Accessibility Services Resources

Accommodations are available to students in all learning environments.

To be considered for accommodations, please complete registration materials and provide documentation for review.

• Accessibility Services Registration
• Release of Information
• Statement from Medical Provider

Forms and documentation should be submitted via the student portal.

Please find below examples of accommodations available to students.

•  Accessible Shuttle Services
• Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART)
• Oral or American Sign Language Interpreters
• Note Taking Support
• Assistive Technology (text-to-speech and speech-to-text software, for example)
• Alternate Format Texts
• Exam Accommodations
• Accommodations for Clinical Placements
• Housing Accommodations

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and students should contact accessibility@law.harvard.edu to discuss options specific to their circumstances.

Students are encouraged to review the HLS Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities for additional information regarding accommodations and University resources.

Students affiliated with Harvard Law School Housing or Harvard University Housing may apply for consideration for housing accommodations. All students must meet housing application and deadline requirements. Accommodation requests are reviewed by Accessibility Services. Requests for housing accommodations can be made by emailing accessibility@law.harvard.edu to request a housing application form.

Harvard Law School Housing 

Harvard University Housing Website

Graduating students who plan on requesting testing accommodations on the Bar Exam should first go to the website of the state where they are taking the exam and familiarize themselves with the application requirements and deadlines. Information about individual state Bar Exam requirements can be found on the American Bar Association Website. Please keep in mind that Harvard Law School’s process of providing accommodations is not necessarily reflective of the process for receiving testing accommodations on the Bar Exam. Each state has its own requirements and due dates to request accommodations.

Please contact Accessibility Services for additional assistance and information about requesting information on the Bar Exam.

Continue Reading Bar Exam and MPRE Accommodations

If you are a student with a disability requesting accommodations abroad, please contact Carolyn Hubbard, Assistant Director, Student Accessibility and Support at chubbard@law.harvard.edu or (617) 495-8773 to discuss accommodations.

Information about international opportunities can be found at the following links:

• Semester Abroad
• International Opportunities

Harvard Law School strives to ensure the success of each student. Individual advising sessions with Susannah Tobin are available at any time. In appropriate cases, tutoring sessions with upper-class students may be arranged. Advising and tutoring covers class preparation, note taking, outlining, exam prep, and exam taking but does not cover specific subjects. In preparation for your first meeting with Susannah, please collect any model answers or other feedback on your exams from your professors. Bring your own exam answers as well as your model answers/feedback to the first meeting.

Continue Reading Academic Support Resources

HLS is committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of campus life, including co-curricular events and activities.

When someone requests CART (Computer Assisted Real-time Translation) or an interpreter:  Guests or program planners should fill out a Communication Request Form and submit it to Accessibility Services as soon as possible. Generally, at least two weeks prior to the event is needed to ensure that there is time to secure a provider.

Ensure that the physical space is accessible to people with mobility impairments. Examples include considering the height of tables for working groups, meals & receptions, placement of chairs & aisles, as well as ramps for raised spaces, to name a few.

Continue Reading Student Organization and Journals Event Accessibility

Accommodations are available upon request for people with disabilities on both Class Day and Commencement Day.  Accommodation requests must be made through the Dean of Students Office for all Class Day and Commencement activities.

Accommodations for Class Day and Commencement Day include:

• Accessible seating for candidates or guests
• Accommodations for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• Sign language interpreters at both Commencement Day and Class Day
• Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs)
• Accessible parking
• Accommodations for people with visual impairments

Continue Reading Disability Accommodations for Commencement

Protocol for Student Disability Review/Reconsideration at Local Level 

Harvard Law School makes every effort to provide equal access to its programs and courses by providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations. If you disagree with the approved accommodation or you have a concern involving discrimination on the basis of a disability, please provide a written statement of the concern, with supporting medical documentation. You can upload a document directly to the student portal through the “Documents” tab. Your concerns will be reviewed by the Director of Equal Opportunity.

If the matter cannot be resolved independently and promptly at the local level, you may submit a written grievance at any time to the Director of University Disability Resources at disabilityresources@harvard.edu.

Information about the University disability grievance process is available at https://accessibility.harvard.edu/filing-a-complaint.

While students are encouraged to utilize Harvard’s process towards resolving disability-related grievances, all students have a right to file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR). OCR’s contact information is below:

Boston Office, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 8th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA, 02109-3921, Telephone: 617-289-0111, TDD: 800-877-8339, Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov