Winter Term Abroad

Disha Verma ’21 traveled to India during Winter Term to research corruption among self-proclaimed spiritual gurus and examine the government regulation and patronage associated with them.

Harvard Law School students enroll in Winter Term for three weeks in January. While all first-year students participate in the 1L January Experiential Term at HLS, second- and third-year and LL.M. students may select an intensive course on the HLS campus, pursue a clinical opportunity, or conduct supervised research and writing in Cambridge or elsewhere.

Many students use Winter Term as a time to further explore international aspects of law and sometimes travel abroad to do so. Winter Term projects have enabled students to work for the South African Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons, conduct research on Japan’s agricultural trade policy, examine antiquities trafficking in Guatemala, and evaluate Laos’ environmental laws in relation to hydropower projects. Other projects have taken HLS students to Cambodia, China, Guyana, Haiti, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Russia, South Sudan, and Switzerland, to name a few.

Please note that HLS students may not take courses at a foreign law school as a way of earning credit for Winter Term.

The Winter Term International Travel Grant Program provides funding to Harvard Law School J.D. and LL.M. students to pursue independent clinical or research/writing projects abroad during Winter Term.

Winter Term Abroad: Important Dates

Substantive Program Applications
Monday, October 21, 2024J.D. and LL.M. students must submit applications for independent clinical projects
Friday, November 8, 2024J.D. students must register for the Winter Term Writing Program
Tuesday, November 12, 2024LL.M. students must submit applications for the Winter Term Writing Program
Winter Term Intermational Travel Grants
Friday, November 1, 2024Application deadline for J.D. students pursuing independent clinical and research/writing projects
Friday, November 1, 2024Application deadline for LL.M. students pursuing independent clinical projects
Tuesday, November 12, 2024Application deadline for LL.M. students pursuing research and writing projects
Monday, November 18, 2024Notification to students awarded Winter Term International Travel Grants
Monday, December 2, 2024Deadline to accept Winter Term International Travel Grant and to submit paperwork for funding to be issued before break