International Legal Studies

At Harvard Law School, we consider an international perspective foundational to legal inquiry.

A student poses during her work abroad
Hussein Awan riding a camel.
Jacqulyn Kantack.

HLS’ commitment to the world of law — and law all over the world — is exceptional. Our community includes students from more than 70 countries and jurisdictions, teaching and learning that engages with multiple legal systems, renowned visitors and scholars from abroad, and an extraordinary global alumni network. We offer more than 100 courses and reading groups that focus on international, foreign, or comparative law, and students can engage in supervised projects spanning the globe through HLS clinical offerings. Every J.D. student takes an international or comparative law class during their time at HLS. In a typical year, more than 170 HLS students work, study, or conduct research abroad in more than 45 countries, supported by an array of resources including research centers and the world’s largest academic law library, and utilizing specialized frameworks and fellowship programs. The International Legal Studies office is dedicated to facilitating these opportunities.

Join our mailing list! We’ll send you updates about info sessions, ILS programs, deadlines, and more, as well as our weekly calendar of internationally-focused events at HLS and around the university.

A student sits on a bench on a university campus.

“I thought it would be interesting to see how a country with a history similar to ours, when it comes to race, has used its legal system to advance its society and repair past harms.”

Brandon Lewis ’24 spent the fall semester of his 3L year studying abroad at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Read a Q&A about his experience.