Welcome to the Harvard Law School Residence Halls!
Ongoing updates are made on this page. Last update: 07.07.2024
We are happy to have you on campus and living in the residence halls. Law school is a tremendous experience and we hope that your stay on campus will enhance your time at HLS.
Here you will find many topics with important and useful information for your HLS Housing move-in. We encourage you to take the time to review all of its contents.
If you have questions not answered here email housing@law.harvard.edu.
Thank you for choosing HLS Housing.
Official Move-in Schedule
| DATE | PROGRAM |
|---|---|
| August 12, 2024 | Incoming LL.M.s Incoming S.J.D.s ILS Exchange Students |
| August 21, 2024 | Incoming J.D.s J.D. Exchange Students Transfer Students |
| August 28, 2024 | Returning 2L and 3L J.D. Students Returning S.J.D.s |
Arrival on Campus
Early Arrivals – We are unable to accommodate early move-in dates or times. Students who arrive before their official move in date listed above or in the Housing calendar must find alternate accommodations.
Additionally, we are not able to grant access to HLS resident rooms for the purpose of storing luggage or personal belongings before your official check-in date.
Arrivals Between 9am and 5pm (EDT) Monday through Friday
- Students with move in dates August 12th or August 21st who arrive between 9am and 5pm (EDT) can go directly to their HLS resident location to check-in.
- Students with move in dates not on August 12th or August 21st who arrive between 9am and 5pm (EDT) can go directly to room four in Holmes Hall to check-in.
- Unloading services, moving assistance and garage parking for the day is only available for students with official move in dates of August 12th or August 21st.
Arrivals After 5pm (EDT) Monday through Friday, Weekends & University Holidays
- Students who arrive after 5pm (EDT) or anytime during the weekend or a University recognized holiday should proceed to Holmes Hall and dial 617-495-5521 on your personal telephone or dial 5-5521 on the campus phone located at the west entrance of Holmes Hall. It is important to follow the prompts when you are connected. Campus Safety will meet you at Holmes Hall, validate your government-issued identification, and check you in.
- If you do not have a Harvard University identification card (HUID), Campus Safety will check you in and escort you to your HLS residence to bypass the exterior doors.
- Please keep in mind those arriving after 5pm (EDT) or anytime over the weekend or a University recognized holiday will not be able to take advantage of unloading services, moving assistance and garage parking for the day.
Card Reader Access
The exterior doors of all residence halls have Harvard University ID (HUID) card readers that will grant you access to your HLS residence. Links in between the Gropius stairwell doors between buildings also have HUID card readers.
If you do not already have a HUID card, please contact the Office of the Registrar or the Graduate Program to learn where you may pick up your HUID card. Resident students must receive clearance from all administrative offices such as Admissions, SFS, and the Office of the Registrar prior to your HUID card activation.
If your HUID card is not working on any card reader email facmgmt@law.harvard.edu immediately. Your email must include your HUID number and the location where your card did not provide you access.
Community Meeting
TBA
Food on Campus
Starting Monday August 12th through the end of the fall semester
- Pub Grill (1st floor)
- Monday -Thursday from 2:30pm-8pm
- Grab & Go and some lunch offerings 2:30pm-5pm
- Dinner 5pm-8pm
- Harkness (2nd floor)
- Monday -Friday from 7:30am-5pm
- Breakfast 7:30am-10:30am
- Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm
- Grab & Go 2:30pm-5pm
- Specially coffee service 7:20am-5pm
Hand Trucks
A small number of hand trucks will be available at each of the move in locations in addition to moving support services on August 12th and August 21st only. Students need to return hand trucks promptly to the check in area after use to allow other students to make use of them.
Students who not moving in on August 12th or August 21st may obtain a hand truck during regular business hours at the Facilities Management Office, located in room four, Holmes Hall. Students will need to show their HUID or a photo ID to check out a hand truck. A replacement fee of $100 may be charged for an unreturned hand truck.
Internet Services
For internet support reach out to Information Technology Services (ITS).
Support is available by phone at (617-495-0722) from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
You can also visit the Service Desk for walk-in assistance in Wasserstein (WCC) B037, open during the same hours.
The Administrative Services Hub is also available for support.
