LL.M. Admissions FAQ
Please find below the answers to many frequently asked questions about the LL.M. admissions process. In addition to referring to the FAQ, please review the full LL.M. Application Instructions (available on our online application site) carefully.
- What are the minimum requirements for applying to the LL.M. program?
You must have either a J.D. from an ABA-approved U.S. law school or a first law degree (e.g. LL.B., abogado, maîtrise, or the equivalent) from a foreign law school.
If you are in your final year of law studies, you must complete the degree no later than June of the year in which you intend to enroll.
Please note that while we do not require work experience or further study beyond law school, we do find that people with two or more years of such experience tend to submit stronger applications and get more out of the LL.M. program.
- What are the required application materials for the LL.M. program?
- Online application form
- CV/Résumé
- Personal statements, part (A) and (B)
- Recommendations (at least two)
- Transcript(s) (including diplomas for any degrees that have been received)
- Official TOEFL report (if applicable)
- LSAC report (if using the LSAC LL.M. Credential Assembly Service)
- Financial aid application (if applicable)
- Application fee of US$85
- What is the deadline for applying? What does the preferred deadline of November 15 mean?
The official deadline is December 1, at 11:59 p.m., U.S. Eastern time. While we do not have an early review/early admission option, we strongly encourage applicants to submit their application materials by November 15 to ensure that all documents reach our office by the December 1 deadline.
- What is the enrollment profile of the current LL.M. class?
- LL.M. Class Profile
- How do I submit an application?
In addition to submitting the Harvard Law School Online LL.M. Application by the deadline, applicants must make sure that any required documents (e.g., transcripts, TOEFL results) are received by our office on or before the deadline.
- What should I do if I encounter technical difficulties with my online application?
Please contact the Graduate Program Admissions Office at GPQuery@law.harvard.edu.
- Will Harvard review my application even if some of the supporting documents are submitted after the deadline?
Yes, your application will be reviewed even if some of your materials (e.g., transcripts, LSAC reports, TOEFL score reports, etc.) are not received by December 1. However, you will be at a disadvantage compared to other applicants who have submitted all of their application materials by the deadline.
- How do I find out whether a document has been received or if my application is complete?
Given the number of applications we receive and the limited time we have available to process, authenticate, and review each of them, it is not possible for us to reply to individual inquiries asking us to verify receipt of application materials or confirm the status of your application.
Instead, you should use the Status Page feature available in the online application to check the status of your application as it is processed by our office. Your Status Page will only be visible to you after you submit your application. It will indicate whether your application and various supporting documents have been received.
Please note that you will NOT receive a separate electronic notification confirming that your application is complete.
- Do you accept materials sent by email?
For the application phase of the 2022-2023 admissions process, recommendations must be submitted electronically through the online application and academic records must be submitted through LSAC or by email to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu.
Note that admitted and waitlisted applicants will be required to submit fully satisfactory official hard copies of their academic records immediately after receiving their admissions decision.
- When will admissions decisions be available?
We will release all admissions decisions at the same time through our online application system at or around the end of March.
- Do I have to take the TOEFL?
All applicants from non-English speaking countries who did not receive their full-time legal education entirely in the English language must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination within two years prior to submitting their applications.
- Do you accept scores from the TOEFL iBT® Home Edition?
We will accept scores from the TOEFL iBT® Home Edition, but reserve the right to condition admission on an in-person test.
- Do you accept MyBest™ TOEFL® score reports or the TOEFL® Essentials™ test?
No. We do not accept MyBest™ TOEFL® score reports or the TOEFL® Essentials™ test.
- Will you accept IELTS scores in place of the TOEFL?
No. We do not accept IELTS scores in place of TOEFL scores.
- What is the minimum TOEFL score required?
For the internet-based test (iBT), we require a total score of at least 100, with at least 25 in each of the four subsections.
- Will my application be reviewed if my TOEFL score does not meet the required minimum?
Yes, your application will still be reviewed. However, you will be at a significant disadvantage compared to the other applicants whose TOEFL scores do meet Harvard Law School’s required minimum. Please note that you may retake the TOEFL and send updated scores after the application deadline has passed.
- What is the TOEFL reporting code for Harvard Law School?
To ensure that your TOEFL score reaches the Harvard Law School Graduate Program Admissions Office, please use the following reporting code: Institution code: 3457.
