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Harvard Law School Handbook of Academic Policies 2021-2022

Academics

In This Section

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2021-2022
HLS Handbook of Academic Policies

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Handbook of Academic Policies Table of Contents

Handbook of Academic Policies Table of Contents

The links below to specific pages within the Handbook of Academic Policies may not work on mobile devices.

Faculty

Notice: Public Health and Delivery of Academic Programs

I. Requirements for the J.D. Degree

A. Residence

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 Course Requirement

I. Upper-Level J.D. Residency Requirements

J. Joint and Coordinated Degree Credit and Residency Requirements

K. J.D. Written Work Requirement

1. Option 1 of the J.D. Written Work Requirement

2. Option 2 of the J.D. Written Work Requirement

3. Experiential Learning, Professional Responsibility, and Written Work

4. Supervision

5. Supervision by Visiting Faculty

6. Prohibition against Compensation

7. Multiple Use of Papers

8. Human Subjects Research

L. Pro Bono Requirement

M. Pro Bono and Written Work Credit for Political Activities

1. Pro Bono Credit

2. Written Work Credit

N. Class Attendance and Participation; Overlapping Class Times

O. Grades for J.D. Students

1. Honors, Pass, Low Pass, or Fail Grades

2. Dean’s Scholar Prizes

3. Credit/Fail Grades

P. Extensions

Q. Grade Changes

R. Completion of Course Evaluations and Grade Release

S. Graduation with Honors

T. Satisfactory Academic Progress

1. Minimum Grades for J.D. Students

2. Minimum Annual Progress for J.D. Students

U. Retaking Courses, Taking a Different Examination in the Same Course, and Substitute Work

II. Requirements for Graduate Degrees

III. Additional Academic Opportunities (J.D. and Graduate Programs)

A. Additional Written Work Opportunities

1. Optional Written Work

2. Winter Term Writing Program

B. Clinical Legal Education

1. Overview

2. Requirements for Clinical Credits

3. Enrollment and Credits

4. International J.D. Students in Clinics

5. Opportunities for Student Practice

C. Cross-Registration

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

1. Joint Degree Programs

2. Coordinated J.D./Ph.D. Program

3. Concurrent Degrees

4. Rules and Policies

F. J.D. Studies at Other Schools

1. Study Abroad for J.D. Students

2. Berkeley Exchange Program for J.D. Students

3. Visits at Other Law Schools

4. Coordinating Approved Studies at Other Schools

IV. Examinations

V. Academic Honesty

VI. Registration Schedule and Course Change Deadlines

VII. Written Work Registration Deadlines

VIII. Deadlines for Submission of Law School Work

IX. Deadlines for Applying to Special Programs

X. Leaves and Withdrawals

XI. Administrative Board

XII. Other Rules and Important Information

A. Harvard Law School Community Principles

1. Community Principles

2. Community Principle on Non-Attribution

B. University-Wide Statement on Rights and Responsibilities

1. Interpretation

2. Statement of the President and Deans on University Rights and Responsibilities (2002)

C. Notice of Non-Discrimination

D. Title IX Policies and Information

E. Harvard Law School FERPA Policy

1. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”)

2. Education Records

3. Access

4. Directory Information

5. Other Disclosures Permitted under FERPA

6. Student Rights under FERPA

F. Protest and Dissent Guidelines

1. Picketing and Distributing Literature

2. Silent or Symbolic Protest

3. Noise

4. Force or Violence

5. Audience Responsibility

6. Moderator/Facilitator

G. Student Complaints Implicating Compliance with ABA Standards for Legal Education

H. Class Recordings

1. Student Class Recording Requests

2. Timing of Recording Requests

3. Automated Recordings

4. Publication of Recordings

I. Student International Travel

J. Student Employment

K. Use of University Libraries

L. 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

5. Security and Privacy

6. Anonymous and Pseudonymous Communications

7. Misuse of Resources

8. Emergency Situations and Compliance with Account Quotas

9. Copyright and Software Licenses

10. Cases of Misconduct

11. Requirements on Leaving Harvard Law School

M. Harvard Law School Digital Media Policy

N. Multimedia Lab

O. Video Security Policies

P. Harvard University I.D. Cards

Q. Payment of Bills

R. Harvard Law School Drug and Alcohol Policy

1. Policy

2. Provisions Regarding Alcohol Service and Use at Harvard Law School

3. Drinking Age

4. Bartenders

5. Police Presence

6. Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

7. Off-campus Events – Private Residence

8. Off-campus Events – Bars, Restaurants, and Off-Site Function Facilities

9. Liquor Licenses

S. Cambridge No Smoking Ordinance and Harvard No Smoking Policy

1. City of Cambridge No Smoking Ordinance

2. Harvard No Smoking Policy

T. Harvard Law School Missing Persons Policy

U. Nonresident Student Driver Statements and Decals

V. Voter Registration

W. Massachusetts Anti-Hazing Statute

269:17. Hazing; organizing or participating; hazing defined

269:18. Failure to report hazing

269:19. Copy of secs. 17–19; issuance to students and student groups, teams and organizations; report

610 CMR 5.00: Hazing Reporting

Appendix A: Harvard University Health Services and Counseling and Mental Health Services

Appendix B: Emergency and Safety Information

Helpful Links

Helpful Links