Welcome to the Harvard Law School Residence Halls!
Last update: 08.14.2022
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.
Fall 2022 Move-in Schedule
| Year/Program | Move-In Date |
|---|---|
| Incoming J.D. | Aug. 23 or 24, 2022 |
| Incoming LL.M. | Aug. 15 or 16, 2022 |
| Incoming S.J.D. | Aug. 15 or 16, 2022 |
| ILS Exchange | Aug. 15 or 16, 2022 |
| Returning and Transfers | Aug. 25 or 27, 2022 |
| J.D. Exchange | Aug. 23 or 24, 2022 |
| Returning 2Ls and 3Ls | Aug. 23. or 23, 2022 |
Arrival on Campus
Early Arrivals – Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate early move-in dates or times. Students who plan to arrive before their official move in dates listed in the Housing Calendar must find alternate accommodations.
Arrivals Between 9am to 5pm (EDT) Monday through Friday – Students who arrive between the hours of 9am and 5pm (EDT) on their official move in date – either August 15th/16th (LL.M.s/Exchange Students) or August 23rd/24th (newly admitted J.D.s) – can go directly to their HLS residence to unload and obtain their keys.
Returning HLS students and transfers arriving after August 24th should go directly to the Facilities Management Office room four in Holmes Hall.
Arrivals After 5pm (EDT) Monday through Friday, Weekends & Holidays – Although it is preferred that students arrive between 9am and 5pm (EDT) Monday through Friday, we understand that travel plans and transportation can impact your arrival time at HLS.
All students who arrive after 5pm (EDT), should make their way to the west entrance of Holmes Hall. Using your mobile phone dial 617-495-5521 or dial 5-5521 on the campus phone located at the building door entrance. Follow the prompts for “get into your room”. A Campus Safety guard will meet you at Holmes Hall, validate your government-issued identification and give you your key packet. If you do not have an HUID, the guard will escort you to your HLS residence to bypass the exterior doors.
Arriving after-hours will prevent you from taking advantage of certain services, such as movers and supervised unloading. These services are only available from 9am to 5pm (EDT) on the official move-in dates: August 15th/16th and August 23rd/24th.
Card Reader Access
The exterior doors of all residence halls have card readers and are accessible using Harvard University ID (HUID) cards. In addition, the Gropius stairwell doors that link between buildings also have card readers.
If you do not already have an HUID card, please contact the Office of the Registrar (JDs) or the Graduate Program (LLMs/Exchange Students) to learn where you may pick up your HUID card. Resident students must receive clearance from all administrative offices such as Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Office of the Registrar prior to HUID card activation.
If your ID card is not working on the card readers, please email facmgmt@law.harvard.edu with details. You must include your HUID number in the email.
Food on Campus
Staring August 15th Pub Grill (1st floor) 8am-5pm
Starting August 15th Harkness (2nd floor) 1130am-2:30pm
Starting August 20th Harkbox (lower level) 8am-3pm
Hand Trucks
A small number of hand trucks will be available in addition to moving support services on August 15th/16th and August 23rd/24th. Hand trucks will be available at each of the move in locations. Students need to return hand trucks promptly after use to allow other students to make use of them.
Students who are not moving in on August 15th/16th or August 23rd/24th may access these hand trucks during regular business hours at the Facilities Management Office, which is located in Holmes Hall, room four. Students will need to provide a photo ID to check out a hand truck. A replacement fee of $100 may be accessed for unreturned hand trucks.
Internet Services
For internet support reach out to Information Technology Services (ITS).
Support is available by phone (617-495-0722), Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.
The Service Desk, located in Wasserstein (WCC) B037, is also available for walk-in support, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.
You can also use the Administrative Services Hub. There you can Get Something, Get Help, Get Answers, and Chat.
- 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 Services
All HLS mail is received and processed through the HLS Mail Center located in the lower level of WCC. All resident student flat mail is placed in your personal mailbox accessible with the key provided during check-in. For packages, resident students are sent an email when the package is ready to be picked up. Do not proceed to the HLS Mail Center to pick up packages before you have received an email from the HLS Mail Center.