- If I have more than one TOEFL score, which one will you consider?
We consider all valid TOEFL results (tests taken within two years prior to your application), but we pay closer attention to your most recent scores. We do not accept MyBest™ TOEFL® score reports.
- Am I eligible for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement?
Probably not. Waivers are very rarely granted, and are subject to the sole discretion of the Harvard Law School Graduate Program, whose decision is final.
If you would like to request a waiver of the TOEFL requirement, you can do so in the online application. We cannot consider TOEFL waiver requests prior to submission of the application.
NOTE: You may not even request a TOEFL waiver unless you have had at least two consecutive years of full-time university education conducted entirely in English. If you have not completed at least two consecutive years of full-time university education conducted entirely in English, your request for a TOEFL waiver will be automatically denied.
- What happens if my TOEFL score is not available by the deadline?
You may submit your application without your TOEFL score, but you must state in your application when you took the exam (or when you will be taking it) so that we know when to expect your TOEFL score report. Note that you may be at a disadvantage compared to other applicants who have had their TOEFL reports sent to us on time.
- Can I send Harvard my most recent TOEFL score even after the deadline?
Yes. We will accept new TOEFL scores throughout the admissions process. You may retake the TOEFL and arrange for ETS to have your new score report sent to us as soon as it is available.
- How can I submit my transcripts and other academic records (e.g., diplomas, along with any necessary translations)?
During the application phase, we require applicants to submit academic records either by a) using LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service, or b) sending your academic records via email to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu.
Admitted and waitlisted applicants will be required to submit fully satisfactory official hard copies of their academic records immediately after receiving their admissions decision. Please do not send any documents in the mail to the Graduate Program during the application phase.
- If I email my transcripts to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu, will I later need to submit official hard copies to the Graduate Program if I am admitted or waitlisted?
Yes – anyone who is admitted or waitlisted will be required to submit official hard copies of their academic records to the Graduate Program (regardless of whether they submitted their academic records by email or by LSAC).
- If I submit official transcripts to LSAC, will I later need to submit official hard copies to the Graduate Program if I am admitted or waitlisted?
Yes – anyone who is admitted or waitlisted will be required to submit official hard copies of their academic records to the Graduate Program (regardless of whether they submitted their academic records by email or by LSAC).
- How can I make sure to have official copies of my academic records available to send after receiving an admission or waitlist offer?
We recommend that while preparing your application materials you obtain two official copies of each material from your registrar or school official: (a) one copy that you can submit via LSAC or (unofficially) to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu; and (b) one copy in a sealed envelope, unopened, that you can have ready to submit without delay if you are admitted or waitlisted later in the process.
- Am I required to use the LL.M. Credential Assembly Service provided by LSAC?
No. The LL.M. Credential Assembly Service is recommended but is not required. If you use this service, you do not need to submit your transcripts and diplomas or TOEFL scores directly to the Harvard Law School Graduate Program. You are still required to submit the rest of the online application to us by the application deadline.
- Which materials should I send to LSAC?
You should send transcripts and diplomas that fit within the Harvard LL.M. application’s guidelines to LSAC. This includes an official transcript and diploma for every university or law degree you have received, as well as current transcripts and/or enrollment letters for all current degree programs. You can also send TOEFL scores to LSAC, or you may choose to have your scores sent directly from ETS to Harvard.
LSAC may require additional transcripts that we do not, e.g., for summer programs, certificate programs shorter than 6 months, or non-law exchange programs. In that case, LSAC will not send us your report until they have received all of the transcripts that they require, even if they have received all of the materials that are required for your Harvard Law School LL.M. application. Accordingly, please make sure to send LSAC all of the materials they require before the December 1 Harvard LL.M. application deadline (even if they are not required for your Harvard LL.M. application).
We strongly recommend that you have your transcripts/diplomas and TOEFL score to LSAC no later than the beginning of October to ensure we receive your LSAC report by the December 1 deadline.
Please note that we do not accept letters of recommendation submitted through LSAC.
- What format do I use if I submit my transcripts and other academic records by email to gptranscripts?
If you choose to email your academic records to the Graduate Program at gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu, you must follow the instructions below carefully to put your academic records in a format that will be accepted by the Graduate Program:
- Send all of your academic records in a single email. Do not send multiple emails with multiple transcripts attached.
