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Fall 2026 Seminar

Public Problems: Advice, Strategy, and Analysis

Prerequisite: HLS/HKS joint degree students are required to take this seminar in their third year in the program. HKS students in concurrent J.D. programs are also required to take this seminar in place of a PAC seminar.

Students enrolled at the Kennedy School or the Law School who are not joint degree students but are interested in exploring and working on public problems at the intersection of law and policy may enroll in the seminar with permission of the instructors.

Instructor permission is required for enrollment. Students interested in enrolling should email Professors Barron (dbarron@law.harvard.edu) and Fung (archon_fung@law.harvard.edu) and Wald (sarah_wald@hks.harvard.edu) expressing why you would like to take the seminar and include any relevant coursework taken either in your current degree program or during your undergraduate studies and/or relevant work experience by August 1st.

Exam type: No Exam

This is a two-credit jointly taught seminar. The seminar will use a series of case studies and theoretical readings to examine how to analyze, advise and strategize the resolution of a series of difficult real world public problems at the intersection of law and policy from the vantage point of government decision makers at the city, state and federal levels, as well as from the vantage point of nongovernmental organizations and advocacy groups. A final paper analyzing an issue through the lenses of the class is required.

Note: This course is jointly-listed with HKS as DPI-562.