During the first week of August resident students will receive an email providing their official HLS mail address. Upon receipt of this email, students may begin shipping to your official HLS mail address.
Packages, weighing between 15-50 pounds, mailed to the student’s official HLS mail address and processed by the HLS Mail Center before August 21st will be placed inside the student’s HLS resident room. Packages received and processed after August 21st will need to be picked up at the HLS Mail Center. Packages weighing over 50 pounds will need to be picked up by the resident student.
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 unreturned hand trucks.
For more information regarding mail services while residing at HLS check the link below.
Maintenance 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 name and your HLS resident room. For urgent matters such as a malfunctioning piece of equipment in your room or in a shared space, please call the Facilities Management Office immediately at 617-495-5521. If the office is closed follow the prompts and you will be connected to the University’s Control Center.
Mattresses
All HLS rooms have a two-sided bed mattress. 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 more comfort.
Extra-long twin bed mattresses are sized 36″ X 80″ X 8″ (inches)
Full bed mattresses are sized 53″ X 74.5″ X 8″ (inches)
Meal Plans
Meal plans were offered last year as a precautionary measure in the event shared kitchens needed to be closed as per the University’s guidelines. Harvard University Dinning Services (HUDS) has just announced a meal plan for all Harvard graduate and professional schools.
Move-In Maps
Please select the move in map where your HLS residence is located. We encourage you to follow the instructions on the map in order to reach the closest area to unload your belongings.
If using a GPS, you will want to enter:
- 18 Everett Street, Cambridge for the GROPIUS COMPLEX
- Littauer Lot, Cambridge for HASTINGS HALL
- 1651 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, for NORTH HALL AREA
Moving Assistance
Moving assistance will be provide on August 15th/16th and August 23rd/24th for those who are scheduled to arrive on these official move in dates.
Official Move-in Dates
Please refer to the Housing Calendar for your official move-in date. Although you are not required to move in on your official move-in date, doing so ensures access to support service and available staff.
Parking
If your official move in date is on August 15th/16th or August 23rd/24thand 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.
Room & Mailbox Keys
When you arrive at your HLS residence, you will receive 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.
Suitemate Information
Suitemate information is available in the Student Life portal on the application status page. If you would like to reach out to your suitemate, please use Amicus.
Tool Sets
Resident Assistants 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
On official move in dates, August 15 and 16 and August 23 and 24 trash and recycling carts will be readily available. Please bring your trash and recycling material to these areas.
If you are in the Gropius Complex there will be two carts located at the Story/Shaw and the Ames/Dane courtyard. Carts will also be available in the Hastings Hall courtyard and out front in North Hall for North and the HLS Apartments.
Trash and recycling materials may not be left in corridors or hallways per Massachusetts Fire and Safety egress regulations.
Unloading Your Personal Items
On official move in dates, August 15/16 and August 23/24, a 20-minute unloading area will be available at each of the three move in locations. 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 since they will need to be stored in your room
- Anything that is extremely valuable to you. Please consider leaving such items behind.
What to Bring – optional
- If you are in a room in the Gropius Complex, Hastings Hall or 5 Mellen Street, a bathroom caddy, bathrobe, and shower shoes
- If you are in a Gropius or Hastings Hall room a large box fan
- Bed sheet sets, mattress pad, pillows, blankets, and towels
- Hangers
- Power strip
- Headphones, earplugs (if you’re sensitive to noise), and sleep masks
- Climate appropriate clothing, such as a heavy coat, boots, scarves, hats, and gloves
- Laundry basket/hamper/bag. You can purchase your detergent when you arrive
- Personal mini-vacuum since all floors are provided a shared full size vacuum cleaner
- Mini-fridge less than 1000 watts
HLS Housing Handbook
It is encouraged that you familiarize yourself with the Housing Handbook. When you signed your room license agreement/apartment lease you acknowledged responsibility for abiding by the policies and procedures outlined in the handbook.