Winter Term Abroad
Harvard Law School students enroll in Winter Term for three weeks in January. While all first-year students participate in the 1L January Experiential Term at HLS, second- and third-year and LL.M. students may select an intensive course on the HLS campus, pursue a clinical opportunity, or conduct supervised research and writing in Cambridge or elsewhere.
Many students use Winter Term as a time to further explore international aspects of law and sometimes travel abroad to do so. Winter Term projects have enabled students to work for the South African Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons, conduct research on Japan’s agricultural trade policy, examine antiquities trafficking in Guatemala, and evaluate Laos’ environmental laws in relation to hydropower projects. Other projects have taken HLS students to Cambodia, China, Guyana, Haiti, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Russia, South Sudan, and Switzerland, to name a few.
Please note that HLS students may not take courses at a foreign law school as a way of earning credit for Winter Term.
Winter Term International Travel Grants
The Winter Term International Travel Grant Program provides funding to Harvard Law School J.D. and LL.M. students to pursue independent clinical or research/writing projects abroad during Winter Term.
Winter Term 2021
Winter Term 2021
Seven HLS students were named Cravath International Fellows in recognition of the significant, internationally-focused independent clinical or research/writing projects they undertook during Winter Term in January, 2021.
Meet the 2021 Cravath Fellows
Winter Term 2020
Winter Term 2020
In January 2020, 12 Cravath International Fellows pursued independent clinicals or research/writing projects in 12 countries and jurisctions.
Four 2020 Cravath Fellows share their stories
This year, 40 Harvard Law School students traveled to 25 countries, conducting research for writing projects or undertaking independent clinicals with support from the Winter Term International Travel Grant Program.
Photos from Winter Term 2020Winter Term 2019
Winter Term 2019
This year, the 12 Cravath International Fellows traveled across the globe for Winter Term clinical placements or independent research.
Four 2019 Cravath Fellows share their stories
In January, 60 HLS students traveled to 34 countries, conducting research for writing projects or undertaking independent clinicals with support from the Winter Term International Travel Grant Program.
Photos from Winter Term 2019Winter Term 2018
Winter Term 2018
Since the Cravath International Fellowships were launched in 2007, more than 170 students have traveled to 69 countries during Winter Term as Cravath Fellows, pursuing clinical placements or independent research with an international, transnational, or comparative law focus. In 2018, ten Cravath Fellows traveled to nine countries.
Read about the work of four 2018 Cravath Fellows
This year, 58 HLS students traveled to 29 countries, conducting research for writing projects or undertaking independent clinicals, with support from the Winter Term International Travel Grant Program.
Photos from Winter Term 2018Winter Term 2017
Winter Term 2017
11 Harvard Law School students were selected as 2017 Cravath International Fellows. During Winter Term, they traveled to 11 countries to pursue clinical placements or independent research.
Three 2017 Cravath Fellows share their experiences