questions answered. However, it is important to know that we receive a very high volume of phone calls and emails every day, and since our office has moved to remote work with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’d recommend you email or schedule a phone call rather than calling directing.

To make the most out of your call, we suggest reading through our extensive Application FAQs beforehand. In addition, to maintain an equitable application process, and owing to the high volume of inquiries that our office typically receives, we are unable to connect callers with an Admissions Officer or Admissions Committee members. But please rest assured, your inquiry would be answered similarly by any member of our Admissions staff. Finally, we are more than happy to answer your application- or admissions-related questions, but if you’re curious about financial aid, student life, course catalog, etc., we encourage you to explore the hyperlinked pages for more information on the departments that manage these offerings.

Visiting the J.D. Admissions Office:

(This option has been suspended as Harvard University is closed to protect the health and safety of our community members during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Visiting us on campus is the most direct way for applicants to connect with our office. However, we understand this option may not be possible for candidates who do not live locally. As a result, we do not consider in-person visitors more committed to Harvard Law School. In fact, we do not track or keep a record of guests who visit independently. However, if you are able to visit, it is a great way to meet the staff members working at the front office, get immediate answers to your general admissions questions, explore the campus, and help yourself to a small treat in our candy jar.

Please note, however, that owing to the high volume of demand, we are unable to offer guided tours of the school (outside of what is officially scheduled in our events calendar), but we’ll happily provide you with a self-guided tour brochure and our suggestions for the best places to visit on campus or restaurants to eat at in Harvard Square. For similar reasons, all our classes are closed to the public.