The unique strength of our community is that it brings together, from around the world, so many exceptionally talented people of different backgrounds, lived experiences, interests, ambitions, approaches, methodologies, and perspectives. At HLS, we don’t look alike; we don’t think alike; we don’t come from the same place. Here, you don’t have to do any particular thing, in any particular way. Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you do it, Harvard Law School is a place where you can thrive.
John F. Manning ’85, Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law
Faculty
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Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1
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Full-time Faculty 119
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Visiting Professors 50
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Lecturers on Law 181
Curriculum
Harvard Law Today
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Tax Litigation Clinic students help low-income taxpayers in disputes with IRS, state
According to students in Harvard Law School’s Tax Litigation Clinic, helping indigent clients resolve their tax problems is as much about social justice as it is about the IRS.
April 15, 2024
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Spring break pro bono work across the country
While classes took a pause, legal work continued for students participating in spring break pro bono trips to San Diego, California and Clarksdale, Mississippi.
March 29, 2024
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‘No obstacle is insurmountable for a determined heart’
Jesus Carreon ’25 discusses his journey to HLS and his commitment to immigrant advocacy.
March 27, 2024
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From far and wide to master the law
Students from across the globe come to Harvard Law School to engage in graduate studies in law as part of Harvard Law School’s LL.M. and S.J.D. programs.
March 20, 2024
Public Service
- The Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA) is dedicated to supporting and encouraging law students and lawyers to incorporate an ongoing commitment to public service work throughout their careers
- HLS students are required to serve 50 pro bono hours before graduation. The average HLS student in the 2022–2023 academic year served 673 pro bono hours
- Up to $1.1M in grant awards is available to graduating students pursuing careers in public service through the Public Service Venture Fund
- More than 50% of 1Ls received Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF) during the summer of 2023
Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
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Hours of pro bono legal services HLS students have provided since 2005 6.3 mil
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Areas of the law in which HLS offers clinical placements 35+
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Approximate percentage of students who participate in clinical work 90%
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In-House Clinics 24
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Externship Clinics 13
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Student Practice Organizations (SPOs) 11
Animal Law and Policy Clinic
Capital Punishment Clinic
Child Advocacy Program
Consumer Protection Clinic
Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic
Criminal Justice Institute
Criminal Prosecution Clinic
Crimmigration Clinic
Cyberlaw Clinic
Democracy and the Rule of Law Clinic
Education Law Clinic
Election Law Clinic
Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
Employment Law Clinic
Family Justice Clinic
Federal Courts Clinic
Food Law and Policy ClinicGovernment Lawyer: Attorney General Clinic
Government Lawyer: United States Attorney Clinic
Government Lawyer: Semester in Washington Clinic
Harvard Dispute Systems Design Clinic
Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Clinic
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Health Law and Policy ClinicHousing Law Clinic
Institute to End Mass Incarceration Clinic
International Human Rights Clinic
Judicial Process in Trial Courts Clinic
LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic
Making Rights Real: The Ghana Project Clinic
Mediation Clinic
Religious Freedom Clinic
Sports Law Clinic
Supreme Court Litigation Clinic
Transactional Law Clinics
Tax Litigation Clinic
Veterans Law and Disability Benefits Clinic
Research Programs and Centers
Student Life
- HLS has more than 85 student organizations
- 75% of students work on one of 15 active scholarly journals
- Over one-third of the student body lives on campus in a typical year
- Multiple mentorship and advising programs, including: Zero-L: an online course allowing incoming 1Ls to begin law school with confidence
- Amicus: an online community-building platform and directory to connect HLS students and alumni
- Peer-to-peer advising: SectionConnect matches, Board of Student Advisers, and student groups all assist new students as they enter HLS
- Programming to support inclusion and equity, including 20 affinity organizations
HLS Journals
International
Each year, hundreds of Harvard Law School students bring their talents and energy into the world
- 8% of the JD Class of 2026 are international students
- Over 100 courses and reading groups in international, foreign, or comparative law
- One comparative or international law course is required
- More than 30 clinics, student organizations, and journals have an international focus
- More than 130 HLS students travel to 40+ countries for courses, clinics, research projects, and fieldwork in a typical year
- HLS has study abroad agreements with 10 universities across 9 countries
- 7,600+ alumni live and work outside of the United States
After HLS
- 97.5% of Class of 2023 graduates were employed at 10 months
- In the past decade, 600+ students have secured public interest fellowships immediately after graduation or after a clerkship
- More than 400 private sector employers participate in the HLS Early Interview Program
- 250+ HLS alumni serve as law clerks on federal and state courts each year
- 20% of clerks at the Supreme Court in the past five years have been HLS graduates
- 650+ CEOs/Chief Executives are HLS graduates
Financial Aid
- Roughly 70% of J.D. students receive financial aid
- Around 40% of students receive need-based grants
- Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF) provides guaranteed stipends for summer work
- 15% of the class of 2019 participated in the Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP) immediately following graduation
- Loan options are available so all students can finance their three years at HLS