- In a web browser navigate to https://hls.service-now.com/sp
- Choose ‘Get Something’, to browse the catalog for services and items, make request
- Choose ‘Get Help’, to contact support to report a problem
- Choose ‘Get Answers’ to browse and search for knowledge articles
- Click the Chat icon, to chat with a team member about basic ITS questions.
Laundry Rooms
Laundry rooms can be found in the following locations:
- Gropius Complex – Basement of Dane Hall and Shaw Hall
- Hastings Hall – Basement
- 1637 Mass Avenue – First floor
- 3 and 5 Mellen Street – Basement
- North Hall – First floor
Mail & Package Services
All HLS mail is received and processed through the HLS Mail Center located in the lower level of WCC Room B084.
All resident student flat mail is placed in the HLS mailbox assigned to you and accessible with the key provided in your key packet during check-in. When packages arrive and are processed, students are sent an email from hlspackagetracking@law.harvard.edu. The Mail Center kindly requests you do not proceed to the HLS Mail Center to pick up packages without having received the email from the HLS Mail Center first.
Students will receive an email on July 23rd, 2024 providing their official HLS mailing address and mailbox number. Upon receipt of this email, students may begin shipping to their official HLS mailing address.
All mail must be addressed as follows:
FULL STUDENT NAME
HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
1585 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, MAILBOX #___
CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138-2801
For the safety of your items DO NOT ship to your physical address on campus or add your actual resident hall name and room number to any shipping label. All mail and packages should be addressed in the exact format provided. HLS cannot guarantee the safe delivery of your items if they are not addressed as instructed above.
For incoming LL.M.s, incoming S.J.D.s, and ILS Exchange Students, all packages less than 50lbs, received and processed by the HLS Mail Center before 5pm on Thursday, August 8th, will be placed in your HLS resident room. All packages received after Thursday, August 8th will need to be picked up in the HLS Mail Center.
For incoming J.D.s, J.D. Exchange Students, Transfer Students, Returning 2L and 3L J.D Students, and Returning S.J.D.s, all packages less than 50lbs, received and processed by the HLS Mail Center before 5pm on Monday, August 19th, will be placed in your HLS resident room. All packages received after Monday, August 19th will need to be picked up in the HLS Mail Center.
Hand trucks are available to assist in transporting packages to your room at the HLS Mail Center. A replacement fee of $100 may be accessed for an unreturned hand truck.
Mattresses
All HLS rooms have two-sided bed mattresses. One side of the mattress is firm while the other side is softer. Feel free to flip the mattress to the side that provides you most comfort.
Some rooms in North Hall and ALL rooms in the Gropius Complex and Hastings Hall have extra-long twin bed mattresses. The mattress size is 36″ X 80″ X 8″ (inches).
Most rooms in North Hall and all rooms in the HLS apartments have full size bed mattresses. The mattress size is 53″ X 74.5″ X 8″ (inches).
Meal Plans
Harvard University Dinning Services (HUDS) has a meal plan for all Harvard graduate and professional schools. If you are interested in a meal plan please reach out to them.
Move-In Maps
Please select the move in map below where your HLS resident room is located. We encourage you to follow the instructions on the map in order to reach the area closest to best unload your belongings.
If using a GPS, you will want to enter:
- Gropius Complex – 18 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Hastings Hall – Littauer Lot, Cambridge, MA 02138
- North Hall/HLS Apartments – 1651 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
Moving Assistance
For those who are scheduled to arrive on August 12th or August 21st moving assistance will be provided from 9am (EDT) to 5pm (EDT).
Movers are provided to assist all students. We ask that no one monopolize their time. Instead, please be organized and have your belongings ready for a quick and efficient move to your room. This preparation will enable the movers to work swiftly and effectively, ensuring they can assist other students and everyone can benefit from the service.
Parking
If your official move in date is August 12th or August 21st and you are bringing a vehicle, you will be able to park in the Everett Street parking garage for the day. The garage has a seven-foot, four-inch (7’4”) clearance. Please be aware of this before making your way to the garage. U-Haul and other large rental vehicles are not permitted in the garage. If you require a longer parking stay when moving in, it is recommend you purchase a daily parking pass.
If you are arriving on campus on a weekday (Monday through Friday), you may purchase a pass for the 10 Everett Street parking garage located directly under the WCC. If you arrive over the weekend, you will need to purchase a pass for 52 Oxford Street parking garage, located at the end of Everett Street.
