Registration Information
This page is intended to direct you to the tools and resources to successfully navigate course selection and make the most of your time at HLS.
Registration and waitlist dates, add/drop deadlines, and informational session dates for the current academic year are listed in the tables directly below. Additional information on registration processes, policies, and resources for registration can be found throughout the rest of this page.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Office of the Registrar.
Registration, Add/Drop, & Waitlist Processing Dates
Registration, Add/Drop, & Waitlist Processing Dates
- 2019-2020 Registration Schedule
- 2019-2020 Waitlist Dates
- 2019-2020 Add/Drop Deadlines
- 2019-2020 Ask the Registrar / Information Sessions
2019-2020 Registration Schedule
2019-2020 UPCOMING REGISTRATION DATES
|
Open | Close | Results Available |
---|---|---|---|
Upper-level JD Winter Electives | Thursday, Oct 17 @ 9am | Monday, Oct 21 @ 12pm | Wednesday, Oct 23 @ 5pm |
Upper-level JD Spring Electives | Thursday, Oct 24 @ 9am | Monday, Oct 28 @ 12pm | Wednesday, Oct 30 @ 5pm |
1L JET (J-term) | Thursday, Oct 31 @ 9am | Monday, Nov 4 @ 12pm | Thursday, Nov 7 @ 5pm |
1L Spring Electives | Friday, Nov 8 @ 9am | Tuesday, Nov 12 @ 12pm | Thursday, Nov 14 @ 5pm |
2019-2020 Waitlist Dates
Waitlist dates: |
||
For JD & visiting/exchange students: | ||
Term | Starts | Ends |
Fall & Fall/Spring | May 20th | September 9th |
Winter & Winter/Spring | May 20th | January 7th* |
Spring | May 20th | January 31st* |
For LLM students: | ||
Term | Starts | Ends |
Fall & Fall/Spring | August 20th | September 9th |
Winter & Winter/Spring | August 20th | January 7th* |
Spring | August 20th | January 31st* |
*Waitlist processing for winter and spring will pause on Friday, 10/11, and resume from 11/15 – 12/02. We will then pause processing during the month of December so that students may focus on exams.
2019-2020 Add/Drop Deadlines
ADD/DROP DEADLINES: |
|
Term | Add/Drop Deadline ** |
Fall, Fall-Winter & Fall-Spring Clinics | Friday, August 16 at 11:59pm EST** |
1L Fall Courses ADD Deadline (LLMs only) | Thursday, September 5 at 11:59pm EST |
1L Fall Courses DROP Deadline (LLMs only) | Monday, September 9 at 11:59pm EST |
Fall & Fall-Spring Courses | Monday, September 9 at 11:59pm EST |
Fall & Fall-Spring Firesale | Tuesday, September 10 |
Winter & Winter-Spring Clinics | Friday, November 15 at 11:59pm EST** |
Winter 1L Jterm Courses | TBD |
Winter & Winter-Spring Courses | Tuesday, January 7 at 11:59pm EST |
Spring Clinics | Friday, December 6 at 11:59pm EST** |
1L Spring Courses ADD Deadline (LLMs only) | Wednesday, January 29 at 11:59 EST |
1L Spring Courses DROP Deadline (LLMs only) | Friday, January 31 at 11:59pm EST |
Spring Courses | Friday, January 31 at 11:59pm EST |
Spring Firesale | Monday, February 3 |
All term drop deadlines supersede any 12-hour window for waiting list offers. **Clinics and some courses may have different deadlines. Read the course descriptions for course-specific details. |
2019-2020 Ask the Registrar / Information Sessions
Ask the Registrar!Registration & Requirements informational Table for the 2019-2020 Academic Year |
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Date |
Time |
Room |
Thursday, October 24 | 11:30am – 1:00pm | Ground Floor by Hark Ramp |
Thursday, October 31 | 11:30am – 1:00pm | Ground Floor by Hark Ramp |
Thursday, November 7 | 11:30am – 1:00pm | Ground Floor by Hark Ramp |
The Registrar’s Office will be available for any questions you may have concerning registration or degree requirements.
Overview of the Registration Process
Overview of the Registration Process
Registration at HLS is a multi-phase process with different periods and rounds throughout the year. LL.M. students generally register for the full year in the summer prior to matriculation. Upper-level J.D. students have various rounds in mid to late-fall and late-spring. 1L J.D. students are assigned a course schedule in the summer prior to matriculation, and then have JET and spring elective rounds in mid to late-fall.
Once each registration period concludes, all HLS students are generally able to add and drop courses and clinics until the add/drop deadline for a given term. Note that some courses and clinics may have add/drop deadlines earlier than the term deadline; if an earlier deadline exists, it will be reflected in the course catalog description. In the fall and spring terms, the Firesale takes place immediately following the add/drop deadline, giving students one last chance to enroll in courses with open seats for which they have been on the waitlist.
Curriculum and Planning Resources
Curriculum and Planning Resources
The resources below will help you explore HLS course offerings and connect with others that can assist in planning your path through and beyond HLS.
General Curriculum Resources
General Curriculum Resources
Use the below links to explore the HLS course catalog, keep up to date on the latest catalog changes, or peruse HLS syllabi archive or Canvas pages.
Planning your time at HLS
Planning your time at HLS
Use the Handbook of Academic Policies, degree requirement quick-reference guide, and Programs of Study to plan your time at HLS. Additionally, use Amicus to connect with your faculty advisors, BSAs, other students, or mentors. Don’t forget to check on your degree progress with the Degree Audit (available in the Academic Records tab) in HELIOS!
HLS Course Registration Procedures and Resources
HLS Course Registration Procedures and Resources
The below resources can assist in guiding you through the registration process.
HLS Course Registration Procedures
HLS Course Registration Procedures
Find out more about the process of each registration round, add/drop and waitlist functionality in HELIOS, the Firesale, and how the enrollment algorithm works.
2019-2020 Course Information
2019-2020 Course Information
View the courses that are part of an upcoming registration round or courses that will satisfy a particular graduation requirement. The Course Reference Guide is a list of all courses, including scheduling and program capacities, to assist in the course selection process. Note that by-permission courses are not included in course preferencing registration rounds; these courses typically involve an application process and admittance is processed outside of HELIOS.
1L Registration
1L Registration
Requirements for the 1L year include a winter term course (the January Experiential Term, or JET), and an upper-level spring elective. These courses give students an opportunity to explore your areas of interest and to experience an upper-level course setting. Preferencing for these courses generally happens in late October or early November. 1Ls will receive information from the Registrar’s Office prior to preferencing, and more information about the preferencing process and the courses that are available to your section can be found in the links below.
Clinic Registration
Clinic Registration
HLS offers a variety of in-house, externship, and other clinical opportunities that can enhance your legal education. Explore these opportunities and the clinical registration process through the links below.
Clinic Information
Clinic Information
Detailed information regarding the clinical curriculum and associated registration deadlines can be found on the Clinical Registration page. Please note that clinics and their associated clinical seminars and courses have earlier drop deadlines than regular classes. Students enrolled in a clinic should pay special attention to the clinic’s drop deadline as they plan their schedules. More information about these deadlines can be found in each of the clinic’s description in the HLS Course Catalog.
Students interested in clinics are encouraged to attend ClinicTalks or schedule an appointment with a clinical advisor.
Cross-Registration
Cross-Registration
Most LL.M. and upper-level J.D. students may cross-register at other Harvard schools, the Fletcher School at Tufts, and at MIT, which may complement your studies at HLS. The cross-registration petition and enrollment periods typically happen right before the beginning of each term. J.D. students eligible to cross-register may apply up to 12 credits toward the J.D. degree, and LL.M. students may apply up to six credits toward the LL.M. degree.
Cross-Registration Requirements & Instructions
Cross-Registration Requirements & Instructions
Read through information on cross-registration credit limits, requirements, and the cross-registration process.
Written Work Registration
Written Work Registration
All J.D. and LL.M. students have a written work requirement for graduation, and in addition, can enroll in optional written work beyond the graduation requirement. Registration for writing credit and for the graduation requirement are paper processes completed outside of HELIOS.
Written Work Opportunities and Registration Forms
Written Work Opportunities and Registration Forms
Explore the links below to learn about the graduation requirement, opportunities for credited written work, and registration processes.
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For questions regarding registration, add/drop, or waitlisting, contact the Registrar’s Office at 617-495-4612 or registrar@law.harvard.edu.