- Send the academic records from the email address you provided in your online application.
- Include your name and the word “Transcripts” in subject line of the email as follows: Surname, Given Name-Transcripts
- For example: Pablo Luis Manuel Torres Santiago should use the following subject for his email: Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-Transcripts
- Combine all materials (including translations, if applicable) for each degree or program into one pdf file per degree/program in the following order:
- English versions:
- Diploma (required for degrees that have been granted)
- Transcript
- GPA and/or Class Rank Statement (only if available)
- Letter of enrollment (only for PhD programs or programs in progress for which no transcript is available
- Original language versions (if not in English) of the same documents, in the same order:
- Diploma (required for degrees that have been granted)
- Transcript
- GPA and/or Class Rank Statement (only if available)
- Letter of enrollment (only for PhD programs or programs in progress for which no transcript is available
- English versions:
- Name each pdf file using the following convention: “Surname, Given Name-University Name-Degree Name.pdf” (You may abbreviate the name of the university if necessary.)
- For example, if Pablo Luis Manuel Torres has a B.A. degree from the University of Auckland, an LL.B. from the University of Auckland, and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, spent a law exchange semester at the University of Chile, and obtained a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, he should attach five files to the email labeled as follows:
- Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-Auckland-BA
- Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-Auckland-LLB
- Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-Cambridge-LLM
- Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-U of Chile-Exchange
- Torres Santiago, Pablo Luis-Nigerian Law School-BL
- For example, if Pablo Luis Manuel Torres has a B.A. degree from the University of Auckland, an LL.B. from the University of Auckland, and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, spent a law exchange semester at the University of Chile, and obtained a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, he should attach five files to the email labeled as follows:
IMPORTANT: If you do not follow these instructions, we will not be able to accept your transcripts via email!
**As a reminder, gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu is for sending transcripts and other academic materials only. If you have any questions, please write to gpquery@law.harvard.edu.
Applicants who are admitted or offered a place on the waiting list will be required to submit official hard copies of their academic records immediately upon receiving their admissions decision.
- What is an "official" transcript?
An official transcript is a transcript printed on special (typically watermarked, stamped, and or sealed) paper and issued by the official academic records officer of a school or university in a sealed envelope (with a signature/stamp across the flap to confirm that it has not been opened) to the Graduate Program Admissions Office. As long as an official transcript in a sealed envelope has not been opened, then it may be released to the applicant to send (still unopened) to the Graduate Program, LSAC, or a qualified translator. An official transcript opened and viewed exclusively by a qualified translator and/or LSAC remains official provided that the translator or LSAC certifies that the transcript they received was an official transcript. Once an envelope containing the transcript has been opened by an unauthorized party, the transcript is no longer official. A scan of a transcript sent by email is not official.
- My school does not provide transcripts in English. What should I do?
You should take the original transcript in the sealed envelope to a qualified translator. For more information, please read Certified Translations of the LL.M. Application Instructions (on our online application site).
- My official final transcript will not be available by the application deadline. What should I do?
Please submit the most up-to-date official transcript available. You should send your final transcript sent to us as soon as it is available. If no transcript is available, you must submit a letter of enrollment from the university.
- Can my school email my transcripts and other academic records to you during the application phase?
No. Please send all of your materials together in a single email from the email address you used in your online application.
- Can I send my transcripts and other academic records before submitting my application?
Yes.
- Can I send my transcripts and other academic records both by email and through LSAC?
No – you must choose only one method.
- Can I go ahead and send official hard copies during the application phase if they are available?
No. Please do not send official hard copies to the Graduate Program until and unless we ask you to do so.
- What are the personal statement questions?
a. Briefly describe either an important issue in your field of interest or a current legal problem facing a particular country, region, or the world, and then propose a theoretical framework or a legal analysis or strategy to address this issue.
b. Please tell us something about yourself—in particular, why you wish to pursue an LL.M. degree at Harvard and how doing so connects with what you have done in the past and what you plan to do in the future.
- How long should the personal statement be? Do footnotes count towards the word limit?
Your statement must be no more than 1,500 words – anything exceeding this limit will be disallowed. Part (A), the legal essay, should constitute at least half of the total length.
Footnotes do not count towards the overall word limit as long as they are limited to providing sources and citations.