Parking garage passes are not sold at the garage booths. Please make sure you purchase and print your parking pass in advance.
Proof of Residency
After officially “checking-in” to your HLS residence, you may find yourself in need of proof of residency. A proof of residency can serve as a vital document to verify your address for various official purposes such as obtaining a state license, state ID, opening a bank account and applying for a City of Cambridge parking permit.
To obtain a proof of residency, head over to the portal and select “FORMS” in the crimson navigation bar. Select a form from the list and download the letter. You will be able to download this letter only after you have “checked in” to your HLS room.
Resident Advisors
The Dean of Students (DOS) recruits a number of HLS students who serve as Resident Advisors (RA). RAs are peer leaders and a resource within the HLS housing residential community. RAs are assigned to a specific floor or section of a residence hall and are responsible for fostering a positive and inclusive living environment through community engagement.
You should hear from your RA soon after you have checked in and settled into your HLS residence. To find out more about your specific RA check the Resident Advisor website.
Room & Mailbox Keys
When you arrive at your HLS residence or at Holmes Hall to check-in, you will receive a key packet containing two keys, a room key and a mailbox key. For security reasons, keys should not be marked with your name or the resident room they belong to. The exterior doors of all HLS residences are accessible using your HUID card.
Proper identification is needed to obtain your key packet. Please make sure you have a government-issued document or your HUID. Key packets can only be given to the HLS room occupant and not any other individual.
Service Requests
The Facilities Management Office is responsible for your HLS residence. If when you arrive you are concerned with something in your room, please contact them promptly.
For non-urgent matters, emailing Facilities Management is the preferred method of communication. Emails should include your full name and your HLS resident room. For urgent matters such as a malfunctioning piece of equipment in your room or in a shared building space, please call the Facilities Management Office immediately 24/7 at 617-495-5521. If the office is closed follow the prompts and you will be connected to the University’s Control Center.
Suitemate Information
Suitemate information is available on the home page of the Housing portal. If you would like to reach out to your suitemate, please use Amicus.
Tool Sets
Resident Advisors have been provided a small set of hardware tools to loan out in the event needed. Tools are on a first come first basis and should be promptly returned once you no longer need them.
Transportation to Campus
If you are flying into Boston’s Logan Airport and need ground transportation to the HLS campus, head over to the Massachusetts Port Authority web site. All viable options are provided there.
Trash & Recycling
Trash and recycling materials may not be left in corridors or hallways per Massachusetts Fire and Safety egress regulations. Please bring your trash/recycling material to the appropriate designated areas.
On official move in dates, August 12th and August 21st trash and recycling carts will be readily available within the resident areas. If you are in the Gropius Complex there will be carts located at the Story/Shaw courtyard. For residents of North Hall and apartments carts will be available by the North Hall patio area.
Unloading Your Personal Items
A 20-minute unloading area will be available at each of the move in locations on August 12th and August 21st. Please refer to the move in maps for your HLS residence to know where to unload your personal items.
What to Avoid Bringing
- Heated blankets, hot plates, and any other heating devices
- Candles and incense
- Large bulky suitcases/baggage since these items will need to be stored in your room
- Anything that is extremely valuable to you. Please consider leaving these items behind.
What to Bring – optional
- A bathroom caddy and shower shoes if you are in Gropius, Hastings Hall or 5 Mellen Street
- Large box fan if you are in a Gropius or Hastings Hall
- Bed sheet sets, pillows, blankets, and towels
- Mattress pad if you like a softer top
- Closet hangers
- Power strip
- Personal hygiene products
- Hard plastic containers with latching buckles to store food in your room
- Headphones, earplugs (if you’re sensitive to noise) and/or a sleeping mask
- Climate appropriate clothing, such as a heavy coat, boots, scarves, hats, and gloves
- Laundry basket/hamper/bag, you can purchase detergent when you arrive
- Personal mini-vacuum, all floors are provided a shared full size vacuum
- Optional, mini-fridge less than 1000 watts
HLS Housing Handbook
By signing your housing contract, you accepted responsibility for adhering to the policies and procedures outlined in the HLS Housing Handbook. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the handbook to ensure a smooth and compliant living experience.