Handbook of Academic Policies 2025-2026
Table of Contents
Find details on Harvard Law School’s academic policies by opening sections below.
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I. Requirements for the J.D. Degree
B. Statement of Learning Outcomes
C. First-Year J.D. Course and Credit Requirements
D. Upper-Level J.D. Course and Credit Requirements
1. Required Law School Classroom Work
2. Required Additional Credits
3. Transfer Student J.D. Program-Special Considerations
4. Minimum Credit Requirement for VA Benefit-Eligible Students
E. Definition of the Law School Credit Hour
F. Experiential Learning Requirement
G. Professional Responsibility Requirement
H. International and Comparative Law Course Requirement
I. Negotiation/Leadership Requirement
J. Upper-Level J.D. Residency Requirements
K. Joint and Coordinated Degree Credit and Residency Requirements
L. J.D. Written Work Requirement
1. Students Matriculating Prior to Fall 2023
2. Students Matriculating Fall 2023 and Thereafter
3. Experiential Learning, Professional Responsibility, and Written Work
5. Supervision by Visiting Faculty
6. Prohibition Against Compensation
N. Pro Bono and Written Work Credit for Political Activities
O. Class Attendance and Participation; Overlapping Class Times
1. Honors, Pass, Low Pass, or Fail Grades
S. Completion of Course Evaluations and Grade Release
U. Satisfactory Academic Progress
1. Minimum Grades for J.D. Students
2. Minimum Annual Progress for J.D. Students
V. Retaking Courses, Taking a Different Examination in the Same Course, and Substitute Work
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II. Requirements for Graduate Degrees
1. LL.M. Residence and Credit Requirements
3. Class Attendance and Participation; Overlapping Class Times
5. Completion of Course Evaluations and Grade Release
6. LL.M. Written Work Requirement
7. Additional Rules Relating to the LL.M. Written Work Requirement
B. Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)
5. Presentations at the S.J.D. Colloquium
6. Submission and Acceptance of the Doctoral Dissertation
7. Oral Defense of the Dissertation
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III. Additional Academic Opportunities (J.D. and Graduate Programs)
A. Additional Written Work Opportunities
1. Independent Written Work (J.D. Students) and Optional Written Work (LL.M. Students)
2. Winter Term Writing Program
2. Requirements for Clinical Credits
4. International J.D. Students in Clinics
5. Opportunities for Student Practice
1. Cross-Registration from Harvard Law School
2. Cross-Registration into Harvard Law School
D. Auditing a Harvard Law School Course
E. Joint, Coordinated, and Concurrent Degree Opportunities for J.D. Students
2. Coordinated J.D./Ph.D. Program
F. J.D. Studies at Other Schools
1. Study Abroad for J.D. Students
2. Berkeley Exchange Program for J.D. Students
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VI. Registration Schedule and Course Change Deadlines
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VII. Written Work Registration Deadlines
A. Summary of Written Work Registration Deadlines
B. Registration for the J.D. Written Work Requirement
1. Students Matriculating Prior to Fall 2023
2. Students Matriculating Fall 2023 and Thereafter
C. Registration for the LL.M. Written Work Requirement
D. Mandatory Registration for the Written Work Requirement
F. Application and Registration for the Winter Term Writing Program
G. Additional Credit for J.D. Written Work
H. Registration for Written Work for Upper-Level J.D. and LL.M. Writing Groups
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VIII. Deadlines for Submission of Law School Work
A. Submission Deadlines for Academic Work
B. Submission Deadlines for Academic Work in Courses, Seminars, and Reading Groups
C. Submission Deadlines for Written Work for J.D. and LL.M. Students
2. Extensions for May Degree Candidates (J.D. and LL.M.)
D. Submission Deadlines for Option 2 of the J.D. Written Work Requirement
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IX. Deadlines for Applying to Special Programs
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X. Effect of Health Issues on Residency and Enrollment
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XII. Administrative Board
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XIII. Other Rules and Important Information
A. Notice of Non-Discrimination and Harvard Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policies
B. Title IX Policies and Information
C. Harvard Law School FERPA Policy
1. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”)
5. Other Disclosures Permitted under FERPA
D. Protest and Dissent Guidelines
1. Picketing and Distributing Literature
E. Student Complaints Implicating Compliance with ABA Standards for Legal Education
1. Reasons for Student Class Recording Requests
G. Student International Travel
I. Use of University Libraries
J. Information Technology Services
1. Harvard Law School Computer and Network Resources Usage Agreement
2. Use of Computer and Network Resources
3. Compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998
4. Policy on Access to Electronic Information
6. Anonymous and Pseudonymous Communications
8. Emergency Situations and Compliance with Account Quotas
9. Copyright and Software Licenses
11. Leaving Harvard Law School
M. Harvard University I.D. Cards
O. Harvard Law School Drug and Alcohol Policy
2. Provisions Regarding Alcohol Service and Use at Harvard Law School
6. Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages
7. Off-campus Events – Private Residence
8. Off-campus Events – Bars, Restaurants, and Off-Site Function Facilities
P. Cambridge No Smoking Ordinance and Harvard No Smoking Policy
1. City of Cambridge No Smoking Ordinance
Q. Harvard Law School Missing Persons Policy
R. Nonresident Student Driver Statements and Decals
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XIV. Reservation of Rights