- Can I send Harvard a revised version of my personal statement after submitting my application?
No, we do not accept revisions to personal statements once you have submitted your online application.
- How many recommendations are required?
Two letters of recommendation are required (most applicants provide three, and there generally is no benefit to providing more than three). We will not accept more than five. Applicants who hold J.D. degrees from U.S. law schools are strongly encouraged to submit three recommendations, at least two of which should be from law school faculty members.
Please be sure to tell us the names and professional positions of every recommender on the Registering your Recommenders page of the online Application Form.
- Who should write my recommendation letters?
Recommendations that are the most helpful are written by law school faculty members who know you well or by persons for whom you have worked in a professional capacity. The content of each recommendation is much more important than submitting a large number of recommendations.
Recommendations from personal or family friends, no matter how eminent, are generally not helpful.
- Should recommendations be submitted online or on paper?
We do not accept recommendations submitted on paper or via email. Your recommender (or qualified translator, if applicable) must submit their recommendation via our online application system.
Please note that we do not accept letters of recommendation submitted through the LSAC service.
- How do I submit the application fee?
You may pay by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) via the online application.
- If my fee is being paid by Fulbright or LASPAU, how do I submit my online application?
Please email the Harvard Law School Graduate Program at GPQuery@law.harvard.edu for instructions on how to submit the online application if your application fee will be paid by a sponsoring organization.
- Can I request an application fee waiver?
Application fee waivers are granted on the basis of extreme financial hardship only. To request a waiver of the application fee, you must submit a Fee Waiver Request available in the online application. Please note that you must provide information on personal and family financial resources (including parents and spouse, if applicable) by completing and submitting the Financial Aid Application before your request for a fee waiver will be considered.
If you do not submit a financial aid application, your fee waiver request will be automatically denied.
- Does Harvard offer financial aid?
Yes. Admitted students who cannot afford the cost of attending the LL.M. Program are eligible for financial aid from Harvard Law School. Our financial aid awards are based on the individual applicant’s demonstrated financial need, as determined from financial information provided by the applicant and their parents (and spouse, where applicable). Financial aid may take the form of grants (scholarships), loans, or a combination of the two. Every student in the LL.M. class of 2021-2022 who demonstrated financial need received some form of aid, whether as grant, grant and loan, or loan only.
- How do I apply for financial aid?
Please complete and submit the Financial Aid Application via the online application home page. You may work on the Application for Admission and the Financial Aid Application simultaneously, but you should not submit a Financial Aid Application before submitting your Application for Admission.
- What is the deadline for applying for financial aid?
To be considered for financial aid from Harvard Law School, you must complete and submit the online Financial Aid Application (including the Parental Form(s) and, if applicable, the Spouse’s Form) by December 1.
Your application for financial aid will have no impact on your application for admission, since the two decision processes are completely separate. Financial aid applications are not reviewed by the Committee until after admission decisions have been made.
- Can I apply for financial aid after I receive an offer for admission?
Yes, but it is extremely unlikely that you would receive a grant award, even if you have financial need.
Each financial aid application requires a significant amount of time to process, analyze, and verify – all this must be done by the staff before the Committee actually reviews the applications to make their financial aid determinations. Because our goal is to make financial aid decisions available as soon as possible after admission offers have been communicated, we cannot wait to receive financial aid applications from admitted students. If you do not submit your financial aid application until after you receive an admission offer, there will most likely be no scholarship funds left at that point, and only loans will be available.
- Can I send Harvard an updated version of my CV/résumé after submitting my application?
No, we do not accept updated CVs/résumés once you have submitted your online application.
- What is the reapplication process?
We retain application records for two academic years after the original year of application. For 2022-2023, if your most recent application was submitted after August 2016, you do not need to re-submit copies of transcripts already provided with your original application. However, you must complete and submit another online application, indicating on the Application Form that you have previously applied to the LL.M. Program, as well as the academic year(s) for which you originally applied. You must also provide at least two new letters of recommendation, and transcripts for additional academic credentials you have received since your earlier application. You must also provide a new Personal Statement and a new application fee of US$85. If you wish to apply for financial aid, you must submit a new Financial Aid Application. The deadline for reapplications is December 1.
- Do I have to take the GRE or LSAT?
No.
- What does the LL.M. application look like?
View a sample 2022 LL.M. application.